Esto Fue Que Trajo El Barco

Ismael Rivera | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fania
• ASIN: B000F7CE1Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,663 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

ISMAEL RIVERA

Ismael Rivera, nicknamed "Maelo" and recognized as "The Greatest Sonero," would later be dubbed "El Bárbaro del Ritmo" by Beny Moré, an exceptional Cuban artist who recognized Rivera's extraordinary talent for improvisation and impressive command of the clave. Nobody knew the people like Ismael Rivera. The streets were his school. He abandoned his studies at a very early age in order to help support his family as a shoe shiner and bricklayer. By day he shined shoes and lay bricks, but by night he played music and sang with kids from the neighborhood and his best friend, Rafael Cortijo. He and Rafael had something stronger than friendship: they were like family. In 1954, Ismael joined Cortijo's band. His relationship with the group launched a trajectory so successful that it yielded 17 albums and countless hits that Ismael Rivera had a lot to do with as a consecrated composer. The combined talents of Ismael Rivera and Rafael Cortijo unleashed a phenomenon that revolutionized the music world. Their contagious sound traveled from Puerto Rico to New York, where their boricua compatriots and Latinos living in the city caught the fever from the duo's numerous recordings and concerts. Success followed Ismael Rivera and Rafael Cortijo wherever they went. But the duo's success was cut short by the sudden death of Cortijo, Rivera's best friend, compatriot, companion, and brother. The impact was so severe that Ismael fell into a deep depression he was unable to escape. Although this exceptional artist enjoyed a brilliant career, he was plagued by a series of personal problems that affected his reputation as an artist. However, he was a phenomenal human being. Ismael Rivera died on May 13, 1987, at the age of 56. ISMAEL RIVERA

Ismael Rivera, apodado "Maelo" y reconocido como "El Sonero Mayor", como le bautizara Beny Moré, "El Bárbaro del Ritmo", excepcional artista cubano que reconoció en él, sus extraordinarias dotes para improvisar y su impresionante dominio de la clave. Nadie mejor que Ismael Rivera para conocer a su gente. La calle fue su primera escuela. Abandonó los estudios a muy temprana edad para ayudar al sostén de la familia como limpiabotas y albañil. Y mientras pulía zapatos y daba paletadas de cemento se la pasaba tocando y cantando en sus escapadas nocturnas con los jóvenes del barrio en compañía de su gran amigo y compadre Rafaél Cortijo, con el que estableció más que una amistad, una sólida hermandad En 1954 Ismael se integra al "Combo de Cortijo" con el que inicia una trayectoria tan exitosa que se traduce en diecisiete discos grabados del que se derivaron un sinnúmero de éxitos en lo que tuvo mucho que ver Ismael Rivera como consagrado compositor. La fusión de talentos de Ismael Rivera y Rafael Cortijo, constituyó un fenómeno que revolucionó la música. De la Isla, su contagioso ritmo trasciende hasta Nueva York, donde sus compatriotas boricuas y los latinos residentes en la Urbe se contagiaron con sus grabaciones y multitudinarios conciertos. A Ismael Rivera y a Rafael Cortijo, el éxito les acompañó siempre. Exito que se vió empañado por la repentina muerte de Cortijo, su amigo, compadre, compañero y hermano. Fue tal el impacto que experimentó Ismael, que se sumió en una grave depresión de la que no pudo recuperarse. Si brillante fue la carrera de este artista excepcional, su nombre llenó las páginas de la llamada "crónica roja" como protagonista de una serie de sucesos y conflictos personales, que en modo alguno disminuyeron su estura como artista, pero sí, dejaron graves secuelas en el gran ser humano que fue en el aspecto personal. Ismael Rivera murió el 13 de mayo de 1987 a los 56 años.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An immortal classic from Puerto Rico's greatest Salsa singer., September 24, 2011

By 

Justo Roteta (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Esto Fue Lo Que Trajo El Barco (Audio CD)

This is it. This is the real deal as far as pure, unadulterated 1970s Salsa is concerned. This 1972 release was one of Ismael Rivera's greatest albums and it sounds just as great today (nearly 40 years after its original release) as it did back in 1972. "La Vaca Lechera", "La Mania De Tu Mujer", "Incomprendido", "San Miguel Arcangel" and the ageless "Traigo Salsa" easily make this CD an absolute classic but this is (in all honesty) one of those albums with NO filler material whatsoever. If you want to know why Ismael Rivera is universally revered as Puerto Rico's all-time greatest and most influential Salsa singer just ge this CD and enjoy it. A 5-star album in every way!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ismael Rivera: "Esto Fue Lo Que Trajo El Barco" 1972, April 29, 2005

By 

Victor M. Monsanto (Bayamón, PR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Esto Fue Lo Que Trajo El Barco (Audio CD)

This is it. This is the greatest sonero in world history. Ismael Rivera, El Sonero Mayor. There are many pretty boys today pretending sing salsa; but is not about have an educated voice when it comes to salsa. Is about having the ability to improvise and play with the music knowing where to put the words. With todays technology some can made it in the studio. But live is a different story.

Other thing: this is an original album, not a compilation of "hits". This is important because there is no way you can put all his best songs in a CD. And all those hits compilations always repeat the same songs. If you like his music you have to buy the original records, because almost everything he sang is good.

"Esto Fue Lo Que Trajo El Barco" literally means: "this is what the boat brought". In Puerto Rico we use this phrase when we have something that is not so good, but is the only thing we have. But believe me, this production is not a so so stuff. This is one of the best production Ismael Rivera made as a soloist.


¡YUMBO AGUA TANA OH! (African words) I love this song. This is a five stars song.
DIME POR QUE (Tell me why) is a song about a love that end. This is a five stars song.
LA VACA LECHERA (The milk cow) is pretty funny. Is actually a kids song. Only Ismael Rivera could transform that song into a guaguancó.
MAÑA MAÑA (Wise Wise) this is another funny song. If you growth up with Sesame Street, you will recognize the melody. The song is about those young girls that think they know about love business and end being some old fox victims.
LA MANIA DE TU MUJER (Your wife habit) is about a guy whose wife is looking for and adventure. This song is not that good.
SAN MIGUEL ARCANGEL (Archangel Michael) is about Santeria. This is a five stars song
INCOMPRENDIDO (Misunderstood) this is one of Ismael Rivera greatest hits. An anthem for all of us that haven't found true love. This is a five stars hit.
LA GATA MONTESA (Mount Cat) is about a woman that return a little late to the love she once abandon. This is a five stars hit.
HASTA MAÑANA (Until tomorrow) is a bolero. This is a five stars song.
TRAIGO SALSA (I brought the salsa) This song is pretty good, but not that good.

4.0 out of 5 stars Ismaelo at his best...., July 12, 2009

By 

Juan N. Montenegro (Chicago) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Esto Fue Que Trajo El Barco (Audio CD)

After going on his own, this was one of his first recordings. It was for the TICO label, one of the salsa labels in New York at the time, released in 1972.

Allow me an aside about one of the sidemen in this recording;

Manolin Gonzalez, the alto player in the session, was a personal friend and business associate. Born in the Dominican Republic, Manolin spent some time in Chicago, where we met, shortly after the record came out. He had put a band together in Chicago and they used to rehearse in my apartment. It ruined my relationship with the neighbor across the hall.

This album and the other TICO Ismael Rivera records are among his best.

Enjoy...