Historia

Ricky Martin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 27, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony U.S. Latin
• ASIN: B00005A8DJ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,521 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In an attempt to appease Ricky's Spanish-speaking fans and resuscitate his ailing crossover career, the folks at Sony have unleashed La Historia a mere three months after releasing the underperforming Sound Loaded, which has failed to generate any Loca-sized pop hits. The 17-track Historia compiles the biggest Spanish-language hits off Martin's six albums, and--not surprisingly--it's his best effort since 1998's Vuelve. Martin tends to comes off like an overzealous Broadway extra on his English-language albums, but he infuses his Spanish tracks with nuance and passion. "La Copa de la Vida" (the superior original version of "The Cup of Life") crackles with electricity, and "Por Arriba, por Abajo" revels in acoustic energy. Martin also excels at ballads, most notably the pensive "Vuelve" and the exquisite "Perdido sin Ti," his finest recording to date. La Historia also includes rerecorded versions of early hits "Fuego Contra Fuego" and "El Amor de Mi Vida," along with the current hit "Sólo Quiero Amarte." There's no telling how long Martin will make English-language fans shake their bon-bon, but his Spanish catalog promises a long and bright future. --Joey Guerra

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of his music, no doubt!, April 29, 2001

By 

Dr Gan T. Pau (Malaysia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Historia (Audio CD)

It's about time Ricky released a greatest hits collection, and what a collection it is. It's filled to the brim with some of his most memorable spanish language hit singles, most of them hit #1 on the Latin Charts.

All the familiar ones are there: "Maria", "La Copa De La Vida", "Livin' La Vida Loca" and "Te Extrano Te Olvido Te Amo". A delightful addition comes in the form of the Spanish version of "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" called "Solo Quiero Amarte". It's very beautifully performed and Ricky really emotes that forlorn lovesick message across like the pro he is. If you thought the English duet version with Christina Aguilera wasn't quite your cup of tea, try this one. It's way, waaaaay better.

Other notable cuts include "La Bomba", "Por Arriba Por Abajo" and of course "She Bangs". Oh yes, look out for two reworked versions of his earliest hits :"Fuego Contra Fuego" and "El Amor De Mi Vida". If you have his 1991 debut Spanish album, try pitting the two versions and you'll see the progress Ricky has made since then. And if the jazzy versions on this album are any indication of his future musical leaning, then his future albums will be something to look out for.

Of course, as with any compilation album, there will always be glaring ommisions; this one is no exception. I was disappointed to find that my favourite tracks "Gracias Por Pensar En Mi" and "No Importa La Distancia" not included. And if you liked his 1993 disc "Me Amaras", too bad because none of the tracks from that album made it here. And Sony Discos should've included "Dame Mas" (spanish version of his third single of the Sound Loaded CD -"Loaded") just to spice things up a little. It's a fantastic track that will get everybody's bon-bon shaking.

Perhaps, it should have been a double disc release, for that would be the only way to include everybody's favourite track on it. Or maybe there'll be a Part Two coming our way? We can only hope and pray. In the meantime, I'm waiting for his next Spanish language disc. C'mon, Ricky, dame mas!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELENTE!, April 18, 2001

By 

ALEK LAUREANO (New Berlin, Wisconsin - USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Historia (Audio CD)

"La Histria" es un excelente CD que incluye los mejores exitos de Ricky Martin, pero en este CD debio estar el exito "Todo Es Vida" que Ricky Martin grabo con la hermosa y talentosa cantante Jessica Cristina.

Tambien recomiendo los siguientes CD's: "VUELVE" de Ricky Martin, "JESSICA CRISTINA" y "PASIONAL" de Jessica Cristina.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great collection of Ricky's spanish-language hits, August 13, 2001

By 

Jennifer Wood "Author of My Molar Pregnancy: ... (Orlando, FL, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Historia (Audio CD)

Being primarily a fan of Ricky Martin's more recent work, I have been slowly branching out to his earlier albums. This means that basically I had only listened to Vuelve, his most recent Spanish-language album, before ordering LH on the recommendation of fellow fans. I found this collection of hits to be very good, a wonderful sampling of what I knew already and what I had yet to learn about this wonderful artist. Some of my standout favorites, in fact, come from his third album, A Medio Vivir, including "Volveras" and "Fuego de Noche, Nieve de Dia."

I think that many people unfamiliar with Ricky are unaware that he has been performing for nearly 20 years and is now working on his 8th album. Most people believe his work began with Vuelve or perhaps even 1999's "Ricky Martin". La Historia allows new Ricky fans to sample his previous work before going out and buying all of his earlier albums, and it also includes the spanish-language versions of the now-familiar songs She's All I Ever Had, She Bangs, Nobody Wants to Be Lonely, and Livin la Vida Loca.

For die-hard fans, LH is a great collection of the best and the brightest. I strongly recommend it for all listeners!