Siembra [Original recording remastered]

Willie Colon, Ruben Blades | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 14, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1978
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Fania
• ASIN: B000EMGK0S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #205,176 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

RUBEN BLADES

Rubén Blades has been a distinguished singer, composer, actor, and political figure. He didn't enter the world of music by accident: he was born and raised in the perfect environment for his future musical training. His Cuban mother, Anoland Bellido de Luna, played the piano, and his Panamanian father, Rubén Blades, played percussion. Under their musical influence, he cultivated his innate talent, alternating between law and political science at the National University of Panama. Never once did he lose his love of music, performing at local venues around the city. In 1968, he traveled to New York, where he was invited to record an album with the Pete Rodríguez Orchestra. This opportunity allowed him to make important contacts in the music world. He returned to Panama to finish his studies and graduate, independent of his career. For him, music was an immediate goal. He returned to New York, and fate led him to a job in the mail room of Fania Records. Direct contact with the musical talent on the label gave him a new opportunity when Ray Barretto needed a substitute for his lead singer, who had left the band. He found the talent he was looking for in Rubén Blades, who in turn took an important step in his musical career. Another opportunity presented itself when Héctor Lavoe left his position as lead vocalist for the Willie Colón Orchestra. Rubén Blades took the spot, beginning a glorious career with an uninterrupted series of enormous hits.

RUBEN BLADES

Rubén Blades se ha destacado como cantante, compositor, actor y figura política. No incursiona en el mundo de la música por casualidad, nace y crece en un ambiente que le es muy propicio para su futura formación musical. Su madre, Anoland Bellido de Luna, cubana, tocaba el piano, y su padre, Rubén Blades, panameño, tocaba la percusión. Con esta influencia cultiva su innato talento alternando sus estudios en la Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias Políticas en la Universidad Nacional de Panamá, sin abandonar su afición por la música actuando en locales públicos de la ciudad. En 1968 viaja a Nueva York, donde se le ofrece unirse a la Orquesta de Pete Rodríguez para grabar un disco. Oportunidad que le permite contactar con importantes figuras del medio. Regresa a Panamá para concluir sus estudios y graduarse, pero independientemente a su carrera, la música constituye para él una aspiración inmediata. Regresa a Nueva York, y por designios del destino entra a trabajar en la compañía Fania como organizador y mensajero de correos. El contacto directo con su talento artístico le plantea una nueva oportunidad cuando Ray Barretto buscando un sustituto para ocupar el puesto dejado por el vocalista de su orquesta, encuentra en Rubén Blades el talento idóneo, dando así inicio a una importante carrera como músico profesional. Otra afortunada coincidencia se le presenta cuando Héctor Lavoe deja vacante el puesto de vocalista en la orquesta de Willie Colón, con el que Rubén Blades inicia una carrera consagratoria con una ininterrumpida secuencia de grades éxitos.

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Product Description

French 24-bit remastered reissue of album originally released on Fania. Packaged in original artwork. Includes 3 bonus tracks, 'To Estan Buscando', 'El Telefonito' & 'Madame Kalalu'. 2001 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of latin music's most important recording!, May 24, 2006

By 

coa1881 "SALSERO SUPREME" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Siembra (Audio CD)

This is the new remastered edition of this classic Willie Colon recording featuring Ruben Blades on vocals. The lyrical aspect of this recording has been covered elsewhere so I'm not going to dwell on it besides metioning that most of the lyrics deal with the political reality of the "latino everyman."
The reissue has all the original cover art and an appropiate essay covering the significance of this recording. The only drawback is that it didn't include the lyric sheet or additional tracks. I'm sure that someone, somewhere has to have outakes from these sessions. Maybe these things will come as a part of a box set of another "commemorative" edition once everyone involved "gets paid."
Otherwise, the sound is louder, more focused and a bit cleaner. But again as with some of these new Fania remasters, the top end is rounded off to eliminate hiss. I find that bothersome, but I'm just being picky.

Buy it!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The standard by which ALL Latino music should be measured!, April 9, 2007

By 

Speratus "True knowledge exists in knowing th... (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Siembra (Audio CD)

Though I grew up on the Lower east side of Manhattan I was never much into Latin music or Salsa. My brother however is a fanatic and gave me this album (yes vinyl) back in 1979 with a dedication in Spanish from Ruben Blades! Needless to say this has become an heirloom.

As for the music, upon hearing the songs I was instantly struck by the fact that this did not sound like any other latin music I'd ever heard. The Lyrics were meaningful, uplifting, exhorting! The masterful compositions infused with Willie Colon's breathtaking orchestration whisked me away to musical bliss. Siembra accomplishes the impossible by making EVERY song dance-able yet introspective. The thought provoking lyrics will have you rethinking your role as a Latino, while simultaneously tapping your feet.

There is no filler on Siembra; not one bad song to be heard. My 15 year old just listened recently and was blown away, a testament to this true Masterpiece that will live on as the benchmark by which other Latin music will be judged.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most important latin recordings of all time!, October 31, 2005

By 

coa1881 "SALSERO SUPREME" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Siembra (Audio CD)

This is the jewel of the Willie Colon catalogue. With songs that are politically charged and so well crafted, this album is the summation of the Colon-Blades recordings. Most of these tracks were hits when released. The best track, in my humble opinion, is the haunting "Dime."
The personnel included among others, Sal Cuevas on bass, Willie Colon on bass trumpet and Eddie Montalvo on congas, Jose Rodrigues, Papo Vasquez, Leopoldo Pineda on slide t-bones.
By far, this was Willie's best band. They were tight, and also well produced and recorded.
The only critique is the remastering. Although better than most of the Fania reissues, the sound could have been truly enhanced to faithfully reproduce the warmth and detail of the original lp.
Besides that point, this album should belong in any music lover's collection. It's a classic!