Customer Reviews

Best of

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yes, the recordings here are core treasures of Tango. But the audio processing causes there to be resonances at certain midrange frequencies that are harsh and irritating. Better sound, and twice the tracks for 1/3 more, can be found in "Lo Mejor de lo Mejor" (as it is listed on Amazon --- the CD actually is called "Carlos Gardel 40 Temas Originales").

This album lives up to its title, displaying Gardel as the indisputable king of the tango genre. While there is some background noise, it serves to make authentic these recordings dating mostly from the first half of the 1930's, and in no way detracts from the way Gardel maximizes the connection between the sentimental lyrics and plaintive melodies of these tracks.

Three of the selections merit special mention. Mi Buenos Aires Querido is especially touching to those who know that Gardel, then Carlos Gardes, immigrated to the slums of Buenos Aires at age three with his mother. Volver is the epitomy of songs in which a male mourns his inability to put aside his lost love; Gardel is far more convincing than Julio Iglesias on the latter's album "Tango". Finally, El dia que me quieras has lyrics so mellifluous and loaded with emotional triggers that one can understand why Gardel's tragic death comprised an international tragedy in an age when there was far less cognizance of foreign culture than today. The informative liner notes greatly add to the appreciation of these well-selected classics.

"The Best of Carlos Gardel" earns five stars for its authentic presentation of the highly talented originator of the sung tango, which is inextricably tied to the culture of Argentina and is excellent entertainment in its own right.

Without a doubt the selections chosen exemplify the purity and passion of tango. With a voice that transcends time, Gardel reaches the very pinnacle of musical greatness. Gardel's greatness cannot be overstated: his baritone voice is classic, the sound is timeless, and the lyrics bring nostalgia.

To add to the review above about the 78 RPM Sound. To listen to Gardel with all the scratched and pops of the old recording is the full romantic essence of his music and of the era. A clean orchestrated Gardel as in True Lies is as plastic is to Gold!

The Gardel music is authentic in every way but since it has been recorded and remastered from old 78 records, the sound quality is poor and is a representation of the music sounds from that era. If you are looking for that full fledged orchestrated version of Carlos's tangos such as heard at the end of the True Lies movie, it is best to keep searching for a more recent recording.

There 's a famous Argentine aforism:"Gardel is like the good wine; everydays sings still better".

The tango is winter 's memory; unfinished happiness, indifference ' s smile, old livings and memories either pleasant or unpleasant. Single poetry masked by the collective stardom.

Carlos Gardel `s legend has enhanced through the years. His undeniable abilities and countless virtues, impeccable diction and stage presence gave the tango a special status that surmounted its intrinsic level (Borges called it once a reptile of brothel) and make the definitive leap in the good taste of every melomaniac around the world.

The tango as memory, nostalgia 's matrix, about what it could have been and was not. A musical genre that accounts the little and if you want insignificant anecdotes of unknown and crepuscular human beings; that revives those livings of our vanished childhood and youth; that reminds Mi Buenos Aires with the same sensation of desperate anguish interweaved with hopeless; the appropriate immigrant 's song.

A magnificent selection of Gardel , best known as "El morocho del abasto", where each June 24th of every year in many corners of the world a crowd of people gather with the only purpose to remind his memory.

If you like Tango then this is a must have in your collection, I can not get enough of this record, the songs are original and believe it or not several of his songs have become very famous, and I did not know about it until I heard this record. For example: in the movie" Scent of a Woman" where Al Pacino dances beautifully the Tango... what a lovely tune .. is one of Carlito's songs " Por una Cabeza"; then I fell in love with another song from the title movie "Volver" with Penelope Cruz the song was sang by Estrella Morente and I loved her music too but I was in total shock to find that is one of Carlito's songs.

The first approach to listen to Tango is to listen to Carlos Gardel.Even if you don't understand the words, the music transgresses the melancoly of the songs, the softness of the feelings. Close your eyes and dance on the traditional langourous tango rhythms

This is a must for all lovers of the Tango and of Argentina. A remastering of twenty recordings made by the legendary Argentine Tango composer and singer Carlos Gardel in the period December, 1926, through March, 1935. Fifteen are compositions by Gardel, himself, and all but two are Tangos; a Foxtrot and a Milonga are included for their obvious historical interest. Given what the American and Western European versions of the Tango came to be, these renditions emphasize the working class, almost folk nature of Gardel's art. Gardel's voice is that of a natural, untrained entertainer. While it has become standard practice to record these pieces with guitar and bandelon accompaniment, these recordings feature a full string section, as well.

Fantastic CD. Really enjoyed listening to it!