..."(Ry Cooder, 1999) I had heard of Buena Vista Social Club for many years but only recently I dug out this treasure and started to appreciate it. Sometime ago I saw the documentary film about Buena Vista Social Club on FilmFour; I was so captured by the music in the film that I ordered the CD ... Read review
son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism,Buena Vista Social Clubis that rare meld of ...
son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism, Buena Vista Social Club is that rare meld o...
son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism, Buena Vista Social Club is that rare meld o...
son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism,Buena Vista Social Clubis that rare meld of ...
All our items are despatched from the United Kingdom. Starring - Luis Barzaga, Joachim Cooder, Ry Cooder, Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, Julio Alberto Fernandez We offer *** WORLDWIDE *** Delivery!, Manufacturer: MoviePostersDirect
Buena Vista Social Club
Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas, Wings of Desire) explores Cuba's musical past in this ... more
critically acclaimed documentary.Accompanying Ry Cooder, producer of the 1997 Grammy award-winning album Buena Vista Social Club, back to Cuba, Wim Wendera encounters Ibrahim Ferrer, Company Segundo, Ruben Gonzalez, Omara Portuondo and other members of the band. Together, these veteran musicians reminisce about the glory of their musical past where, at the height of their success in the 1930s and 40s, they were acclaimed as the greatest musicians in Cuba.The film observes their rehearsals with Ry Cooder in a studio, leading up to their first performance in America, at New York legendary Carnegie Hall.A remarkable record of an immensely gifted group of musicians, Buena Vista Social Club is a journey as emotional and uplifting as the music itself.
Buena Vista Social Club
When the album Buena Vista Social Club was released it quickly became a worldwide ... more
phenomenon selling millions of copies internationally and winning a Grammy. When Ry Cooder travelled to Cuba again early in 1998 to record a solo album with Ibrahim Ferrer - again with all the musicians of the Buena Vista Social Club - Wim Wenders accompanied him with a small film crew, observing the musicians in the studio and tracing their lives in Havana. The film continued in the spring in Amsterdam where Buena Vista Social Club gave two concerts and ended, finally, in the summer in New York with a triumphal concert in Carnegie Hall.The result is an inspiring and uplifting story of a group of incomparable musicians recreating a bygone era with their fascinating reminisces and awesome music.
A review by CMJT on Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club April 15th, 2005
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks
Flawless
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
Easy listening
Disadvantages:
Spanish lyrics
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
"Music is a treasure hunt. You dig and dig and sometimes you find something."(Ry Cooder, 1999) I had heard of Buena Vista Social Club for many years but only recently I dug out this treasure and started to appreciate it. Sometime ago I saw the documentary film about Buena Vista Social Club on FilmFour; I was so captured by the music in the film that I ordered the CD album straight away from Internet.
Ry Cooder, the producer of the CD, said in the introduction, "In Cuba the music flows like a river. It takes care of you and rebuilds you from inside out." I could not agree more. Ry Cooder was a popular American guitarist who took a keen interest in world and folk music; in 1997 he went to Havana and hunted down a number of old age musicians to record this fabulous album. Just look at their age (at the time of recording), e.g., Compay Segundo (vocal), aged 89; Rubén Gonzalez (pianist), aged 77; and a younger man Ibrahim Ferrer (vocal) at the age of 70! They may be old, but the performances of these elderly gentlemen were just amazing. The music in this album is actually quite funky and jazzy with typical Latino rhythms. Music instruments like guitars, piano, trumpet and drums had played an essential part of the recording. The end products are very enjoyable pieces of music that are perfect for a layback Sunday afternoon.
I found some of the lyrics quite erotic and amusing; some extracts in English translation are included in this review. The number of stars (out of 5) beside the track titles indicates my rating for each of them: -
1) Chan Chan * * * * *
What a beautiful love song about Juanika and Chan Chan, it's so subtle, yet so loveable.
♪ I'm going from Alto Cedro to Marcané ♪ Then from Cueto I'm going to Mayari
♪ The love I have for you ♪ I cannot deny…
2) De Camino a La Vereda * * * *
Don't stray when you're in love, so says the song.
♪ Listen, friend, don't stray from the path… ♪ Because your time of reckoning is yet to come…
3) El Cuarto de Tula * * * *
A cheeky song performed in high tempo. Come dancing!
♪ It's Tula's bedroom, it's gone up in flames ♪ She fell asleep and didn't blow out the candle…
4) Pueblo Nuevo * * * *
Piano played by the pianist Rubén González who was regarded as a national treasure in Cuba. Excelente!
5) Dos Gardenias * * * *
This sentimental love song reminds me of ballroom dancing.
♪ Two Gardenias for you… ♪ I love, I adore you, my life…
6) Y Tú Qué Has Hecho * * *
A little song about a tree (it's got feeling) and a girl.
