Stephen Taylor | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | 02/07/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Compay Segundo's rich, throaty voice is a perfect accompaniment to the twangy, slightly out-of-tune armonico guitar he plays on here, which makes "Lo mejor de la vida" a step up from a couple of his other recordings, especially the windy "Calle Salud", which I thought was too top-heavy with clarinets and saxophones. Compay is always at his best, but the accompaniment here truly shines, a fine sugar coating on the tip of this pungent old Cuban cigar.The reviewer below was dead on. Segundo's sound truly is unique and irreplaceable. This is definitely "the best of life". Great stuff! Get it."
TWO THUMBS WAY UP FOR COMPAY !!
Francisco Arturo Melara | Hattiesburg, MS USA | 10/08/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"El Maestro Francisco "Compay" Segundo is perhaps Cuba's ambassador of its fine folk music. Like many people have said, it is a SHAME that his music is barely trespassing the island's boundries in last couple of years. The vocals, the acoustic guitar rythyms and the Afro-Cuban drums are simply out of this world. You will never regret buying this CD. Long live Compay!"
Loved it from the first time I listened
BVSC fanatic | United States | 06/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I now have 20 CDs by various artists associated with the Buena Vista Social Club project, and I fell in love with this one from the very first listening. Of the 14 tracks, "Cuba y España" is the only one of which I find tedious. On the other extreme, "Es Mejor Vivir Así" is, by itself, probably worth the price of the whole CD.Most of the rest are excellent. Some of merely wonderful. If you're a fan of Compay Segundo's, this one should definitely be in your collection."
Farewell to Compay Segundo
Martin A. Kalis | Atlanta, GA United States | 07/19/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Born on November 18, 1907 in Siboney, Cuba, Maximo Francisco Repilado Munoz (better known as "Compay Segundo") died of kidney failure on July 13, 2003 in Havana, Cuba. Farewell to an unbelievably charismatic and talented musician. Known for his sporty, Borsalino-style hats and trademark cigars, Segundo was truly young at heart and rich in sound. He reemerged in popularity in 1997 with the Buena Vista Social Club documentary and CD. With the passing of segundo, the world has lost a truly unique and irreplaceable sound."