Isaac Hayes' "Theme From Shaft" is pretty damn perfect. But this version that closes things out on Joe Bataan's "St. Latin's Day Massacre" is an ass-kicker.
I've been listening to a lot of the Fania catalogue lately, Ray Barretto, Ralfi Pagan, Joe Bataan, and discovering some incredible music that feels very familiar, especially during summer in the city. But this music has always been the soundtrack of NYC summers. I have only recently made it a focus and I am loving it.
Check out the drumming at the end of Bataan's "Shaft," That kick drum on the last 45 seconds is bad ass.
5 comments:
Joe Bataan is great! "Subway Joe" is another great one--song & album. I had a phase where I went crazy for all the Fania/Tico/Allegre stuff--actually, that phase is not over yet. Such great energy. A lot of the Fania stuff got re-issued and was easy to get, maybe it still is? J&R Music World downtown used to have a great Latin Music selection, of course, long gone. (sigh)...
J&R Music. I spent many a lunch hour there way back when. I miss those days.
Mrs pmac is a fania maniac. She turned me onto Bataan. Great artist.
I've been working my way through the albums on Rolling Stone's newish 100 Best Country albums since I hadn't heard about a third of them. My first impression is that Rolling Stone is probably not the BEST authority for definitive country albums, but still finding some really good stuff.
P.S. Do keep us up on the best Fania albums you're hearing!
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