Larry Harlow's Fantasy Island Tracks

If you were stranded on a desert Island, which tracks would you absolutely need to have to get you through those times of loneliness and despair? Our castaway this week is Fania legend Larry Harlow, known affectionately by his Latin peers as El Judio Maravilloso, one of the hidden gems behind the rise of Fania as Latin music's label extraordinaire in the late '60s and early '70s. Larry Harlow served as producer for countless Fania LPs, musical director of the Fania All-Stars, and of course, captain of his own Orchestra Harlow. Harlow had a foot in both contemporary and traditionalist camps: he recorded an impressive Latin opera that was performed at Carnegie Hall. We asked Larry to put in his request for musical salvation, and this is what he said...
by Larry Harlow
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These tracks aren't necesarily 'favourites' but perhaps tracks that remind me of a particular era, time, place or moment in my life. A track I may want for nostalgic reasons. Tracks that really mean something to me, that represent landmarks in my life. Here they are!

1. Sketches of Spain by Miles Davis

2. Sargeant Pepper by The Beatles

 

3. Arsenio Rodriguez

 

 

4. Charlie Parker with strings

5. Green Dolphin Street - John Coltrane

 

 

6. Fania All Stars live at The Cheetah

 

 

7. Desfinado by Joao Gilberto

 

 

8.  Art Tatum

 

 

9. Orqesta Aragon de Cuba

 

10. Harlow's Hommy a Latin opera 

 

 

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