Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound Lucky 7 International Records (INT-907) There is no doubt the the most popular band in Puerto Rico & South America during the 1970s was Roberto Roenas Apollo Sound. Lucky 7 was Roenas seventh effort with Fania International Records, following his discreet debut as the leader of Los Megatones & a fruitful career as the bongo player for Rafael Cortijos combo & l8ter, Rafael Ithiers El Gran Combo. With Lucky 7, Roena cemented his popularity at the continental level, thanks to the arrangement of an innovative song that broke the mold of the irresistible salsa sound institutionalized in New York during the 70s: Mi Desengano, by Julio Merced & Pucho Soufront. In 1976, the Apollo Sound & its new vocalist, Papo Sanchez, a proud native of Hatillo, Puerto Rico, rose to the top of the charts with this nostalgic song of unrequited love. In the arrangement, trombonist Julio Merced himself incorporated the rhythm of the samba into this son infused with bossa nova, jazz, & bomba. The success of Mi Desengano inspired many to reinvent their salsa sound & formula, producing more elaborate , harmonically sophisticated arrangements, such as those Marty Sheller created for Willie Colon in New York. In addition to being the foundation for Papo Sanchezs debut, Lucky 7 boasted the arrangements & compositions of such veteran trumpeter Luis Perico Ortiz & Elias Lopes, pianist Papo Lucca & Jorge Millet, & the King of the bass, Bobby Valentin. The album starts out with the guaguanco tune Que Me Castigue Dios sung by Sammy Gonzalez, a star vocalist of the Apollo Sound until La 8va Maravilla, the bands next album. On Que Me Cadtigue Dios, we hear then-newcomer Ruben Blades reciting verses at the end that would earn him the reputation of feminist organizations today, but that in 1976 were applauded by the machista culture of the industry: Que se me seque la boca/si yo vuelvo a besar/Y si te vuelvo a mirar/que se me nuble la vista/me canso tu mal aliento/que nunca te reproche/tambien te huelen los pies/y se que ni los gusanos/contigo no meterian mano en el dia que te mueras/y que una vaca cualquiera y yo un caballo con clase/ojala un truck te pase por encima de tu cabesa/pa que salga la sucieza con que tu a mi me trataste. Lucky 7 also satisfied the demands of the dancing community. Although many may have crossed paths dancing to the samba track Mi Desengano & the fusion of Que Me Castigue Dios, the merengue hit La Mala Mana (arranged by the bands pianist Carlos Rodriguez), the pachanga/cumbia tune Estas Equivocada, Arsenio Rodriguezs composition A Bailar Mi Bomba & the guaguanco hits Me Le Fugue A La Candela, La Hija De La Vecina, & Fea gratified the couples overflowing out of dance clubs such as Rancho Luna, El Morocco, & El Carretero. Theres no doubt that the best incarnation of the Apollo Sounds orchestra was the one that played on Lucky 7: flutist Miguel Rodriguez, trumpeter Mario Cora, timbal player Cuqui Santos, conguero Papo Clemente, & trombonist Julio Merced, who would l8ter abandon the band with Papo Sanchez to form the group Latin Fever. Four decades after its release, the album is still a true classic. Enjoy! Side A 1. Que Me Castigue Dios * 2. A Bailar Mi Bomba ** 3. Te Voy A Tratar *** 4. Estas Equivocada **** 5. Fea ***** Side B 1. Mi Desengano ** 2. La Hija De La Vecina ****** 3. Hoy Mi Dia Triste *** 4. La Mala Mana ******* 5. Me Fugue A La Candela **** Personnel: Roberto Roena: Leader, Bongo, Cowbell, Agogo Bell, Quinto Mario Alvarez Cora: Trumpet Dario Morales: Trumpet Fernando Marcano: Trumpet, Flugelhorn Julio Merced: Trombone Carlos Rodriguez: Piano Pucho Soufront: Ampeg Baby Bass Papo Clemente: Conga, Percussion Cuqui Santos: Timbales Lead Vocals: Sammy Gonzalez Papo Sanchez Coro: Justo Betancourt Paquito Guzman Mario Alvarez Cora Special Invited Guest Stars: Johnny Pacheco: Tambora (B5) Antonio Mateo: Guira (B5) Tony Sanchez: Trap Drums (A3), B3) Musical Arrangements by: Luis Perico Ortiz * Papo Lucca ** Elias Lopes *** Jorge Millet **** Papo Lucca ***** Bobby Valentin ****** Chokie Rodriguez ******* Produced by: Roberto Roena Executive Producer: Jerry Masucci Album Cover & Liner Photos: Lee Marshall Album Cover Design: Ron Levine Recording Engineers: Jon Fausty Jonathan Castro Recorded @: Good Vibrations Sound Studios, NYC Recorded @: Ocho Sound Corp., San Juan, Puerto Rico INTERNATIONAL RECORDS, 1976 A FANIA RECORDS PRODUCTION
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 02:12:58 +0000
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