Customer Reviews

Best of Lydia Mendoza

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Arhoolie Records has long been the curator of the legacy of Texas music legend Lydia Mendoza, one of the most powerful singers to hail from the Tex-Mex border area in the 20th Century. Mendoza passed away in December, 2007, and this collection is a fitting legacy. Culled from the many albums Arhoolie issued over the years, it presents Mendoza's passage from the powerful stylist of her youth (the opening tracks, from the 1930s, evoke the same sort of gravitas and depth as Edith Piaf during the same era) to her more mature years, including live performances in the 1980s that show her still a tremendous singer and interpreter of song. There is musical experimentation along the way, and a variety of styles that always serves to underscore the clarity and beauty of her voice. This is a great single-disc introduction to a highly-revered artist; if you like what you hear on this best-of set, there's plenty more to explore from here. (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue music reviews)

QEPD: Lydia Mendoza (1916-2007)

The first track - "Mal Hombre" - the ultimate Spanish language anthem for every womin who has been hurt by a man. Lydia and her 12 string guitar producing the tango rhythm for the expression of betrayal felt by wimin everywhere, "...eres un canalla, eres un malvado, eres un mal hombre." (my translation, "...you are a swine, you are a villain, you are a wicked, cold-hearted man.") These feelings are still as universal today as in 1934. It's unfortunate that the sample doesn't feature this line of the song because she adds the emphasis "eres un......Mal Hombre."

This collection also has other Tejano music legends. Tracks 7 & 11 feature "El Huracan de Valle," Narciso Martinez(acordión). Track 8 features Enrique Rodriguez(requinto). Track 9 features Tony de la Rosa(acordión). Track 10 features Gilberto Lopez(acordión). You may have difficulty finding these specific tracks somewhere else.

Lydia's own sweet love song ranchera "Amor Bonito" is also in this collection. The last two tracks recorded at UC-Berkeley, Wheeler Auditorium, leave you wanting more Lydia live and in concert. Thank goodness there is - La Alondra de la Frontera: Live!

**the "i" for womin and wimin is intentional, also why not spell words how we pronounce them"**

had the same reaction when I heard Edith Piaf many years ago so beautiful it made me cry