Customer Reviews

Celia & Johnny

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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!!!

This recording is a classic! If you buy it, play it LOUD! This is one of Celia Cruz's best, Johnny Pacheco's groove plus Celia's voice, PERFECTION! Warning, it will make you dance! If I could, I'd rate it 10 stars!

The New York Times said it all: "What really shines through on [this] remastered record is extraordinary musicianship. Albums like 'Celia & Johnny' ... are the essence of classic salsa: tough, gleaming, unstoppable dance music, with brass fanfares braying over crackling syncopation from claves, timbales and congas."

eMusica, who purchased the Fania catalogue, has done the world a true service by reissuing these lovingly remastered salsa classics.

As many others have done before me, you can't help but rave over this excellent release. You combine Pacheco's brilliant musical mastermind with Celia Cruz' powerful voice; you get a perfect match. This album is full of top notch songs such as "Toro Mata", "Quimbara" and my personal Celia Cruz favorite, "Lo Tuyo Es Mental". Most of them have become well-known classics by the queen of salsa. I rarely say this, but this album is an absolute must have.

If you are looking for sounds that will take you back to hot sandy beaches and the sways of the palmas, this is it. Celia and Johnny created this masterpiece in 1974 and created a sound that has carried through the decades. From the hot charisma of Quimbara to the momentus bolero of Vieja Luna. You can experience the exotic feel of the tropics by closing your eyes and listening to these two amazing artists. If you long for a taste of Old School Salsa meets the New World, you have it all here on one CD!

This fell short of my expectations big time. Listened to it once and resold it quickly. I probably didn't get the album I was looking for but thought this one was it. Good music for those who like it. Both artists were supreme entertainers and I have other albums of the Fania Allstars and they are on fire :D