Customer Reviews

Maracas, Marimbas & Mambos: Latin Classics At M-G-M - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology

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With a host of tremendously talented Latin performers, most notably XAVIER CUGAT and CARMEN MIRANDA, this dazzingly fun CD is dynamite entertainment. Derived from recordings made for the soundtracks of classic MGM movies from the '40s, there are ample delights here, with amazing sound quality. Some tracks are even in stereo! My favorite oddity: No less than Esther Williams, Van Johnson, & organist Ethel Smith in a Portugese ditty called "Boneca de Pixe". It's astounding!

For a fan of Bach and Ravel, Mahler and Brahms, it doesn't make too much sense to let you know that this CD is one of my favorites. If you are now, or if you have ever been, a fan of the M.G.M. musical movies, this one is for you. Here collected on one CD are 18 Latin numbers in movies from the 1940's. Most of them starred Esther Williams or Jane Powell and featured the musical talents of Xavier Cugat or Carmen Miranda. 16 of the 18 tracks are previously unissued; the sound is terrific, esp. when you consider that the movies were made 60 years ago; and I promise you alot of smiles.

Depending on your perspective this is great campy fun or just great fun; Either way it's a good document of Hollywood's high spirited yet stereotyped interpretation of South American cultures. What makes this music (somewhat) enduring is its irrepressible energy and great performances: the swingin' Xavier Cugat, the transcendently loopy Carmen Miranda and Ethel Smith on the mighty Wurlitzer organ - dig those crazy runs on "Boneca De Pixe" and "Tico Tico"! So rather than slogging through the movies themselves - mostly tedious and very dated - you can get to their meat with this anthology. Recommended!

Somebody once said, speaking about Prince, that Parade Paisley Park was a nine over ten, so Sign Of The Times was a ten and further Around The World In A Day must be an eleven.

This must be like a twelve or so..

Thanks Rhino for this nice thing!

Hope some day we can enjoy more recordings by the great Lina Romay (there's five here including Alma Llanera and Babalú) in this good quality.