Ahead of their time

[Richie Blondet]

MARCELINO GUERRA ORCHESTRA [1947]
Featuring Arsenio Rodriguez

 

[Richie Blondet]

PUPI CAMPO ORCHESTRA [1948]
Featuring Bobby Escoto on vocals

This is the original debut release of this chart. It was later recorded by the song's music composer (Tito Puente) on the "Dancemania" LP in 1954 [which did not see the light of day until 1957].

I heard a "live" version of the Pupi Campo Orchestra performing at the Latin Quarter in NYC [1948] that was recorded by Manny Oquendo (who played bongo/bell with Pupi's band at the time) and the "live" version smokes both the Pupi Campo rendition on record and the Dancemania version. Even then (in the 1940s) the bands were already rocking and sounding ultra progressive ("Salsa Dura"). The studio recordings don't do the 'live' versions Justice.

 

[Richie Blondet]

In my opinion this ensemble was ahead of its time. They didn't innovate anything new into the Conjunto concept. They were one of many conjuntos in Cuba and in the international market. But they sounded so modern and so hip, only a modern day On1/On2 dancer would dump on it for not adapting to their dance techniques.

For my money the GOAT of all conjuntos, all time.

 

[salsim]

The singer was actually Antar Daly. Who was NY based. Celio was in the midst of joining Cuba's Sonora Matancera in '53 or '54(?).

Mongo Santamaria and Justi Barreto (composer extraordinaire) are playing percussion.

I noticed on the youtube comments someone posted Sanson Batalla as being the composer of Negro Mambi. Unless he has some inside dope the composer credit went to Daly.

 

[salsim]

What's the name/artist of the song? The youtube video is unavailable for me

i don't know if this happens to the Hector Lavoe fans....to me Celio sounds what Lavoe will sound in the 1970s-80s, also when i listen to Nelo Sosa....just a curiosity many great singers in the first half of the 1900s to list, take care

 

[salsim]

Nelo Sasa was popular and famous in the 1940s....he sang with Conjunto Kubavana, Conjunto Casino, Conjunto Gloria Matancera, etc....in the 1950s he formed his Conjunto Colonial

 

[salsim]

Conjunto Colonial, today in 2024 he is still one of my favorites

 

[salsim]

i also like this version of "Donde Estabas Tu" closer to Beny More's version....take care all

 

[salsim]

In 1962, Pello el Afrokán started cooking the "Mozambique". He placed 12 drums, two bass drums, three bells, a frying pan and three trombones. Five tumbadoras sounded like a piano. Mozambique rhythm has some influence from conga rhythm.

the trombone lines sounds similar to what Los Van Van do today

 

[Gaviota]

I noticed on the youtube comments someone posted Sanson Batalla as being the composer of Negro Mambi. Unless he has some inside dope the composer credit went to Daly.

Probably some confusion because Antar Daly composed the song Sansón Batalla.

First recording I can find is by Rafael Labasta 1972

 

[Gaviota]

On Sansón Batalla:

El gran Nacho Sanabria cuenta en una entrevista cómo surgió uno de sus temas más recordados y que es parte de los clásicos de la Salsa:
"Esa fue una composición de Antar Daly, un compositor cubano, que también escribió Mambo Batiri. La historia de Sansón batalla es la siguiente: Antar Daly conoció, durante los años 70, a un personaje puertorriqueño que nosotros llamábamos ‘Sansón’, Antar lo veía siempre en el barrio, trabajando muy duro y batallando día a día para poder comer, trabajaba en lo que fuera y vivía solo; entonces Antar Daly tomó la vida de este personaje y le escribió esta canción. Sansón llegó a ser un gran bailarín profesional, de hecho, cuando yo estaba con Cortijo, el era el bailarín de la orquesta, estuvo con Aníbal Vásquez, el tío de Roberto Roena, en Inglaterra, bailándole a la Reina Isabel".

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=253651083244302

 

[DJ Yuca]

Probably some confusion because Antar Daly composed the song Sansón Batalla.

First recording I can find is by Rafael Labasta 1972

I like it, but nothing can compete with Nacho Sanabria's version. The date seems to be uncertain but probably came a few years after the Labasta above.

 

[DJ Yuca]

I have a different version of this and I can't recall who it's by. This is going to drive me mental.

Finally remembered! Only took me nearly 4 months.

A brilliant version. Don't know which came first. I have it on a nice old vinyl album.

 

[salsim]

Cascarita and Los Hermanos Palau....today i'm listening to this guaracha by Chano Pozo, take care all

 

[Alejo]

I believe this had been mentioned before. He composed "Aguanile." Which Willie Colón & Hector Lavoe receive acclaim for.

Not sure who the composer of Aguanile was but I can tell for sure that Roberto Faz's song "Para gozar la vida" was recorded way before Willie Colon's version.

 

[Alejo]

Benny More was without a doubt ahead of his time. Listen to "Repica Bongo" and when the descarga starts at 1:50 and tell me it doesn't sound like today's salsa.

 

[Alejo]

"Mi Saoco" Another one by El Barbaro del ritmo showcasing that he was indeed ahead of all these so called salseros. What instrument was missing?

 

[Alejo]

Jose Curbelo and his orquesta. Sun Sun Babae recorded in 1954

 

[salsim]

"Mi Saoco" Another one by El Barbaro del ritmo showcasing that he was indeed ahead of all these so called salseros. What instrument was missing?

Beny More was truly El Barbaro del Ritmo, to be a good salsero is important to know the history and understand the genres inside salsa, welcome to SF

 

[Gaviota]

PUPI CAMPO ORCHESTRA [1948]
Featuring Bobby Escoto on vocals

This is the original debut release of this chart. It was later recorded by the song's music composer (Tito Puente) on the "Dancemania" LP in 1954 [which did not see the light of day until 1957].

I heard a "live" version of the Pupi Campo Orchestra performing at the Latin Quarter in NYC [1948] that was recorded by Manny Oquendo (who played bongo/bell with Pupi's band at the time) and the "live" version smokes both the Pupi Campo rendition on record and the Dancemania version. Even then (in the 1940s) the bands were already rocking and sounding ultra progressive ("Salsa Dura"). The studio recordings don't do the 'live' versions Justice.

Lol I just (re-)discovered this independently and was going to post it here.

I'd love to hear that live version...