No.1 LOUIE RAMIREZ Y SUS AMIGOS (Cotique 1978) Louie Ramirez
The brain behind fania, the creator of salsa romantica, producer, A&R, arranger, composer, musician, he could virtually play all the instruments in a salsa band. I think is fair to say Louie Ramirez was a genius of tropical music. This was his "Fania" Album, a non commercial project brining together Ruben Blades, Camilo Azuquita and Adalberto Santiago on vocals plus and all star cast of musicians to create one of the most originals, exiting and forward thinking albums salsa music ever saw. Now a collector's item.
No.2 ERNIE's CONSPIRACY (Vaya 1972) Ernie Agosto
A band linked to the Young Lords (Neuyorican answer to the Black Panthers), led by percussionist Ernie Agosto, what they lack in musical quality, they made up in swing and attitude, this is what salsa in the 70's in NY was about: raw street poetry
No.3 FUEGO 77 (Alegre 1977) Fuego 77
A not very well known album but as far as Salsa Dura goes, a true gem. With a young Frankie Vasquez (Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Soneros de Barrio, Conjunto Libre and The Lebron Brothers) on the vocals. One of those bands that did not achieve commercial success but managed to leave a hell of an album for future generations.
No.4 CHEO (Vaya 1971) Cheo Feliciano
Drugs were part of Salsa as much as they have been part of any other music movement. Cheo Feliciano had been a major artist under Joe Cuba's band and got hooked on hard drugs. This is his first album as a solo artist soon after coming out of rehab. Ana Caona, Esto es el Guaguanco and Mi Triste Problema. Co-produced by Tite Curet Alonzo and featuring Louie Ramirez, Larry Harlow, Bobby Valentin, Orestes Vilato and Jonhy Rodrigues. Salsa don't come much better than this.
No.5 EL JUICIO (Fania 1972) Wilie Colon and Hector Lavoe
This is probably the best album by Hector Lavoe with the Willie Colon Orchestra. A real fest of big tunes, including the seminals Timbalero, Ah Ah No No and the fantastic Santería tribute Aguanile. This album turned Colon and Lavoe into superstars and became the best selling Latin LP ever until Siembra broke the record 6 years later.
No.6 LA VOZ (Fania 1975) Hector Lavoe
The first Lavoe album as a soloist. Still under the tutelage of Wllie Colon, it was the break that the industry was expecting. It might not have been his best album ("De ti Depende" is up there too) but it poved that Lavoe was a star on his own right and delivered an array of classics such as Rompe Saraguey, El Todopoderoso, Paraiso de Dulzura and Mi Gente. This is a must for any self-respecting salsero.
No.7 TRAIGO DE TODO (Tico 1974) Ismael Rivera
My all time favourite Salsa singer, Ismael Rivera was a living legend in the Hispanic Caribbean and the US. Arguably the best improviser Salsa music has ever seen, this album shows Rivera at his best when singing El Nazareno, his tribute to the black Christ of Panama. Rivera recorded many albums, before and after but few captured his persona as well as this one. The guy is still a legend in Puerto Rico.
No.8 SIEMBRA (Fania 1978)
Ruben Blades and Willie Colon. Probably the best Salsa album ever recorded. Ruban Blades on the vocals and produced by Willie Colon, salsa music reached a new pinacle with this album that features Pedro Navaja, Siembra, Maria Lionza, Plastico, Dime and Buscando Guayaba...in 1 album. A real masterpiece.
No. 9 CHAMPAGNE (Tico 1968) Eddie Palmieri
Eddie Palmieri is one the most influential Latin musician ever. Most of his albums are fantastic, but Champaigne is a very special one. The 60s were coming to an end and New Yonk was seeing the transformation of the Latino community. Palmieri encapsulated all those changes, he was paying salsa before the name existed and he shaped the sound that conquered the whole world. Champagne was probably the last album Palmieri did that was still appprochable for the masses, after this album he took a more experimental jazzy road for a while...and features Cheo Feliciano in one of the best salsa tunes ever "Busca Lo Tuyo". What else can you ask for?
No. 10 HOMMY...A Latin Opera (Fania 1974) Orquesta Harlow
This is a crazy album produced by Larry Harlow and the first recording Celia Cruz did for Fania records. Hommy was Latin Opera and featured some of the major players in NY at the time such as Pete El Conde Rodriguez, Justo Betacourt, Adalberto Santiago and the "newcomer" Celia Cruz. Legend says that Celia recorded her first tune Gracia Divina in just one take, without rehearsing and a couple of hours after arriving in NY. After that she just went to become the undisputed Queen of Salsa
