Héctor Lavoe was the salsa equivalent of a mercurial rock'n'roll star.  It makes sense, then, that tapes of Lavoe's concert recordings have been treasured by collectors worldwide since the singer's untimely death in 1993, at age 46.

This month, Fania is re-releasing the official editions of two Lavoe live collections.  The first one, Héctor Lavoe Live, came out originally in 1998 and is probably the best sounding Lavoe concert in existence.  The second one, recorded at a private club during the final chapter of his career, was compiled with the serious salsa aficionado in mind.

The studio albums that Lavoe made for Fania - both as a young vocalist with Willie Colón and as a more mature solo artist in his later years - showcase the purity and swing of the '70s salsa movement at its artistic apex.

Lavoe's concert recordings, on the other hand, underscore two important elements in his music:  First, the expertise of his orchestra - which remained proficient and sonically attractive even in those nights when Héctor, destroyed by his drug addiction, could barely carry a tune.  Second, El Cantante's infectious sense of humor, and his gift for lyrical improvisation.

Both releases include samples of Héctor's onstage banter.  He is in full form on Live, which was taped in February of 1988 - a few months before the tragic suicide attempt that would signify the beginning of the end for Héctor.  Live At A Private Club finds him recovering from this ordeal, detailing with sincerity his medical travails, and reiterating his loyalty to fans. This is one of the recording discovered by Bobby Marin in the Fania archives.

The music itself is, more often than not, gorgeous. Live delivers a zesty "Murga Panameña" (from the classic Asalto Navideño LP) and funky versions of the majestic "Periódico De Ayer" and the darkly hued "Juanito Alimaña."  Highlights from Live At A Private Club include a memorable reading of the perennial Lavoe hit "Mi Gente" - to this day, a symbol of the deep love that unites Héctor Lavoe with his legions of fans.

This is a video documentary about Héctor Lavoe that it is worth seing: