El Malo [Import]

Willie Colon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 30, 1992)
• Format: Import
• Label: Fania
• ASIN: B00008F2BN
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,063,046 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Jazzy

2. Willie Baby

3. Borinquen

4. Willie Whopper

5. El Malo

6. Skinny Papa

7. Chonqui

8. Quimbombo

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

WILLIE COLON Like many of his boricua compatriots, Willie Colón was born and raised in the heart of the Latin neighborhood of the Bronx. It was this very neighborhood where he drank from the fountain of teen angst, sharing with his compatriots his sorrows and aspirations. This inspired in him a profound devotion to his cultural roots. Musician, composer, arranger, singer, producer, director, and community leader: Colón wore all of these hats, gaining recognition as both an artist and a human being. He started out in the music business at such a young age that his mother had to sign his first contract for him. Ever since then his career has covered all facets of music, as proven by his prolific discography, which boasts more than 30 million records sold. Such sales earned him countless gold and silver-selling albums, as well as several Grammy nominations. Colón is also known for his participation on albums with such names as Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Héctor Lavoe, and many others. Willie Colón, known for his excellence, and well aware of the power and influence he held over the mass media, established himself as a civil- and community-rights leader. For his contributions, he won recognition and awards, such as the plaque that bears his name on the Bronx's "Walk of Fame." It was this very city that was birthplace and home to many of his compatriots who came to the United States in search of a better future. WILLIE COLON

Como muchos de sus compatriotas boricuas, Willie Colón nació y creció en el corazón del barrio latino del Bronx, New York. El mismo barrio en el que bebió la savia más pura de sus inquietudes juveniles, compartiendo con los suyos quebrantos y aspiraciones que le inculcaron una profunda devoción por sus raíces culturales. Músico, compositor, arreglista, cantante, productor, director y líder comunitario, es la trayectoria que le ha dado reconocimiento como ser humano y artista. Se inició en la música a tan temprana edad que su madre tuvo que firmar su primer contrato por él. Desde entonces, su carrera siempre ascendente cubrió todas las facetas de la música, como consta su prolífica discografía, con un total de más de treinta millones de discos vendidos por los que se le han concedido infinidad de Discos de Oro y Platino, y varias nominaciones para optar por el codiciado premio Grammy. Se ha destacado también por colaborar en producciones con grandes nombres en el ámbito musical como: Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Héctor Lavoe, entre otros muchos. Willie Colón, solidario por excelencia y consciente del poder e influencia que ejerce en los medios de comunicación masiva, se ha erigido líder por los derechos civiles y comunitarios, por lo que ha recibido premios y reconocimientos como la placa que lleva su nombre instalada en el "Paseo de la Fama" en el Bronx. El mismo barrio, hogar y cuna de muchos de sus compatriotas llegados a estas tierras con la esperanza de un futuro mejor.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Willie Colon's first album on Fania!, May 24, 2006

By 

coa1881 "SALSERO SUPREME" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Malo (Audio CD)

A perfect example of what was to come. Willie's sound was raw and oviously not developed. But a fun record in all accounts. It has boogaloos, latin jazz and other styles that don't make it a drag to listen to.

Original artwork and better, cleaner sound make this reissue money well spent.

Hector Lavoe on vocals and Nicky Marrero on timbales

Buy it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Early work of Willie and Hector is worth a listen for the boogaloo goodies hidden inside., November 14, 2005

By 

Enrique Fernandez Roberts "Stray Dog and comm... (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Malo (Audio CD)

This is one of the first albums put out by Willie Colon's orchestra. Because this album and salsa music were being created around the same time, this is a delicious timepiece that takes us exactly to when and where this was all happening. An album with this much flavor makes me wish to have been in New York during theg early days of salsa. Enough nostalgia, about the album:

It starts off with jazzy, an improvisational track that follows Willie's trombone, and man, that kid can play!

Track 2 sets off the album's hidden gem, The old boogaloo and shingaling tracks of the late 1960's/early 1970's. A mix of rock, latin and soul, shingaling and boogaloo tracks Willie Baby, Willie Whopper and Skinny Papa all have that groovy feel to them that will swing your hips.

If that doesn't move you, track 3 is a hard to find guaguanco all about Puerto Rico. It's solid and filled with Hector Lavoe's sad but powerful voice.

The album's namesake track, El Malo, is a boastful track filled with "fighting words" often expressed in song back in this era. The chorus "hechate pa' ya, que tu no estas en NA" means "back off chump, you ain't got nuthin". I often wondered who Willie wrote these songs too...

Chonqui is a tribute to the old songs that told a story. Great piano, a haunting chorus and Hector's voice slowly tempting you with this tale make this song a winner.

But what puts it all together is the end. Quimbombo is the kind of song your salsa dancing friends have been fiending. This is the track that will make your speakers whine with passion and will make the needle on your cd player quiver. Quimbombo starts with a simple piano intro, a slow introduction to draw the listener in. It then hits with a wall of horns that blare at the speed of sound. Hector sings over the chaotic choruses with an in studio improvised soneo over this wild and wonderous track. For fans of Hector Lavoe, those who love the way he could take you to the island with his voice, the way he sing el quimbombo will make you say "ese negro si que tiene guarara"

If you love salsa, you will love this album. If you love jazz improvisation at it's purest form, if you love good shingaling and boogaloo and want to wow the friends, if you don't yet keep a shrine to Hector Lavoe in the corner of your house, buy this album. I love all of the albums done together between Willie Colon and Hector Lavor, but to me this one is the most unique and the most fun of them all. If you want their best, check out el juicio, lo mato or cosa nuestra. But for the one that makes you feel as if you are in the studio with these locos while they were making history, this is your album!

4.0 out of 5 stars creativity at its best, March 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Malo (Audio CD)

I really enjoyed this CD. Lately, the genre of salsa has been disappointing. The music has a commercial sound to it, most of it seems to be aimed to attract a certain age group. In that sense, this CD was refreshing. It is combined elements of cuban music i.e. mambo,guaguanco, son...add jazz elements to this mix and you get a unique and pleasing sound. I would recommend this CD to anyone.