Customer Reviews

The Best of Pérez Prado: The Original Mambo No. 5

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the best Perez Prado album available. It has all the originals which were the best. Great sound considering the original hits (Mambo No.5, Mambo No.8, Que rico el mambo) were recorded in 1950. Ignore the first review that was written by someone who knows little about Perez Prado.

Accomplished pianist/organist Damaso Perez Prado, who was born on December 11, 1916 in Mantanzas, Cuba, spent his early days playing piano and doing the arranging for the renowned Cuban band Sonora Matancer, as well as finding steady work throughout the 1940s in the various Havana casinos with several different bands. After relocating to Mexico in late 1948 where he formed his own band, he began to focus most of his music on the Mambo, which was more less an up-tempo version of the traditional Cuban danzón.

A tour of the U.S. in the early 1950s led to a rise in popularity of the Mambo and an RCA Victor recording contract. For the next several years he would record prolifically for the label with close to 30 single releases not to mention LPs and E.P.s, resulting in 7 hit singles, some of which are in this release.

His first hit came in August 1953 when Anna, the title tune from the film of the same name, made it to # 29 on RCA Victor 20-5367 b/w Sylvana Mangano, a tribute to the film's star and unfortunately not included here. Over a year later his version of the much-recorded South African song Skokiian topped out at # 26 in September 1954 on RCA Victor 20-5839 b/w his cover of another hit from the time, The High And The Mighty (also omitted here).

Then came the hit that would elevate him to the top of the heap, Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White, based on a French song from 1950 which was featured in the film Underwater. With trumpeter Billy Regis leading the way, it soared to # 1 in the spring of 1955 where it stayed for ten incredible weeks, spending half a year in total on the charts. The flipside on RCA Victor 20-5965, Rhythm Sticks, is another omission.

He would then disappear from the charts for almost 3 years before, right in the midst of the Rock 'N' Roll explosion, he scored again with Patricia, once more reaching # 1 Pop as well as # 1 R&B (2 weeks) in the summer of 1958 on RCA Victor 20-7245 b/w Why Wait? (not here). Later that fall he would have Guaglione, from the Dean Martin film Ten Thousand Bedrooms, peak at # 53 on RCA Victor 20-7237 b/w Paris, which also charted at # 95. But that B-side is also left out of this so-cal;led "best of" album.

Four years later he would have his 7th and final charted hit when Patricia - Twist, an attempt to cash in on the new craze started by Chubby Checker, struggled to a # 65 b/w Ti-Pi-Tin - Twist on RCA Victor 20-8006. Perez Prado died on September 14, 1989.

While not a bad compilation of the man's music - and certainly representative of his signature 'sound' - it seems to me that something labelled his "best" should at least include all the hits that earned him enough air- and jukebox-play to get him onto the charts, not to mention their B-sides. The sound quality is certainly adequate.

Mambo number 5, the second best piece in 20th century, after Stravinsky Sacre du printemps

Very peppy latin music. Brings back memories of yesteryear. Great Instrumentals ...good for dancing. Presently my favorite album. One of the instrumentals on album is "Patricia". It was popular when I was in school way back when. I heard it in the dentist's office when he put the head set on me and so when I was done he asked if I had any questions. I asked where I could get a copy of "Patricia". Hadn't heard it in years. He went right to the computer and looked up the artist since I did not know who it was......and that's my story ....I just had to order it from Amazon and I am one happy camper! It's the best.

I bought this to remind of my Abuelos who used to play this record when I was young. Classic mambo!

My mom and her sister just loved listening and dancing to most of these lively power packed arrangements on this album. It really brings back so many memories. I admire Perez Prado's music and his band. Professional music, that really started it all, thats what I like.

Great CD collection, but still missing a few of his hits, I recommend buying this CD and another one with his greatest hits...... you simply just dont have enough room in 1 CD.

This is a GREAT CD. I Love all of the music on it and also, the price was very reasonable. THANKS!!!!!

Great stuff, classic Cuban music with the brassy horns and beat. I grew up with the 50's Latin music, Xavier Cugat, Desi Arnez, etc. No studio effects or techno frills , just loud and clean sounds that are missing from todays music. This is a by-gone era of the 40's and 50's Latin in fluence on American culture. My favorite cut is "Patricia" with it's "real" organ melody. This CD is a real classic piece of music I recomend it to anyone who likes Latin based music and I'm a white dude.

Only die hard fans of Prado or folks with no appreciation for a good sounding CD will dig this album. Each track has a different volume and quality level ranging from transistor radio to hifi. BUT, if you want to hear him at his best but can do without Cherry Blossom Pink, check out the CD 'PREZ' The Mambo King, Vol. 1 [Original recording remastered]. It's fantastico and sounds so good it's hard to believe it was recorded in '57. You will feel as if you are driving the strip in Miami in an old convertible.