♪ On the trunk of a tree ♪ A young girl filled with joy ♪ Carved out her name…
7) Veinte Años * * * *
A sad song sung by the only female vocal (another elderly singer called Omara Portuondo) on this album, it would bring tears in your eyes.
♪ How mournfully we watch our love ebb away ♪ Heartlessly a part of the soul is torn away…
8) El Carretero * * * *
A hard working peasant is going to work.
♪ Ride on up the mountain… ♪ Work the mountain, cultivate the plain ♪ Reap the fruits of your labour…
9) Candela * * * * *
How a hot babe turns the whole town on fire! This amazing song is very intense, and it will make you shake your arse before you know it. Absolutely brilliant!
♪ Oh fire, fire, fire, I'm burning… ♪ I like it, I can't stop ♪ The fire is taking me with it…
10) Amor de Loca Juventud * * * *
A gospel-like song with a hint of jazz.
♪ Lost are the dreams of my deluded youth ♪ Dream I fulfilled with overwhelming passion…
11) Orgullecida * * *
A rather upbeat song in the style of 1930s jazz.
♪ I'm proud to be divine… ♪ Perhaps I'm made of marble ♪ And my love is the purest love of all…
12) Murumllo * * * *
A slow song with a taste of blues that would send you to dreamland fast!
♪ There is a soft whisper… ♪ And life laughs and says, ahh ahh ♪ And the moon laughs and says, umm umm...
13) Buena Vista Social Club * * * * *
Believe me, this jazzy piano piece really flows like river. I loved it!
14) La Bayamesa * * *
A patriotic song about a woman who burnt down her house to prevent the enemy taking over.
♪ But she can hear her homeland crying out… ♪ She has left everything, she has burnt everything…
The CD is sold with a 48-page booklet describing the background of the tracks, plus the lyrics in Spanish with English translation, and some photographs of the studio shots. I paid £9.99 for the CD from Amazon online site (as I had some Amazon gift vouchers). Whatever your taste of music is, I think that any music fan should consider including this excellent CD in their collections.
More Reviews
Join the club Review ofBuena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Clubby
rsmith
Advantages: Romantic, makes you think of summer holidays Disadvantages: None
This album was first Cuban music album I bought - and it has totally turned me on to the 'World music' genre.
Ry Cooder produced, the album resurrected several greats of the Cuban music scene, musicians whose heyday had been in the 50s and 60s, even the 40s in some cases. Importantly, Cooder definitely does not take over, and the artists are allowed to perform songs that are important to them, in the way they know best. There is some wonderful guitar ... ...songs.
There are many excellent musicians in the band, but best are pianist Ruben Gonzalez (as demonstrated on the songs "Pueblo Nuevo" and "Murmillo"), and Oriando 'Cachaito' Lopez on bass. The whole band (over a dozen musicians on some songs) gel together extremely well, but those two musicians play particularly well together.
Featured vocalists are Company Segundo, (89 years old), Omara Portuondo (the only female vocalist on the album), and ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: an honour to be in the presence of such talent Disadvantages: none
I'm only writing this to brag. I saw them live a few days ago, at Manchester, the final gig of the 2000 tour, and quite possibly the last time they will play together, and they were fanstatic!
I picked up the cd ages ago - when it first came out, because it had a nice photo on the cover and I was going through one of my experimental phases, and instantly fell in love with it. Since then I've been encouraging all of my freinds to give it a spin, ... ...freinds who have succumbed rang me one day a couple of weeks ago and said 'they're playing' but I thought it was all sold out for months (as it was), but my freinds managed to call on the day that the 3 best tickets in the house were returned, so there were we, at Hola Cubana, watching one of the finest performances I have ever seen. The last time I was at that venue was to see Nina Simone, who got a 5 minute standing ovation as she walked onto the ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: variety - there are tracks to dance to and ones to chill to Disadvantages: ry cooder's slide guitar;
Buena Vista social club has broken through the boundaries of genres and become as popular as some rock and pop albums. It is a tribute to the musicianship of the hugely experienced individuals who feature on this album that every song has so much emotion and depth. As for Ry Cooder, contribution to the songs is ambivalent. The slide guitar on "Chan Chan", "El Cuarto De Tula" and "Dos Gardenias" is in my opinion subtle and atmospheric; however on ... ...Social Club" and "Ay Candela". This intrusion is even more evident in the film where during the new york concert at the end of the film the havanan musicians give Ry more than one "Shut up" glare.
