Hector Lavoe – Comedia

Releases like this are why I love VMP, not an album I would pick for myself as I know nothing about Salsa but just smokes both musically and sonically. In that sweet spot where you can dance to it but interesting enough for deep listening.

So glad VMP picked this up. This and La Voz were the only Lavoe LP's I didn't have original copies of, and this one especially was crazy expensive. Just 2 weeks ago, browsing the Sounds of Universe shop in Soho, London, there was a VG Venzuvelan copy of this prized £50.00. So it was a good feeling to know that I would be getting the Kevin Gray cut soon. And now it's here, and it sounds specatcular. The glossy jacket printed at RTI is the cherry on top. Sleeve note booklet is very good too, and there is an original insert. I can't imagine an OG copy would come close! All of the other Lavoe LP's now need their Kevin Gray remastered version. Not counting the Willie Colon LP's, that's two already done (this and La Voz) , and five more LP's to go! Come on Fania/Craft/VMP!!!

A very full, rich and sharp sounding pressing. As usual, Kevin Gray did a killer job cutting this record. My only issue is that there are a few dropouts during El Cantante but Kevin had no control over that, only god knows how the master tape had been stored over the years. Absolute salsa masterpiece. Que descanse en paz el cantante de los cantantes, Héctor Lavoe!

Comedia, producido por el malo Willie Colon, se convirtió en el tercero como solista de Hector Lavoe.
Este contiene el reconocido titulo “El Cantante”, que muchos afirman que de esta canción salió el nombre de “El Cantante de los Cantantes”, como era conocido Lavoe.
También se conoce que esta canción, El Cantante, composición de Blades, fue escrita por Rubén, para el mismo Ruben, pero que finalmente a través de Colon, Blades la cedió a Lavoe.
Trabajo este grabado en Tierra Sound Studios de NY, que conto con Jon Fausty como ingeniero, y que en su gran totalidad fuera mezclado por el mismo Colon.
Músicos como Reynaldo Jorge, Luis Perico Ortiz, Jose Febles, Jose Mangual jr, Eddie Montalvo, Milton Cardona, el pulpo Colon, Salvador Cuevas y Alfredo de la Fe, fueron los que adornaron los estudios de grabación.
Willie Colon, Perico Ortiz, José Febles, y Edwin Rodríguez se encargaron de los arreglos.
Recordemos entonces esos más de 10 minutos que nos regala Lavoe con “El Cantante”, otros casi 8 minutos con “Songoro Cosongo” y otros casi 10 con “Bandolera”.

Great 1970s New York Salsa. I really enjoyed "Comedia". Hector Lavoe is at his best- especially with "El Cantante".

OjO: IMO, and although not indicated here, this release Hector Lavoe - Comedia. Simply by looking at the labels you can see the difference.