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History and Discography of Irakere - CD Buyer's Guide

CD Guide

So ... what are these indispensable tracks and what's the easiest and cheapest way to collect them? There's no fully satisfying answer. Even if you spring for the four best "greatest hits" compilations, you can see from the chart that you'll still be missing some tracks you won't want to live without. Keep in mind that the one "roots of timba" track you absolutely have to have is Bacalao con pan. Also note that Volume 4 of La colección is live - all others are studio.

Essential Irakere Dance Tracks

La colección title compilations (see below)
Vol. 1 Bacalao con pan 1, 3
Vol. 4 Por romper el coco 2, 4
Vol. 4 Aguanile bonkó 1, 4
Vol. 7 El tata 3
Vol. 1, 4 Quindiambo 4
  Chéquere-son 2
Vol. 5 Ese atreviemiento  
Vol. 9 Rucu rucu a Santa Clara 1, 3
Vol. 3 Xiomara 2
Vol. 11 Santiaguera 1, 3

Other Good Dance Tracks

source title compilations
Vol. 6 Que se sepa yo soy de la Habana 4
Vol. 5 Yo quiero confusión  
Vol. 9 Bailando así 1
Vol. 11 Ruta 43  
Vol. 11 Mejicanita  

Great Folkloric Fusion Track

source title compilations
Vol. 3, 4 Iyá 2
Vol. 3 Juana 1600  

Nice Tributes to Earlier Genres

source title compilations
Vol. 5, 7 Dile a Catalina 3, 4
Vol. 9 Homenaje a Beny 3, 4
Vol. 10 A Chano Pozo 4

Compilation #1
cuban music, musica cubana
La Escondida

Compilation #2
cuban music, musica cubana
VampiSoul

Compilation #3
cuban music, musica cubana
Pimienta

Compilation #4
cuban music, musica cubana
EGREM

Putting it all together ... if you can live without Bailando así and Juana 1600, here's our recommended list, in order:

1) Compilation #3
2) Colección Vol. 4
3) Colección Vol. 5
4) Compilation #2
5) Colección Vol. 11
6) Compilation #4

Additional Recommendation:

The 1997 timba era Babalú Ayé

Irakere on DVD:
The 1982 Tierrazo concert video from Puerto Rico
The so-called 1979 Venezuelan video
(actually from 1980 - black & white - bootleg)
Latin Jazz Founders Documentary
(Historical Documentary with some musical performances - more info)

Tuesday, 22 March 2011, 07:32 PM