Search - Jose Alfredo Jimenez :: Mexicanisimo

A young El Rey

Enrique Torres | San Diegotitlan, Califas | 01/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, Jose Alfredo Jimenez was and is the king(El Rey) of ranchera music. He was and is simply the best. His heart felt emotions pour out of every song in red, green and white colors of nationalism as he paints the aurul landscape. This is a great historical CD. Although there are no liner notes it is very obvious that these songs are some of his earliest recordings, probably before international fame. It is clearly evident in the vocals as his voice sounds younger and more melodic. Some of the songs on this CD are beautiful songs that are not his most familiar. Others are the classics he made so popular like "El Caballo Blanco," "Corrido de Mazatlan,""El 15 de Septiembre,"Quando Los Anos Pasen,"and "La de el Rebozo Blanco," just to name a few. The difference with this recording from others is even his standards sound distinctly different. This is the Jose Alfredo Jimenez before the hard living took it's toll on his voice. There are a few songs from obviously a later period as his voice is more robust, more characteristically El Rey. Never the best of singers, his strength was in the words and songs he penned. He even hits a rarely heard from him falsetto voice in "La Del Rebozo Blanco", not exactly Miguel Aceves Mejia but something unique from him nonetheless. This is an exceptional view of El Rey in his early years. The mariachi is excellent and when the chorus sings you can tell the music is old, dated clasico for your approval. As far as I'm concerned you can never have too much Jose Alfredo Jimenez, this one is a winner for the ranchera lover. A bargain at less than fifty cents a song, these 24 classics are a good buy. Although this is probably not the place to start for the novice, so try "33 Grandes Exitos" for an exceptional overview. Listen to this y como dice El Rey," hasta el pobre se siente como millonario.""