Customer Reviews

Determinacion

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

 

 

Although most of their albums are very impressive, few would deny this one's importance. It includes the hits "Yambeque", "Date Cuenta" and "Aunque Te Quiero. Under Papo Lucca's direction, Sonora Poncena has always made great albums and this was one of their best ever.

Released in 1982, this time with 3 lead singers, Yolanda Rivera, Tito Ortiz and Tonito Ledee, La Sonora Poncena's "Determination" was somewhat of a letdown for me. It really lacks their old hard-hitting sound that made them famous in the first place. 'Joldo' is a nice instrumental track with a noticeable jazz influence, one of Lucca's musical preferences. But, if it weren't for their hit "Yambeque", I would have given this album a 2 star rating. The music on this album is not really bad, just sort of monotonous for me. I would recommend you rather get most and all of their early work which put them on the map, and for good reason. 3 star rating for Determination.

This 1982 release by La Sonora Poncena is very good. Although it lacks the powerful sound that made them famous, there are still some hot tracks. Actually, all of the tracks are good. This famous Puerto Rican orquesta is one of the best, if not the BEST Puerto Rican salsa group there ever was. Yes, La Poncena beats El Gran Combo when it comes to authentic Puerto Rican salsa.

Folks! Most of their albums are very impressive and there are dozens of them, but few would deny this one's importance. From the opening number the cd steamrolls it's way thru 8 magical songs of top quality. "Yambeque" the big hit of the album opens the set and gets you into a dancing mood right off. "Soledad" is another salsa number in the Puerto Rico tradition. The band slows it down just a touch with the bolero, "Creo en Ti" and then cranks up the voltage for the rest of the way with the other hit of this key salsa recording. "Herrida Cerrada en Falso", may be the weakest tune of the bunch but then again every tune in here is a smoker so it's in good company. "Date Cuenta", another hit for the band keeps it hot and spicy before the album takes on yet another turn. The band turns the heat up even more with some latin jazz. "Si La Ven" is irresistable and cooks the music to just under boiling but the real centerpiece of this entire album is, "Joldo". A masters work of top flight latin jazz arranging and playing. Hot from the first note to the last, it's worth the price of the cd on it's own. The closer is "Aunque te Quiero", a guaguanco tastefully done by Papo Lucca and the band. This recording had it going on and still does. Authentic Puerto Rican flavor. If you like your beans tasty, your meat with flavor dripping all over it and your dessert fresh and delicious.....then you just have to get this. Sonora Ponceña, salsa pura y taaaan sabrosa.

1. Yambeque
2. Soledad
3. Creo en Ti
4. Herida Cerrada en Falso
5. Date Cuenta
6. Si La Ven
7. Joldo
8. Aunque Te Quiero

Absolutely B O R I N G, stick with the real thing and buy the CD by 'Senen Suarez' "Guaguanco Callejero" with the original version of "Yambeque" on the Tumbao label.

The Conga solo on the first cut of this CD by "Little" Johnny... is a joke.