Still, this album is an essential addition to any well-rounded record collection - if you only have one album of cuban music it has to be this one. The album also comes with an excellent inlay which not only provides reasonably accurate translations but ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: It is a must have, must listen to Disadvantages: None
...Cuban music, and the influence Buena Vista had in terms of attracting more people to the Cuban music cannot be described. Beautifully shot, never boring, always moving, always real to the point of being a documentary, always lyric to the point of moving me to tears of commotion. The musicians depicted in the movie are living legends, are unique. The album is superb, and, once you have seen the movie, is the best way of calling up the images of the ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Beautiful, smooth Cuban music Disadvantages: Not everyone will like it
...music I would definitely also recommend to see the film!! This sort of documentary by Wim Wenders takes you back to Cuba to introduce the great singers and musicians who get together to form the Buena Vista Social Club. Every song which is also on the album is fully featured. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
...After watching a programme on television about the BuenaVistaSocialClub, I was inspired to buy this CD. And, I was not disappointed!
I don't usually buy music from this genre but I was soon dancing around the room 'shaking my booty'! - not a pretty sight!!
The front CD cover shows Ibrahim, wearing a leather cap, looking as though he's had a great deal of life's experiences and enjoyed them along the way! The plastic CD cover is also covered by a cardboard one.
This CD is the first solo album by Cuban singer Ibrahim Ferrer. He was born in 1927 in Santiago and he moved to Havana in 1957, where he has lived ever since. He was well-known in Cuba for his singing, mainly as a backing singer for other groups, but it was not until he appeared with the BuenaVistaSocialClub, that he gained a more international recognition...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer - Buena Vista Social Club
Product details
Title: Buena Vista Social Club
Performer: Buena Vista Social Club
Genre: World Music
Sub Genre: Cuban Son
Release Date: 27/09/1999
Recomended Retail Price: 15.99 GBP
Original Release Year: 1997
Label / Distributor: World Circuit / Proper
Engineer: Jerry Boys
Producer: Ry Cooder
Pieces in Set: 1
Studio / Live: Studio
Stereo: Stereo
Format: Performer
EAN: 769233005021
Additional notes
Album Notes: Buena Vista Social Club: Compay Segundo (vocals, guitar, congas); Eliades Ochoa (vocals, guitar); Ibrahim Ferrer (vocals, bongos, clave); Ry Cooder (acoustic & electric slide guitars, guitar, oud, bolon, mbira, percussion); Ruben Gonzalez (piano). Additional personnel includes: Juan de Marcos Gonzalez (conductor, guiro, background vocals); Julio Alberto Fernandez (vocals, maracas); Manuel "Puntillita" Licea (vocals, congas); Omara Portuondo (vocals); Benito Suarez Magana (guitar); Barbarito Torres (laoud); Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal (trumpet); Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, Salvador Repilado Labrada (bass); Joachim Cooder (drums, udu drum, dumbeck, conga); Alberto "Virgillo" Valdes (maracas, background vocals). Recorded at Egrem Studios, Havana, Cuba, March, 1996. Includes liner notes by Nick Gold and Nigel Williamson. BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Performance. That Ry Cooder, you've got to keep an eye on him every minute, or he jumps into another cross-cultural collaboration. In the wake of his landmark recordings TALKING TIMBUKTU with Ali Farka Toure and A MEETING BY THE RIVER with V.M. Bhatt comes BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, essentially a supergroup of traditional Cuban musicians with the addition of international agitator Cooder. Somehow, Cooder always finds just the right space to slide his sinuous slide guitar into, so that it works in almost any context. Here, amidst the multi-layered percussion, piano and Cuban guitar rhythms, Cooder's slide simultaneously finds a home and eggs the ensemble on. The natural beauty of the Cuban tonal and rhythmic palette is the real star of BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, evoking both a sense of mystery and a feeling of intense emotional satisfaction.
Album Reviews: Spin (9/99, p.156) - Ranked #71 in Spin Magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s." Village Voice (2/24/98) - Ranked #21 in the Village Voice's 1997 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll. Q (1/98, p.112) - Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1997." Rolling Stone (9/18/97, p.104) - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "...revisit[s] the lovelorn ballads, patriotic hymns and gentle son-based dance numbers heard in swank Havana lounges as far back as the 1920s....enduring reminders that in Cuba, the wisdom of the ages still counts for something." Vibe (11/97, p.152) - "...The beguiling fusion of Cooder's twangy slide guitar with the danzon and other, conga-tinged Afro-Hispanic rhythms...makes for an exciting multicultural marriage..." Entertainment Weekly (10/03/97, p.85) - "...The rhythms vary, but the sound is gentle yet flamboyant throughout. It brims with warmth." - Rating: B+
Titles on disc 1
1.: Chan Chan
2.: De Camino A La Vereda
3.: El Cuarto De Tula
4.: Pueblo Nuevo
5.: Dos Gardenias
6.: Y Tu Que Has Hecho
7.: Veinte Anos
8.: El Carretero
9.: Candela
10.: Amor De Loca Juventud
11.: Orgullecida
12.: Murmullo
13.: Buena Vista Social Club
14.: La Bayamesa
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Listed on Ciao since : 13/06/2000
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