Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 06/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tito Puente
"Dance Mania" (Legacy Edition)
(Sony Legacy, 2009)
-----------------------------------------
A deluxe 2-CD reissue of the best-known album from the legendary nuyoriquen bandleader Tito Puente... Originally released in 1958, "Dance Mania" was a sizzling set that helped solidify the popularity of the mambo craze, and made Tito Puente a household name. Fifty-plus years later and it still sounds great, as does the 1960 follow-up, "Dance Mania, v.2," which is included here as well. Both original albums were short by today's standards -- about forty minutes long -- and Sony Legacy (bless their little hearts) takes the opportunity to stuff an extra twenty-one tracks on, including outtakes and alternates, as well as a bunch of other tunes from the same era. It's classic mambo and Latin Jazz -- dense musical ideas set to addictive rhythms, with Puente's jaw-dropping percussion throughout. All killer, no filler!"
Tito Puente's Dancemania
CanelaManCA | Atlanta, GA USA | 10/30/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Of all the albums that Tito Puente produced (100+), Dance Mania is my favorite. The sweet latin rythms, musical notes, and classic style of the 50's, 60's and 70's are all rolled up in one. A must have for any serious latin music lover and dancer!"
Definitive classic
Mambonik | Long Island ,New York | 10/05/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of the top 10 albums, of any genre, recorded in the last
fifty years. Firstly,it was recorded when there was a big breakthrough
in recording stereo techniques.The sound quality is as good as anything
done today. The band personnel included Doc Sevrenson on trumpet and
Ray Barreto on congas, to name a few. The arrangements sizzle caliente
and are super tight.
This a strict dance album with a mix of slow(bolero),medium(son montuno)
and fast(guaguanco)and mambo tunes(before the term salsa) that is well
balanced to keep everyone on the dance floor. Included are a couple of
Tito's all time favorites : El Cayuco and Hong Kong Mambo- which is seminar
on how to play the marimba.
"
Tito Puente Dance Mania
John Resciniti | Parsippany, NJ | 01/11/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My students came into class as this was playing. They were all dancing after the confused looks left their faces! This is a great album full of so much. Came quick, and it even has a nice plastic sleeve for keeping the paperboard box in good shape."