Celia & Johnny [Original recording remastered]

Celia Cruz | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 14, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Fania
• ASIN: B000EMGK1C
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #277,183 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

CELIA CRUZ Celia Cruz had a brilliant and successful music career in her native Cuba, where her extraordinary vocal talent and enormous popularity earned her the nickname "The Guarechera of Cuba." Her transcendence, however, masked an even greater ambition upon her arrival to the United States. Beginning a new phase of her career, joining the Fania Family, and linking her name to the great artists of the label, she made her mark and earned herself a new title: "The Queen of Salsa." She was also known as the "Gran Señora" for her integrity, human condition, and solid morals. Her success took the form of 80 recordings that prove her magnetism, as well as her ability to communicate through music: a rhythm and sound that made its way to many generations who have given her their applause and gratitude during sold-out concerts in five continents. These would give her music a wide audience. Celia was not only known for her vocal prowess, but for her dramatic talents as well. She appeared in nine movies, including "Los reyes del mambo." She also appeared in the soap operas "Valentina" and "El alma no tiene color," both of which were filmed in Mexico. Celia left behind a rich musical legacy, and will always reign as "La Guarachera de Cuba," the "Gran Señora," and the undisputed "Queen of Salsa."

CELIA CRUZ" Celia Cruz, con una brillante y exitosa carrera musical en su Cuba natal, donde por sus extraordinarias dotes interpretativas y gran popularidad se ganó el apelativo de "La Guarachera de Cuba". Pero su trascendencia le tenía reservada aún, una más ambiciosa proyección tras su llegada a Estados Unidos, e iniciar una nueva etapa en su carrera al integrarse y formar parte de la gran Familia Fania, y unir su nombre al de grandes figuras del sello con los que logró imponerse y afianzarse una vez más en el ámbito musical al extremo de ostentar un nuevo título: "Reina de la Salsa", sumado al que siempre la identificó como "Gran Señora", por su integridad, condición humana y sólidos principios. Sus éxitos se traducen en ochenta grabaciones editadas que dejaron constancia de su magnetismo, de su poder para comunicar y transmitir a través de la música, un ritmo y un sonido que ha trascendido a varias generaciones que la han respaldado con el aplauso y el reconocimiento en sus multitudinarios conciertos en los cinco continentes, que le dieran una más amplia proyección y divulgación de su música. Pero no solamente Celia se destacó como cantante, también puso a prueba su talento histriónico en el campo de la actuación como hubo de demostrarlo participando en nueve películas entre ellas: "Los reyes del mambo". En la televisión se destacó como intérprete en las telenovelas: "Valentina" y "El alma no tiene color" filmadas en México. Celia dejó un rico legado musical y reinará por siempre como "La Guarachera de Cuba", "Gran Señora" y "Reina" indiscutible de la Salsa.

JOHNNY PACHECO "Master" is the word to describe this multifaceted artist, whose multiple talents as a musician, singer, composer, director, and produced allowed him to forge the careers of many young artists who entered the world of salsa, as well as many other consecrated stars, such as Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Rubén Blades, Cheo Feliciano, and countless others who shared billing with him on his albums. Pacheco inherited his passion for music from his father, who was a musician and orchestra conductor. This environment was perfect for shaping his innate talents. At a very early age, the family moved to New York, where Johnny attended Julliard and cultivated his talent for violin, saxophone, and clarinet. His career as a musician reached its peak in 1963, when he joined forces with Jerry Masucci to create Fania Records, of which Pacheco was the CEO, creative director, and musical producer. There, he solidified the careers of many who are now part of the history of the "Fania Family." This was the record label that would set the standard in Latin music and gain unforeseeable celebrity at the international level. Many of these achievements were the work of Johnny Pacheco, who was not only an artist, but a visionary who knew how to bring talent to the label. This skill was vital to the quality of his albums, both as a member of Fania Records, and as a soloist.

JOHNNY PACHECO Maestro es el adjetivo que califica la exacta dimensión de este polifacético artista cuya multiplicidad de talentos como músico, intérprete, compositor, director y productor, le permitió forjar la carrera de muchas figuras jóvenes que incursionaron en el llamado género Salsa, y otras ya consagradas como: Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Rubén Blades, Cheo Feliciano, entre muchos otros que compartieron cartel en sus producciones. Pacheco heredó de su padre, músico y director de orquesta su pasión por la música.. Un ambiente muy propicio que forjó su innata vocación. A muy temprana edad se trasladó con su familia a Nueva York, donde asistió a la Escuela de Música Julliard, donde cultivó su talento aprendiendo a tocar violín, saxofón y clarinete. Su carrera como músico alcanza su máxima consagración en 1963, al crear con Jerry Masucci el sello discográfico Fania, del que fue ejecutivo, director creativo y productor musical que consagró a muchas figuras que hoy son parte de la historia de la gran "Familia Fania". El sello disquero que marcaría pautas en la música latina y alcanzaría insospechada celebridad a nivel internacional. Muchos de estos logros se deben a Johnny Pacheco, que no solo se hizo sentir como artista, también fue un visionario que supo captar y engrosar al sello, un selectivo talento que fue vital en la calidad de las producciones para éste y las suyas propias.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hay Tumbao!, July 2, 2007

