El Gran Combo: S/D

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Mostly S. I have two 2-CD compilations by them (not counting a mediocre 2-CD remix experiment), and a couple other CDs, but I continue to regularly hear really good songs by them that I'm not familiar with. (Once again, I recommend the salsa channel at www.di.fm, which plays a ton of their stuff.) They are one of a handful of bands that receive direct transmissions from the salsa oversoul.

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Monday, 17 January 2005 05:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I have one lp of theirs. I haven't listened to it in ages.

I will try to pull it out and gather some thoughts.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 17 January 2005 05:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll have more to say eventually. I don't actually have the names of that many of their songs memorized.

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Monday, 17 January 2005 05:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Here's another one of their songs, "Serrara," on that streaming salsa channel.

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Monday, 17 January 2005 05:46 (twenty-one years ago)

But see, I think they are a quintessentially great dance band. When you read their own comments, they usually say, well, basically we're a dance band. That's what we do. Some of their songs ("Don Goyo" for instance) sound like commands to dance. There are parts of that that I listen to and imagine a certain kind of switching back and forth between two dancers. They tend not to have as strong an upfront vocalist as some bands, but their strength is spread out across the whole band.

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Monday, 17 January 2005 21:00 (twenty-one years ago)

The 2-cd "30 Anniversario - Bailando Con El Mundo" has the biggest # of classics in their original version. If you start there, you'll be chewing on that for a while.

I always get tempted, though, to buy more of their back catalog, especially those old 70's releases with the cool covers. I don't have that many, but "Breaking the Ice" from 1984 is my favorite so far.

― pheNAM (pheNAM), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 14:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I have the 20th (which is very solid) and 35th anniversary (which is at least halfway solid) sets, the remix set from last year, Nuevo Milenio - El Mismo Sabor, and another one with really old stuff that I never listen to.

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 17:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I just have the 35th anniversary one which I mostly like.

― steve-k, Wednesday, 19 January 2005 03:08 (twenty-one years ago)

"They tend not to have as strong an upfront vocalist as some bands"

True, but let's not fail to mention ANDY MONTANEZ!!!

btw, the 35th anniv set is not the one with Live versions, right?

― pheNAM (pheNAM), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 05:01 (twenty-one years ago)

How long did Andy Montanez sing with them? He would be an exception to what I said. The solo Andy Montanez recordings I've heard haven't thrilled me, and yet when I saw him a live a couple summers back, it was one of the best live shows I've ever seen. Too me, he sounded much better live. I'm not sure why.

No, the 35th Anniv. is not live material (except for one song on the end).

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 05:15 (twenty-one years ago)

"was one of the best live shows I've ever seen"

Agreed. He blew me away too - although I like him on record as well. And I'm not sure how long his tenure with EGC was, but he's on a 1972 album I have called "Por El Libre".

Ever heard "Casi Te Envidio"? I've always loved that song, but it's so over-the-top that I've wondered if people found it annoying. It's one of his solo hits from the 80's.

― pheNAM (pheNAM), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 05:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't know that one (by name anyway).

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

Search "Azuquita Pal Cafe"

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Saturday, 19 March 2005 00:42 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

Search "Carmencita"

― RS_LaRue (RSLaRue), Monday, 9 May 2005 23:29 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

"Que Me Lo Den En Vida"

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Monday, 1 August 2005 21:05 (twenty years ago)

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