South America Take It Away: 24 Latin Hits

Xavier Cugat | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 22, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Asv Living Era
• ASIN: B000001HK4
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #259,970 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #74 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > Cuba > Rhumba
  • #83 in Music > Indie Music > Pop > Instrumental Pop & Lounge

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID, December 22, 2000

By 

Alan Branfman (Spotsylvania, Va USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: South America Take It Away: 24 Latin Hits (Audio CD)

This compilation of Cugat recordings from 1935-1946 is one of the "sexiest" CD'S my collection. If you're a fan of many Hollywood films of that period these arrangements will send chills up your spine. Close your eyes and you're sitting at the Waldorf Bar in white tie with Bogie or George Raft; or you're an OSS agent sitting in a South American cabaret with Andrea King keeping one eye on Conrad Veidt and the other on Akim Tamiroff. The tunes are familiar and haunting. You may not remember the titles but you'll recognize the music of that genre.Several vocals by Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore add to your listening delight. The slow samba "BAIA" is an elixir with greater power than Viagra. The other rumbas, congas and tangos are superb; Cugat's distinctive rhythmic arrangements cast a hypnotic spell on the listener. Buy this album!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellente!, July 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: South America Take It Away: 24 Latin Hits (Audio CD)

Just got this today and it's exactly what I hoped for! The other reviewers were on the mark! The earlier Cugat orchestration and arrangements are so lovely and evocative. I'm a sucker for the sound of old recordings--these are from the 30's--they just had a warmth that is lost as recording equipment improved. But I still must get something with Besame Mucho . . .

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Latin Magic, September 21, 2005

By 

Nigel - See all my reviews

This review is from: South America Take It Away: 24 Latin Hits (Audio CD)

Great selections, great sound; hard to believe these weren't original stereo recordings.

Buy!