Canta Las Canciones Mas Bonitas de Jose Alfredo Jimenez

Lola Beltran

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 25, 1997)
• Original Release Date: February 25, 1997
• Label: RCA Intl
• ASIN: B000005M91
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #62,628 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #42 in	Music > Latin Music > Regional Mexican > Mariachi
  #51 in	Music > Latin Music > Regional Mexican > Ranchera

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ranchera music royalty, October 9, 2003

By	Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Canta Las Canciones Mas Bonitas de Jose Alfredo Jimenez (Audio CD)

Take one of of Mexico's greatest composers of ranchera music, add the sultry voice of the late great Lola "La Grande" Beltran and you have an instant recipe for success. Besides the beautiful musical interpretations by one of the female giants of ranchera music, this disc features the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalititlan on every track! From all indications this disc was put together from songs she peformed during her prolific career rather than a rerelease? In any event it doesn't matter because the sound is super, her voice is fantastic since the original recordings must be from early on in her career. She was and is one of the best in her field of music. She carries her songs with strength and heart felt emotion in a genre dominated by men. She has recorded other Jose Alfredo Jimenez songs but the choice on this disc are perfect for her deep voice that resonates strong woman. Beginning with "Si Nos Dejan" Lola "La Grande" begins her seduction of the listener. She draws you in with her thick sound that takes off on wings of its own with her vibratto. By the second track "Dame un Poco de Ti" you know you are in for a great listening experience. She belts her songs out in a style that can only be rivaled by Amalia Mendoza or Lucha Villa; by comparison such Maria come lately's like Linda Ronstandt pale by Lola Beltran standards. The quality of musicianship is outstanding on each track as the music flows like Tecates in Mexican bars. The music featured is mostly of the tears in your beer variety but there are a few uptempo tracks like "Si Tu Tambien Te Vas" that makes you want to get up and dip and swirl about on the dance floor. "El Siete Mares" is another song that makes you want to move about. There are also some lovely boleros and all in all it is a good collection of songs. My only complaint is that there only twelve songs featured, usually of two to three minutes variety so I have to hit the play again button often. Check out the price, this is an unbelieveable bargain not to be missed. Lola La "Grande" Beltran could match or beat the best ranchero singers and this disc clearly proves she knew how to sing a Jose Alfredo Jimenez song. Great stuff by a super voice from Mexcio's past that is as contemporary now as then.

5.0 out of 5 stars Lola "La Grande" sings El Rey, January 5, 2004

By	Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

There are two discs available where the late great Lola Beltran interprets Jose Alfredo Jimenez; they are both excellent and only one song is featured on both, that being "Si Nos Dejan." This particualr disc features "las canciones mas bonitas"(the most beautiful songs) but in reality they are all beautiful. Lola Beltran was the perfect woman to interpret El Rey's songs as her voice had a remarkable timbre to it that was husky and tender at once and with an odd shrill on some of her lingering notes that I've not heard from any other female vocalist. The songs themselves stand on their own merit; they are the best within a now fading in popularity distant genre of ranchera music(equivalant to American country music?) songs penned by the best, Jose Alfredo Jimenez. All songs feature the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. As is the case with many posthumous releases that are essentially compilations, the music is about all you get since there is no written information provided. There is a picture of Lola "La Grande" when she was a looker and quite young and the obligatory composer, musician credits. As to her unique voice, she was able to carry a note on a roller coaster ride and is probably most evident on "Pueblo Chico" as she carries her throaty notes that come from way down deep for a shrilly ride. If you have never heard her sing you are in for a real treat. If you have heard her before than you know what a tremendous talent she was. On "El Siete Mares" she delivers with conviction and there is a super chorus by the mariachi that results in a rousing number that I doubt could be better done by any contemporary woman out there. There are no dates given on the time of the recordings but my guess is the late fifties or sixties; this is music that stands the test of time and sounds as good today as yesterday. The bargain price is another factor for buying this disc. If you liked Linda Ronstandts "Mexican" discs from a few years back than give this a listen. This is music in hues of green , red and white, amidst cactus and the smell of earth through the dusty distant sound of galloping horses riding away from the country ranch as those left behind sit under the shade of a tree sipping tequila. She was one who paved the path for future female singers and she does an outstanding job with some of El Rey's best compositions. A great addition to any collection of Mexican music at a bargain price availble through the "serie Naranja super economica"(orange series super economy)packaging.