INTRODUCTORY SALSA PLAYLIST (part 2)

PLAYLIST FOR THOSE NEW TO SALSA

MAY 2012

A friend asked me for a list of songs that I could give him that would be a good introduction to salsa, and I thought I would share it. It is not just my favourite tracks, though many are in there. I set myself a few criteria:

  • the track must be danceable (Cachondea is a fantastic song, but is way too fast to dance to).
  • must cover all the main genres and geographies, so there is dura and romantica, Cuabn and Columbian, and more
  • maximum of 20 tracks, which is completely arbitrary but seemed like enough to give a flavour without giving an overwhelming list.

So here it is! The order is alphabetical so there is no ranking. And at the end there are a few that I nearly put in but didn’t make the cut.


DECEMBER 2020

Recreating this as I update the website. I’m kind of impressed with myself. I’m looking through and won’t change any. However, I look at those that didn’t make the cut and some make me wonder what I was thinking!

YouTube is was more restrictive now about embedding videos, and some links have died. If anything isn’t working then please message me and I’ll fix it! And if that doesn’t work, or if you just want to listen without notes, there is a YouTube or Spotify playlist.

La Receta by Johnny Polanco

Salsa Dura - hard salsa - features driving rhythms and pulsing horns. West coast based Johnny Polanco produced a classic dura song in New York style. This was the first famous salsa band I saw live, which gives them a special place in my heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un3mEyElSSs

Ven Devorame Otra Vez by Lalo Rodriguez

In the 1990s romantica became the most popular salsa style. While much of it was manufactured the same way many pop songs of the time were, it still produced some outstanding songs. Although the lyrics, like much of the genre, may not be entirely romantic, the smooth voice of Lalo Rodriguez created the most memorable romantica track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkPKMU2LCtk

Timpop con Birdland by Los Van Van

Los Van Van are probably the most recognised post revolution Cuban band. Founded in 1969, they have pushed Cuban salsa into more than one new direction incorporating rock, funk, disco and hip hop and helped create the timba sound. While this song can seem like a marathon to new dancers, it brings out everything that has made Los Van Van great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDbWuZAbSC8

Valio la Pena by Marc Anthony

Marc Anthony was one of the artists who emerged in the 1990s who straddled both the pop and salsa worlds. His 2004 album of the same name contains some superb modern salsa tracks, many of them adding some punch to songs apparently rooted in the romatica genre. This song has a harder edge and really rocks. Watch out for the fade that isn’t the end!

https://youtu.be/Ns9YYSqLxyI


Lady by Orquesta La Palabra

There have been many attempts to record salsa versions of pop songs. Most, unfortunately, don’t work very well but this is one of the exceptions. Unfortunately Orquesta la Palabra were really a one-hit-wonder, but what a hit. Smooth!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XelZ66Ic-z4

Micaela by Sonora Carruseles

Originally the B-side of Pete Rodriguez’s I Like it Like That, this remake by the Columbian Sonora Carruseles has become the definitive version. Boogaloo was a popular salsa form in the 60s, but Columbians found it rather slow so played their 33 rpm LPs at 45 rpm. This version does something similar, but still keeps a very danceable pace.

https://youtu.be/sswgxVzUg7o

Pueblo Latino by Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Spanish Harlem Orchestra, led by Oscar Hernandez, have been at the forefront of New York salsa music for the last decade. This track, from their debut album Un Gran Dia in el Barrio, epitomises all that is good about salsa dura.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu5FbqwbpIs

Ran Kan Kan by Tito Puente

One of the Mambo Kings, Tito Puente was a percussionist and band leader who made his name in the 1950s. A star of the Palladium, the dance hall in New York at the heart of the mambo craze, he has been prolific, producing huge numbers of great songs. Despite that, this track is easily his best. Driven from start to end, it makes any salsero want to dance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkNZEzFatpU

Avisale a mi Contrario Cantante by Tito Rodríguez

Another of the Mambo Kings (the third being Machito), Tito Rodríguez was a Puerto Rican singer who’s good looks and smooth voice helped establish him in New York in the 1940s. Often producing blazing uptempo numbers, and despite following a lot of fads, he produced a classic mambo sounds. This is both a dancers & artists favourite with many covers floating around in different styles but this is the original and still the best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti9u9ZA-tyM

La Murga by Willie Colón

Willie Colon was the young trombone playing band leader who was amongst the first of Fania’s signings. His work with both Hector Lavoe & Ruben Blades epitomised the best of that era. While Lavoe sings on this track, it is Colon’s trombone that sticks in the memory. Strangely this track first appeared on a Christmas album!

https://youtu.be/B_gbgRgJQqw

Selecting 20 tracks was really hard, and there were many that didn’t quite make the cut. Here’s those that I short listed, but didn’t quite make the cut - classics every one:

  • Pio Mentiroso - Afro-Cuban All Stars
  • Ave Maria Lola - Conjunto Imagen
  • En El Aire - Croma Latina
  • El Preso - Fruko y Sus Tesos
  • Cali Pachanguero - Grupo Niche
  • La Pantera Mambo - La-33
  • La Salsa y El Guaguanco - La Excelencia
  • Thinking of You - Lenny Kravitz (Emilio Estefan remix)
  • Merecumbe - Los Titanes
  • Cuban Fantasy - Machito (the third Mambo King)
  • Es Solo Musica - Mamborama
  • Fuego a la Jicotea - Marvin Santiago
  • Noche de Rumberos - Miguel Cruz y Skins
  • Solo Fue un Noche - NG2
  • Mueve la Cintura Mulata - Omara Portunondo
  • Swing la Moderna - Ray Barretto
  • Mama Kiyelele - Ricardo Lemvo y MakinaLoca
  • Patria - Ruben Blades
  • Fragilidad - Sting
  • El Cuarto de Tula - Truco y Zaparoko
  • No Hace Falta Nada - Victor Manuelle
  • El Yo-Yo - Wayne Gorbea’s Salsa Picante
  • Salsa - Yuri Buenaventura