EL TIZZLE

Recently I was asked to compile a playlist by tha legendary Fania Records label, chosen from their online MP3 store. Obviously I'm a huge Fania stan but choosing 10 songs from their massive collection (even tha Slimfast version they have online in their MP3 store) proved to be a difficult task!!

Regardless, I figured I'd share this playlist with yall, not sure if its useful but hopefully it is. I have to shout out classics by artists like Chivirico, Bobby Cruz y Ricardo Rey, Impacto Crea, Benitez & Nebula, Manu Dibango, and other Fania-related artists who didn't make it onto tha MP3 site

Shout out to tha big homie O Dub for helping coordinate thangs, and stay tuned cuz FANIA LIVE TOUR 09 with Bobbito Garcia, Sake1 and DJ Laylo will be back in effect this year in SF, LA, Miami and NYC!

1. Ray Barretto, “Indestructible” – Timeless Nuyorican anthem made even more Timeless when it was used in Iris Morales’ Young Lords Party documentary, “Pa’lante Siempre Pa’lante.” This song crystallized the Fania sound and movement – and Barretto’s hands speak volumes, as usual.

2. Azuquita y Su Orquestra, “Guajiro Bacan” – Mainly for the drum break at the beginning and the hard funk guitar; but ultimately SO much more than that. Like many Fania tracks, this song transforms through time, space, rhythm and diaspora in under 5 minutes – something that modern music often fails to do over the course of en entire LP.

3. Roberto Roena, “Que Se Sepa” – A jaw-dropping fusion of traditional Matanzas with New Jack R&B. Roena’s Apollo Sound band was in absolute top form on this LP (“5”) and this song is one of the best on that set. Roena’s creativity is legendary; there’s a reason many call him ¡El Bongosero!

4. Ismael Rivera y Sus Cachimbos, “La Oportunidad” – Perhaps the greatest Boricua sonero, a great influence on Hector Lavoe and a true poet of the people – this song reflects the social climate of the Fania years, and the responsibility that the Fania artists took on to reflect that climate in their music.

5. Tico-Allegre All Stars, “Tito’s Odyssey” – A live performance that features Tito Puente doing an INSANE cover of the theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Illustrates both the creativity and instrumental virtuosity that set Fania Records apart from every other major music label (with the possible exception of Blue Note).

6. Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, “Vive Feliz” – A quentessential New York salsa track from the 70s – vocals, arrangement, tempo, everything is indicative of what made the NYC salsa sound so powerful. There’s no way to stay seated when this song comes on…

7. Machito, “El Santo in Nueva York” – Earlier Fania track that captures the dichotomy of diaspora. You can never go wrong starting a track off with a shout out to Yemaya; this tracks builds intensity and beautifully articulates the tension between ancient Yoruba, ancestral Caribbean, and future Shock.

8. Joe Cuba Sextet, “Alafia” – Named after the Lukumi (Santeria) word for “complete blessing” has an ill drum breakdown halfway through, where the traditional son rhythms fuse with modern soul drums, foreshadowing a grip of b-boy/b-girl classics to come.

9. Hector Lavoe, “Para Ochun y Yemaya” – A beautiful homage to Las Dos Aguas, the forces of procreation and restoration, love and happines, and a musical ancestor of the seminal 90s house track “River Ocean” by Masters at Work (featuring La India and….Tito Puente!)

10. The New Swing Sextet, “Revolucionando” – I played this at the Fania Live tribute in SF in 2008 and Bobbito Garcia bugged out! Which is reason enough to include it in ANY Fania Top 10 list…the drums are so clean and recorded perfectly and the vibes give the track an incredible high-end. Incredible record.

BONUS JOINT: Willie Colon, "Che Che Colé" (Sake1 Edit)


P.S. FANIA LIVE tour 09 feat. Bobbito Garcia, Sake1 & DJ Laylo comin' thru your town this Spring/Summer....keep your eyes peeled 8-)