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Avg: 4.5 (4 ratings)
- Date Released: July 23, 2002
- Genre: Jazz
- Label: Columbia/Legacy
- Copyright: (P) 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 Fania Records, 2002 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
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They Say...
Most listeners wouldn't consider this a proper best-of, despite the title, since it only includes material from the band's late-'70s stint with Columbia. Fania All-Stars' late-'70s stint with the label is usually rated as a time that saw them tone down their more ethnic and improvisational facets for a more pop-crossover reach. Generally that's true, but that doesn't mean that this record isn't generally worthwhile, though it might not be their purest brand of salsa. With three or four tracks apiece from their four 1976-1979 Columbia LPs, there are just four players who appear on all 13 songs: pianist Papo Lucca, timbalist Nicky Marrero, percussionist Robert Roena, and Pacheco on flute. There are way too many other musicians coming in and out to keep count of, some of them not from salsa backgrounds, like guitarist Steve Winwood (who played on the 1976 album Delicate and Jumpy), trumpeter Randy Brecker, and guitarist Eric Gale. Still, the main thrust is engaging salsa with some pop-friendly soul and fusion attributes that don't get too terribly slick (though at moments they get close), with major Latin singers Rubén Blades and Celia Cruz taking some vocals; "Isadora," featuring Cruz, is the highlight. At 74 minutes it's good value, too, though not the best Fania All-Stars album to start with.
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13 Total Tracks, 74:14 Total Length
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Credits
- Ray Barretto - Conga // Ray Barretto - Conga // Rubén Blades - Vocals // Rubén Blades - Vocals // Rubén Blades - Choir, Chorus // Rubén Blades - Choir, Chorus // Johnny Pacheco - Flute // Johnny Pacheco - Flute // Johnny Pacheco - Flute // Johnny Pacheco - Flute // Johnny Pacheco - Percussion // Johnny Pacheco - Percussion // Johnny Pacheco - Percussion // Johnny Pacheco - Percussion // Johnny Pacheco - Vocals // Johnny Pacheco - Vocals // Johnny Pacheco - Vocals // Johnny Pacheco - Vocals // Johnny Pacheco - Choir, Chorus // Johnny Pacheco - Choir, Chorus // Johnny Pacheco - Choir, Chorus // Johnny Pacheco - Choir, Chorus // Bobby Valentín - Bass // Patti Austin - Vocals // Patti Austin - Vocals // Gwen Guthrie - Vocals // Steve Winwood - Guitar // Jon Faddis - Trumpet // Jon Faddis - Trumpet // Mike Lawrence - Trumpet // Tom "Bones" Malone - Trombone // David Sanborn - Sax (Alto) // Marvin Stamm - Trumpet // Marvin Stamm - Trumpet // Al Brown - Viola // Gene Page - Producer // Fania All-Stars - Main Performer // David Nadien - String Conductor // Steven Berkowitz - A&R // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Celia Cruz - Vocals // Jonathan Abramowitz - Cello // Tito Allen - Choir, Chorus // Wayne Andre - Trombone // Tony Bongiovi - Engineer // James Bossy - Trumpet // Randy Brecker - Trumpet // Randy Brecker - Trumpet // Sam Burtis - Trumpet // Hector Casanova - Vocals // Jay Chattaway - Arranger // Jay Chattaway - Producer // Vivian Cherry - Vocals // Bob Clearmountain - Engineer // Bob Clearmountain - Mixing // Sal Cuevas - Bass // Harry Cykman - Violin // Don Renaldo - Strings // Max Ellen - Violin // Doug Epstein - Engineer // Paul Faulise - Trombone // Barry Finclair - Violin // Jimmy Frisaura - Trumpet // Eric Gale - Guitar // Paul Gershman - Violin // Diana Halprin - Violin // Harry Lookofsky - Violin // David Hassinger - Engineer // Alec Head - Engineer // Yogi Horton - Drums // Gary King - Synthesizer // Greg Ladanyi - Engineer // Jeff Layton - Guitar // Papo Lucca - Piano // Papo Lucca - Keyboards // Nicky Marrero - Timbales // Ricardo Marrero - Guitar (Rhythm) // Jerry Masucci - Producer // Jerry Masucci - Associate Producer // Jerry Masucci - Associate Arranger // Charles McCracken - Cello // Vince Montana - String Arrangements // Luis "Perico" Ortíz - Trumpet // Joseph M. Palmaccio - Mastering // Lance Quinn - Guitar // Matthew Raimondi - Violin // Louie Ramirez - Arranger // Louie Ramirez - Horn // Louie Ramirez - Vibraphone // Alan Raph - Trombone // Pat Rebillot - Piano // Roberto Roena - Percussion // Roberto Roena - Percussion // Roberto Roena - Percussion // Roberto Roena - Bongos // Roberto Roena - Bongos // Roberto Roena - Bongos // Jimmy Sabater - Choir, Chorus // Nestor Sanchez - Vocals // Nestor Sanchez - Choir, Chorus // Zachary Sanders - Vocals // Mongo Santamaria - Conga // Mongo Santamaria - Conga // Mongo Santamaria - Conga // Adalberto Santiago - Vocals // Adalberto Santiago - Choir, Chorus // Terry Silverlight - Drums // Richard Sortomme - Violin // Jimmy Young - Drums // Hector "Bomberito" Zarzuela - Trumpet // Irving Greenbaum - Engineer // Billy Page - Producer // Emanuel Vardi - Viola // John Swenson - Liner Notes // Howard Fritzson - Art Direction // Margery Greenspan - Design // Raymond Simpson - Vocals // Izzy Sanabria - Photography // Izzy Sanabria - Cover Design // Izzy Sanabria - Editorial Adviser // Jerry Rappaport - Compilation Producer // Alan Swartzberg - Drums // Louie Cruz - Arranger // Louis Kahn - Trombone // Louis Kahn - Violin // Patti Matheny - A&R // George Annis - Horn Arrangements // Bill Eaton - Arranger // Bill Eaton - Horn // Jeffrey Peisch - Project Director // Darren Salmieri - A&R // Fong Y. Lee - Packaging Manager
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Other Details
- Instruments:
- Guitar //
- Percussion //
- Piano //
- Trumpet //
- Bass (Vocal) //
- Keyboards //
- Sax (Alto)
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