De Ti Depende [Original recording remastered]

Hector Lavoe | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1976
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Fania
• ASIN: B000ETRCH6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,330 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

HECTOR LAVOE

A great among greats, this great artist's life was marked by a tragic destiny. Héctor Lavoe's interest in music began in his native Puerto Rico. In search of new opportunities, he traveled to New York with a suitcase full of dreams and the firm goal of landing a job in the music world. The road ahead was not an easy one. There were many obstacles to overcome, and the price was high, as it often is for immigrants. He held down precarious day jobs for bad pay; but at night, he gave free rein to his dreams, performing in various night clubs. Johnny Pacheco happened to hear him perform at one of those night clubs. In Lavoe he discovered a powerful voice and the easiest of manners. He was so impressed that he told Willie Colón he had found a singer for the recording of his first album, "El malo." The combination of Héctor Lavoe and Willie Colón enriched the world of salsa and set the stage for their collaboration, which lasted seven years. It also gave birth to 10 albums, full of vibrant songs that spoke the language of the street, a type of musical narrative that the public identified with, one that cemented salsa as a genre. In 1975, Fania Records decided to launch its singers with the most hits as soloists. Thus began a new phase of Héctor Lavoe's career, just as brilliant and successful, boasting the release of many albums that are now part of his rich musical legacy. His life was an open book, each page of which documented the tragedy and heartbreak that marked and influenced the rise and fall of his brilliant professional career. Héctor Lavoe died on June 29, 1993, at 46.

HECTOR LAVOE

Grande entre los grandes, y marcado por el trágico sino que el destino les tiene reservado, fue imagen y semejanza la vida de este gran artista. Héctor Lavoe inició sus inquietudes artísticas en su Puerto Rico natal. Pero en busca de nuevas oportunidades y ampliar su horizonte, viaja a Nueva York con un equipaje de sueños y el firme propósito de labrarse un lugar en la música. El camino a transitar no le fue fácil, fueron muchos los obstáculos que tuvo que superar y pagar el alto precio que todo intento le tiene reservado a los inmigrantes. Trabajos precarios y mal remunerados durante el día, y por las noches, darle rienda suelta a sus sueños presentándose en clubes nocturnos. En una de aquellas presentaciones, coincide con el Maestro Johnny Pacheco que lo escucha cantar. Descubre en él, una voz potente y un personalísimo modo de comunicar. Tan impresionado quedó, que le habló a Willie Colón que buscaba un vocalista para la grabación de su primer álbum "El Malo" La fusión de Héctor Lavoe y Willie Colón, enriqueció el género salsero y marcaría pautas de una unión que duró siete años, y diera como fruto una rica cosecha de la que se derivaron diez producciones con un contenido de temas vibrantes que hablaban el lenguaje del hombre de la calle, una especie de narrativa musical con la que se identificó el público y solidificaría la salsa como género. En 1975 el sello Fania decide lanzar a sus cantantes de más éxitos como solistas. De este modo, Héctor Lavoe inicia una nueva etapa en su carrera, no menos brillante y exitosa con el lanzamiento de varias producciones que ya son parte de su rico legado musical. Su vida, un libro abierto en el que escribiera en cada una de sus páginas, trágicas y desgarradoras vivencias en el aspecto personal que lo marcaron e influyeron en la decadencia y ocaso de su brillante carrera profesional. Héctor Lavoe muere el 29 de junio de 1993 a los cuarenta y siete años.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lavoe reigns supreme, September 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: De Ti Depende (Audio CD)

Hector was, is, and always will be "El Cantante de los Cantantes". This CD contains the phenomenal "Periodico de Ayer" which has become a timeless classic. " Hacha y Machete", another classic, is a powerhouse dance tune. There are other great dance numbers and a collection of Salsa Music is not complete without this CD. Buy it today and experience a tiny piece of history from the man whose name rings synonomous with Salsa.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lack of vocals???? Are you insane???, March 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: De Ti Depende (Audio CD)

As a long time Lavoe fan (since birth nearly 28 years ago) I had to respond to this review. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but are you kidding me? Hector Lavoe is the greatest Salsa singer of all time. Punto! Final! Se acabo! His vocals are legendary. Today's singers strive to mimic la voz de Lavoe. No offense, but maybe you need to listen to more salsa in general or more Lavoe in particular to truly grasp the greatness of this man's voice, passion, and improvisational talent. You cannot listen to Calle Luna Calle Sol, Triste y Vacia, Todo Tiene Su Final, or Sonando Despierto, and not recognize how gifted Lavoe is vocally. It just doesn't get any better than Hector.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great record but poor sound!, July 21, 2008

By 

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

This review is from: De Ti Depende (Audio CD)

The remastering process hasn't been kind to this classic recording. It sounds muffled and tiny - nothing like the vinyl or, sad to say, its first cd reincarnation. Obviously, the folks at quality control let this one get by. Whatever source material Emusica used for this reissue still does not exculpate the remaster engineer for doing such a lousy job.

Informed sources tell me that there was talk of giving this cd a "face-lift" sometime in the future. But don't hold your breath. Until then, this is all we have.