By 

Hector Reyes-erazo - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celia & Johnny (Audio CD)

I second the earlier reviewer's assessment of "Celia & Johnny": Undoubtedly the best collaboration to come out of this artistic coupling and perhaps Fania Records. Under Pacheco's prescient direction and all star cast of Fania legends, notably Papo Lucca, Bobby Valentin, Roberto Roena, and the late Ray Barretto to name a few, Celia and Johnny stew a potent potpourri of classic hard driving salsa that leaves one short of breath, especially after listening to Canto A La Habana. This song strips you of any inhibitions and propels you to the dance floor regardless of your dancing skills or retention of lyrics. Here is where La Guarachera de Cuba best exemplifies her amazing vocal talents and ability to improvise between repeated chorus lines. Quimbara, perhaps the most widely covered on this recording is a showcase of vocal dexterity and virtuosity. It is Celia's driving vocals and bewitched enthusiasm that inspires the musicians into a pitched frenzy resulting in some of the best playing ever put down on track by any assembled group of salsa artists. Celia Cruz skillfully sails above an intimidating rhythm section filled by equal parts extraordinary musicianship and superegos; a piece of cake for her. Listening to this maiden call by Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco you can feel the camaraderie and unabated pleasure these artists shared while recording alongside this unique and wonderful sonera during a very special moment in recording history.

Celia rose early on in her long career to the very summit of her craft. Surrounded by the ranks of Beny Moré, Tito Gomez, Vicentico Valdes, Bobby Capo, Tito Rodriguez, Celino Gonzalez, Mirta Silva, Miguel Matamoros, Celeste Mendoza, Miguelito Cuní, Los Compadres, Tito Puente, Ismael Rivera, Abelardo Barroso, Olga Guillot, and Roberto Faz among many more, she was able to transcend each one as well as the era in which they triumphed. She was equally comfortable with a new generation of artists among them Justo Betancourt, Héctor Lavoe, Jose Alberto, Rubén Blades, Ismael Miranda, Oscar De Leon, Willy Chirino, Albita, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ismael Quintana, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Adalberto Santiago, Bobby Cruz, and Cheo Feliciano, each equally in awe of her legendary status and magnanimity.

In Luna Vieja, Celia again demonstrates to perhaps a new following of fans that she was equally adept at boleros as she was at guarachas, bombas, and rumbas. Toro Matari, El Tumbao y Celia, a favorite of mine because of the way it builds into a pitch of soneo vocalization rooted en la harmonia del blanco con el ritmo del negro. There is not a single song on this audio CD that will let you down and in fact if you learn to listen and appreciate the artistry from both vocalist and musicians alike, you will come to agree that this is one of the best recordings ever made by Latin music artists. Throughout all the songs on this recording you feel Cuba down to the cobblestones of La Habana as well as the rhythmic blends and arrangements of New York City, Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo.

Lest we forget, it is the great and legendary Johnny Pacheco who lends his infectious tumbao and conjunto tipico arrangements to this classic recording, and who also masterfully brews his special cup of dos de café y dos de azúcar to help draw out the best of this brand of Cuban music. Johnny Pacheco is equal parts band leader, businessman, founder, musician, composer, producer and, A&R man. Under Johnny Pacheco's musical husbandry, a new vintage of legendary performer is delivered to listeners new and old alike. I'd easily argue that it is this series of recordings between Celia and Johnny that brings out some of the very best recorded performances by Celia Cruz. Pacheco would go on to record several more audio CDs with Celia as lead vocals and for this we are all the better.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pura, December 30, 2006

By 

Robert J. Peterson "rjp7227" (minneapolis) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celia & Johnny (Audio CD)

I just picked this up and if you don't have it, get it - classic. It is probably Celia's best album overall and Pacheco lays down the money groove throughout. This music dances, cooks, and puts you in a happy place. Trust me. This is money well spent my friend. Azucar!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A winning combination's start., June 14, 2003

By 

Justo Roteta (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celia & Johnny (Audio CD)

When Celia Cruz signed with Fania Records and teamed up with Johnny Pacheco in 1974 her career had hit a (temporary) slump. This undisputed classic album, however, brought her back to the top with all-time Salsa classics like "Quimbara", "Toro Mata", "Canto A La Habana" and the bolero "Vieja Luna" all becoming major hits and staples of her live repertoire. Every album that Celia made with Pacheco was superb but this one both rejuvenated her career and was the start of a truly prolific musical partnership. Indispensable!!!