Fania Greatest Hits (Dig) [Original recording remastered]

Hector Lavoe | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Fania
• ASIN: B000VFIDRQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,682 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

HECTOR LAVOE

A great among greats, this great artist's life was marked by a tragic destiny. Héctor Lavoe's interest in music began in his native Puerto Rico. In search of new opportunities, he traveled to New York with a suitcase full of dreams and the firm goal of landing a job in the music world. The road ahead was not an easy one. There were many obstacles to overcome, and the price was high, as it often is for immigrants. He held down precarious day jobs for bad pay; but at night, he gave free rein to his dreams, performing in various night clubs. Johnny Pacheco happened to hear him perform at one of those night clubs. In Lavoe he discovered a powerful voice and the easiest of manners. He was so impressed that he told Willie Colón he had found a singer for the recording of his first album, "El malo." The combination of Héctor Lavoe and Willie Colón enriched the world of salsa and set the stage for their collaboration, which lasted seven years. It also gave birth to 10 albums, full of vibrant songs that spoke the language of the street, a type of musical narrative that the public identified with, one that cemented salsa as a genre. In 1975, Fania Records decided to launch its singers with the most hits as soloists. Thus began a new phase of Héctor Lavoe's career, just as brilliant and successful, boasting the release of many albums that are now part of his rich musical legacy. His life was an open book, each page of which documented the tragedy and heartbreak that marked and influenced the rise and fall of his brilliant professional career. Héctor Lavoe died on June 29, 1993, at 46.

Grande entre los grandes, y marcado por el trágico sino que el destino les tiene reservado, fue imagen y semejanza la vida de este gran artista. Héctor Lavoe inició sus inquietudes artísticas en su Puerto Rico natal. Pero en busca de nuevas oportunidades y ampliar su horizonte, viaja a Nueva York con un equipaje de sueños y el firme propósito de labrarse un lugar en la música. El camino a transitar no le fue fácil, fueron muchos los obstáculos que tuvo que superar y pagar el alto precio que todo intento le tiene reservado a los inmigrantes. Trabajos precarios y mal remunerados durante el día, y por las noches, darle rienda suelta a sus sueños presentándose en clubes nocturnos. En una de aquellas presentaciones, coincide con el Maestro Johnny Pacheco que lo escucha cantar. Descubre en él, una voz potente y un personalísimo modo de comunicar. Tan impresionado quedó, que le habló a Willie Colón que buscaba un vocalista para la grabación de su primer álbum "El Malo" La fusión de Héctor Lavoe y Willie Colón, enriqueció el género salsero y marcaría pautas de una unión que duró siete años, y diera como fruto una rica cosecha de la que se derivaron diez producciones con un contenido de temas vibrantes que hablaban el lenguaje del hombre de la calle, una especie de narrativa musical con la que se identificó el público y solidificaría la salsa como género. En 1975 el sello Fania decide lanzar a sus cantantes de más éxitos como solistas. De este modo, Héctor Lavoe inicia una nueva etapa en su carrera, no menos brillante y exitosa con el lanzamiento de varias producciones que ya son parte de su rico legado musical. Su vida, un libro abierto en el que escribiera en cada una de sus páginas, trágicas y desgarradoras vivencias en el aspecto personal que lo marcaron e influyeron en la decadencia y ocaso de su brillante carrera

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars you can never go home again, April 3, 2008

By 

MWA "MWA" (Kaiserslautern,Germany) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fania Greatest Hits (Dig) (Audio CD)

As I remembered the music from college days and fm radio of years ago, I thought-why not? Somehow,something got lost in the mix of conversion from LP to CD and the sound quality just is not there. At times the music actually sounded "tinny" and the vocals much further away than I'd recalled. All in all not the best choice when it comes to this artist especially when this is supposed to be a Greatest Hits collection. Whoever has the Fania rights now should go ahead and fully re-master before issuing anything else.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is very good !, May 19, 2009

By 

Evaristo E. Mitchell (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fania Greatest Hits (Dig) (Audio CD)

This is not the first time that I purchase this album; that is how much I like it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!, April 5, 2009

By 

J. Santana (Cherry Hill, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fania Greatest Hits (Dig) (Audio CD)

This CD really captures Hector! If you are looking to enjoy his greatest hits, buy it!