Andy Harlow
Sorpresa La Flauta
The recording and subsequent release of “Sorpresa La Flauta” forever changed the course of my musical career. It all began with a casual conversation between Jerry Masucci, my brother Larry and myself sometime in 1971. "Why don't we record my brother?" Larry asked Jerry (with me standing there saying nothing as I was a bit shocked). "He's got the Harlow name; I'll produce it, Ismael Miranda will write some tunes and co-produce the album. Whaddaya think Jer?” Well, Jerry thought it was a money-maker, and we were off.
Larry recruited the then unknown Johnny Vazquez to sing. We then selected arrangers and musicians for the session, Ismael wrote some great tunes and Larry and I selected the rest of the songs. .......Baddabing....baddaboom....with no time to waste, we rehearsed and recorded the album during the summer of 1972.
The LP was released around Christmas time 1972 and by February 1973 “La Lotería” was number one on the Latin singles charts in both New York and Puerto Rico. It turned out, in fact, to be Fania's biggest selling 45 RPM to date, and it put me on the salsa map.
Now, 35 years later, I'm still doin' it here in Miami, and thanks to Emusica Records’ great digital remastering and reproduction, this classic example of hard-driving New York salsa from the 1970s can now be enjoyed by a whole new generation of salsa lovers as well as those of my own generation with this limited edition reissue. A gozar!
Written by Andy Harlow
La grabación y la subsiguiente puesta a la venta de “Sorpresa La Flauta” cambió para siempre el rumbo de mi carrera musical. Todo comenzó con una conversación casual entre Jerry Masucci, mi hermano Larry y yo en algún momento en 1971. “¿Por qué no grabamos a mi hermano?” Larry le pregunto a Jerry (conmingo ahí parado mudo ya que estaba en estado de shock). “Tiene el apellido Harlow; yo lo produzco, Ismael Miranda escribe algunos de los temas y coproduce el álbum ¿Qué te parece Jerry? Jerry, pensó que produciría dinero y arrancamos.
Larry reclutó al entonces desconocido Johnny Vázquez para que cantara. Luego seleccionamos a los arreglistas y músicos para la sesión, Ismael escribió unos magníficos temas y Larry y yo seleccionamos el resto de las canciones. Y con la velocidad de un rayo, sin tiempo que perder, ensayamos y grabamos el álbum durante el verano de 1972.
El elepé salió a la venta cerca de Navidad en 1972 y para febrero de 1973 “La Lotería” estaba en el primer lugar de la lista de éxitos de discos sencillos Latinos en Nueva York y en Puerto Rico. De hecho, resultó ser el disco de 45 revoluciones de mayor venta de Fania hasta la fecha y me puso a mí en el mapa de la salsa.
Ahora, 35 años después, todavía lo estoy haciendo aquí en Miami, y gracias a la magnífica remasterización digital y reproducción de EMúsica Records, este clásico ejemplo de lo que era la salsa de Nueva York de los años 70 ahora lo puede disfrutar una generación de amantes de la salsa totalmente nueva, al igual que aquellos de mi propia generación, con esta reproducción de edición limitada. ¡A gozar!
Escrito por Andy Harlow
Hammock House: Santiago Sessions
$5.99
Fania is pleased to announce the release of HAMMOCK HOUSE: SANTIAGO SESSIONS on August 25, the newest installment in their highly-regarded “Hammock House” remix series, produced and mixed by internationally renowned LA-based producer and DJ, Jose Marquez. The iconic entertainment brand, which has evolved from a legendary NYC-based music label to an innovative and digitally-driven global music, entertainment and lifestyle company, is known worldwide for their work with influential DJs, and one of the best examples is their highly-regarded ‘Hammock House’ series.
Stemming from an idea that originated at the Manana Festival in Santiago de Cuba two years ago, Marquez fuses his love for dynamic Afro-Cuban and Caribbean flavors on SANTIAGO SESSIONS with classic Fania tracks from icons such as Hector Lavoe, Ray Barretto, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. Standout tracks include “Aguanile,” the iconic song from Fania legends Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe which first appeared on the album El Juicio in 1972, for which Marquez enlisted noted musicians Bobby Wilmore and Lazaro Galarraga, who specialize in Afro-Cuban percussion, to perform on congas and bata drums. Another showstopper on the release is “Herencia Africana,” which was composed by Javier Vazquez and recorded by the legendary Celia Cruz and Sonora Matancera on the album Feliz Encuentro, released in 1982. In the song, Cruz talks about her African Heritage/influence, so Marquez brought in US-based musicians originally from Mali to perform and emphasize the African elements of the song, using a djembe instead of congas and a Balafon which is a traditional African version of a marimba/xylophone.
Fania launched the groundbreaking ‘Hammock House’ series in 2011 with the release of its first acclaimed compilation from the celebrated producer/DJ Joe Claussell entitled ‘Hammock House Africa Caribe.’ With each thematic installment, Fania has teamed up with innovative DJ/producers such as Louie Vega, Toy Selectah and The Whiskey Barons, providing them with access to Fania's treasure vaults and the original multitrack master tapes from recordings by classic artists to create fresh takes on Fania’s musical legacy to introduce to new generations of fans.
Music Credits:
1. Celia Cruz - Un Bembe Pa Yemaya (Jose Marquez Remix)
Congas: Bobby Wilmore, Lazaro Galarraga
Bata Drums: Bobby Wilmore, Lazaro Galarraga
2. Ray Barretto - Indestructible (Jose Marquez Remix)
Piano: Claudio Passavanti
Bass: Claudio Passavanti
Congas: Ismel Wignall
Saxophone: Elias Perez
$4.99
Hammock House Myrtle & Wyckoff
$4.99
$9.99
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