Que Viva La Musica
Skilolo | 09/04/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Warning do not buy this cd it is defective. the second track (bruca manigua) is missing the chois. Many other tracks are missing instruments within the songs."
Problem with earlier pressing resolved! It sounds great!!!
coa1881 | New York, NY USA | 09/23/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"10 STARS!!!!!
Here's the latest info on this reissue (10/02/08). It is safe to buy now. It sounds great!!! The percussion and vocals have been enhanced and overall the new mix is well done. Still, there are spots where a bit too much compression is used and some depth and ambiance has been lost. (That's just my humble opinion.) However, the cd is much more enjoyable than the first batch which was clearly defective.
The lesson for you Emusica (and Universal) is to have a knowledgeable person, familiar with the material, proof the final production master before printing the cds.
(09/23/08)
This is arguably Barretto's finest salsa album and a milestone for NYC-based Latin music. All the tracks from this record were hits back in 1972 and they still sound fresh today.
The reason I gave it one star is the poor remastering by Emusica. Seemingly there are serious problems with the master copy they are using. For example, there is too much compression, too much bass, and the second track is missing the important timbales and "coro" parts.
Nobody seems to be paying attention at Emusica. This is not the first reissue from the Fania catalog that they have destroyed.
****LATE WORD HAS IT THAT THIS CD WILL BE RECALLED AND A NEW ONE WILL BE ISSUED*****
-Only then it will be safe to buy, hopefully."