Customer Reviews

Salsa: Latin Pop Music in Cities [VHS]

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

 

 

If you're interested in the sociology and politics of life in Pueto Rico or the Nuyorican community, you may find this program interesting. If you're looking for alot of concert footage or alot of musical information about Salsa, skip this DVD. There is minimal music and no MUSICAL discussion of Salsa in this 1-hour program.

What a wonderful discovery to find on a clear screen young and youthful Salsa legends Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Charlie Palmieri, "El Rey" Tito Puentes and "La Raina de la Salsa" Celiz Cruz. Made and released in 1979, this documentary has a bit too much narration but is nonetheless a magnificent snapshot of the evolution of the music. Anyone interested in Salsa must see this film. Complete songs are rare, as is music uninterrupted by the narration, but the magic is still there. Que viva la salsa.

This video has everything. It shows history from Felipe Luciano, the former leaders of the young lords to the best salsa artists when they were in their prime, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Willie Colon and many more music. This video is my favorite video in my collection of salsa videos

very informative. lots about nyc in its heyday. but only 3 short cuts of music. lot of ploitical views. not really a music dvd but good

This is an interesting video made up of film shoot in the 70's during the heyday of New York's Salsa movement.
It is not a musical but rather a look at everyday conditions of the New York Salsa community.
It has some small dance & music performances but I enjoyed it most for the insight it gave into the Salsa community during it's peak.
It was interesting watching the greatest artists of this community play for Weddings, & in schools & for free.
It was interesting thinking about the change that has occured since those days & now.
It is really only of interest to the Salsa history persons.
But I did enjoy it & I think it should be seen by all New Salsa dancers & music lovers.

I lived in the South Bronx and had the pleasure of seeing and dancing to the musicians on this DVD.
Mr. Luciano wants us to believe that the characters and music he has selected represent the Puerto Rican culture that I experienced in the clubs and streets of Manhattan and the Bronx and let us not forget Orchard Beach and City Island; he fails to do this.
The video is poorly made and the great Puerto Rican and Cuban musicians showcased seem to be on for 30 seconds or less.
Mr. Luciano takes us to Puerto Rico to reminds us of the heroes welcome given to the Puerto Ricans that attempted to assassinate President Truman. Thank you Felipe for that moment of Puerto Rican history.
There are other political comments made by Mr. Luciano throughout the video that tend to diminish the DVD even more. This is one video I would like to forget very fast.

I found this video by accident in a local store and so I had not a lot in the way of expectations. My mind was blown. This is a big juicy chunk of music and politics and sociology. If you just come for the music, there is some here. But the commentary and the religious rituals and politics are served up in equal proportion and, from my frame of reference, it's all quite, quite good. Tito is gone and Celia (God bless her) is getting up there. Their interviews along with Blades history of the Fania label make this a true collectors item as well as a great introduction to the music.

Well... the good thing of this video is that you will see interesting scenes such as the one of Masucci walking arounf the Faina head quarters, a wedding with a salsa orchestra in which the musicians are among others Barreto, Puente and Ch. Palmieri..
The bad thing is that the video is in a very documentary format.. and you will not see a complete performance of a song, but instead an off voice talking while showing the musicians doing their job.

Any way, good to have it if you are a collector.