Search - Petrol Presents :: Greatest Songs Ever: Cuba

Petrol Records is an Australia-based company founded by former INX manager Chris Murphy that specialized in pop and rock before branching off into reggaeton and world music. Though the 12 tracks assembled on this compilation represent a good sampling of the son, montuno, bolero, and descarga genres that characterize Cuba's powerful mix of Spanish and African influences, the declaration that this disc represents "The Greatest Songs Ever" is enthusiastic at best. That said, there are some rare gems here, like Maraca's bouncy, "Tumbao Pa' Changuito," the immortal standard "El Manisero," known worldwide as "The Peanut Vendor," by Chira and Septeto Nacional, and the equally famous "Lagrimas Negras," performed by Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Pineiro, one of Cuba's most beloved conjunto ensembles. Selections by other groups, including Ad Libitum, Grupo Sonorama, and Los Naranjos, round out this collection, which is probably more suited for the Latin music neophyte than the seasoned listener. --Eugene Holley, Jr.