Customer Reviews

Mambo Santa Mambo: Christmas From the Latin Lounge

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

 

 

The Latin Lounge series tends to gather lots of fun, campy music around a loose theme. This time it is Christmas! A couple of these are truly awful. Some of it is pretty good. All of it is fun. Throw a few of these in the mix at your next Christmas Ball and watch the crowd grin (or groan) as they samba, rumba, cha cha, and of course mambo, to some Christmas tracks from days long past. It was an inexpensive disc when first released, and it probably still is from the right person.

The tempos vary within each track, and so newer dancers may have trouble staying with the beat. Here are the titles, durations, a suggested dance, and the performers for each track.

Jingle Bells 2:24, Samba, Joe Loco Quintet
Mambo Santa mambo 2:41, Mambo, Enchanters
Rudolph, the red-nosed Reindeer 2:39, Cha cha, Billy May Orchestra
December Twenty 5 3:37, Mambo, Flashcats
Winter Wonderland 2:19, Cha cha, Tina Robin
Jingle Bells 2:22, Mambo, Celia Cruz
Donde esta Santa Claus? 2:21, Mambo, Augie Rios
We wanna see Santa mambo 2:19, Mambo, Bill Darnell & Smith Brothers
Here comes Santa Claus 2:34, Foxtrot, Skip Jacks & Esquivel Orchestra
Christmas Song cha cha 2:17, Cha cha, Hugo Winterhalter
Rockin' J Bells 2:23, Jive / Swing, Little Bobby Rey & Band
Cha cha de la Navidad, El 2:2, Cha cha, Celia Cruz
Rudolph, the red-nosed Reindeer 2:23, Cha cha, Hernando Hopkins & Orchestra
How can Santa come to Puerto Rico? 3:07, Rumba, Ricky Vera & Steve Allen
Jingle Bells Mambo 2:17, Mambo, Frank Petty Trio
I saw Mommy do the mambo 2:33, Mambo, Jimmy Boyd & Mitch Miller Orch
Corrido de Auld Lang Syne 2:03, Polka, Little Bobby Rey & Band
Snowfall cha cha 2:25, Bolero, Billy May Orchestra

I ordered a copy of this on a whim, and it has instantly become my favorite Christmas CD. It's a unique, amusing, infectiously toe-tapping compilation of surprisingly well-performed songs. I put it on at least once a day while I'm decking halls and wrapping gifts, and the Christmas chores are finished in no time as I mambo around the house. "December 25" has hilarious lyrics (sample: "come on, Dasher, Dancer, Blitzen and Comet...you'd better drive straight so Santa don't vomit"). "Feliz Navidad" is the nicest version I've heard. Why is this CD still so obscure? I'm ordering 3 more copies to give to my friends. Try it, and if you don't like it send me your copy!

Bought this cd on a whim, and was surprised to recognize "Donde esta Santa Claus" Have to say, the rest of the cd is just as listenable. Performed the title track at our office holiday luncheon, what a hoot. Everyone who listens to these very original songs loves them. Buy this cd, it doesn't disappoint!

For a few short weeks each YULEtide, seasonal songs can do the magic, they can open the public's heart ,while transporting our thoughts onto far away lands . So from the early 4o`s up till today there has scarcely been a span when some form of Latin music hasn't been near the forefront of the music scenery. This modernized major merry merchandized mirth mix of Salsa - dipped fun blurs the barriers and crosses the borders with tunes from a time when songsmiths first adapted to a developing Latin dance craze. The compliers of this YULEtide Treasure chest have done a great deed when they went vault vending amongst many a historic label and with the grace of the mucky-mucks re-released 13 singles that could have remained buried .~~~ Merrily Mix ~~{1}s.s.s. instu- tinsel, Feliz03,***1\2 ~ {2}(org!) doo wop ,gem found elsewhere,Feliz03, **** ~ {3} s.s.s. twisted big band mambo RLJ1, ***1\2 ~ {4} (org!) big band fun banter throughout , cross, JubLR_, lost gem, **** ~ {5} s.s.s., CH , twist big band, R J or L _, ***, {6} .s.s.s. big horns, Spanish, with CH, Feliz03, *** , {7}(org!) kid mixed S & E , retro, Feliz03, ***, {8}(org!)swing bandish with hip counterpoint , RLJ_, ****, {9} s.s.s. , twisted big band Space Age with CH, RJL_, ***1\2, {10} s.s.s. , twisted instru-tinsel, huge horns, Flintstone like, Feliz03, R L or J_,****, {11} s.s.s., instru-tinsel, big band surfy , R L or J_, ***, {12}? , CH in Spanish, big band, **, {13} s.s.s., instru-tinsel,big band,tubor horns and organ, RJL_ Feliz_ , ***1\2, {14} (org!) CH , slow salsa, **, {15} .s.s.s. , instu-tinsel pinoabilly and orch, R L or J_, ***, {16} 1\2 s.s.s & 1\2 (org!)big bandish R L or J , ***, {17} s.s.s twist, inst-tinsel, polka, Feliz03, ***1\2, {18} (org!)cool percussion used in retro ?, **** ~~~Post Script : Mmm...mmm bueno, I can just taste those green- corn tamales, decked out in my putty shirt as I throw tinsel upon my little plastic Christmas tree. Oh...gotta go Grandma and Grandpa have started the Congo Line. ***borrowit*saveit*giveit* shareit* donateit to the local library***YULEridGEMality Factor = 8 1\2 ish?

Preview, preview, preview before you buy!

Of course it's fun to add a new "sound" to your collection of Christmas classics... I know there are better alternatives. I found this one to be more annoying than interesting.

If you hate buying a CD only to find 2 good songs, you've been warned.

If you'd like to pick up a copy for cheap, check out the Salvation Army, that's where mine went.