Can anyone recommend a good Salsa CD?

[DancingGuy]

I bought a couple of Salsa CDs but the music was only so-so. During socials, they always play excellent Salsa music, but I don't know the name of the songs. So, I don't know what music was played. If I knew, I would download them from Itunes, but unfortunately, I'm not fluent in Spanish, so I can't figure out the name of songs by just listening to them. But there has to be some kind of Salsa CD out there that contains music that's just as good as the ones they play at parties and socials. Can anyone recommend any?

 

[sweavo]

You could try the compilations by Lubi Jovanovic, e.g. the "beginner's guide to salsa" box set. Lubi's an internationally known salsa DJ with broad tastes and a good eye for the dance floor.

It's three discs, all danceable, and a fairly wide selection of music, so IMO it's a good starting point to get into the artists that you like and branch out from there.

 

[DJ Yuca]

I bought a couple of Salsa CDs but the music was only so-so. During socials, they always play excellent Salsa music, but I don't know the name of the songs. So, I don't know what music was played. If I knew, I would download them from Itunes, but unfortunately, I'm not fluent in Spanish, so I can't figure out the name of songs by just listening to them. But there has to be some kind of Salsa CD out there that contains music that's just as good as the ones they play at parties and socials. Can anyone recommend any?

So the only salsa you own is 2 compilations, neither of which you're very keen on? You sound like a few instructors I've come across. They double up as DJs too.

You're trying to expand your knowledge and collection though, and you actually bought 2 CDs, so you're different to them in those respects.

In response to your query:

What are the compilations you own? None of us will down you if you don't like our favourite tunes, however if the compilations are mostly wack but with one or two classics, you might have missed the classics due to the rest of the CD being unimpressive. Also, most of us (including me) find our tastes in salsa expand over time, so perhaps we might recommend you try one or two specific tunes again.

Sweavo's recommendation Beginner's Guide To Salsa (there's three version of this, each containing three CDs) is good, cheap and easily available (in the UK that is, I'm not sure about in the US); the first one is by far the best, the third one is also good. A word of warning: CD One from each Guide contains a lot of cha chas and guajiras, Lubi recommends them for beginners, I and plenty of others don't, they're the wrong tempo and the wrong rhythm. But you will also find plenty of danceable salsa tunes.

Try The Greatest Salsa Ever Vol 1; although a few of the tracks are live remakes there's still a number of absolute classics.

Another good one is Son Boricua: Fabulosos 70s; all star line up covering classics from the 70s, you'll get exposed to some of the great artists and hear some quality cover versions, apart from one bolero and one descarga it's all salsa.

The list is endless really so ask the DJs what the tune is when you hear one you like, knowing the music and passing on the knowledge is part of their job (although that might be news to them).

 

[salsera_alemana]

Without knowing your salsa taste it is hard to give you any recommendations.

I looked up the previous posters' recommendations and I would not suggest those to a beginner, especially not to dance to. Ruben Blades or Willie Colon make good salsa music but it is rather to listen to than to dance to.

Which style of salsa do you like? Puerto Rican, Cuban, Colombian, classic salsa (Fania etc.)?

You might want to give us some examples of which songs you like...

 

[dahvee]

Hi DancingGuy,

If you're looking for different artists and songs why not check out the "Name that Tune" section on the board. Most of the songs people are asking about are from socials, congresses, and workshops. Not all the music identified will be available, but it should give you a good idea of who and what to look for.

You might also want to check out the Solarlatinclub blog. The DJ plays a great selection of old, new, and rare tracks.

 

[Mambo T]

Latin Giants of Jazz - Trip to Mamboland.

Best cd that has come out in a few years. Go to Amazon and do some check out a few cds to see your tastes

 

[DJ Yuca]

I looked up the previous posters' recommendations and I would not suggest those to a beginner, especially not to dance to. Ruben Blades or Willie Colon make good salsa music but it is rather to listen to than to dance to.

True, but the CD you are referring to also contains Anacaona, La Cura, La Critica and a few other dancefloor classics. If you know of a compilation that contains pure dancefloor classics then name it. Without another recommendation your statement is pointless.

I don't know the name of the songs. So, I don't know what music was played.

Which style of salsa do you like? Puerto Rican, Cuban, Colombian, classic salsa (Fania etc.)?

You might want to give us some examples of which songs you like...

You might want to read the post you're replying to...

 

[sweavo]

On the subject of those compilations not being very danceable: yes you're right maybe I misread the OP. I was thinking purely in terms of starting to explore the music, rather than looking for a single purchase that would maximise your collection of dancing tunes. I ruled that goal out for the reason mentioned by other posters on this thread: that we don't know the taste of the OP.

One thing that's been true in pretty much all my music purchases is that if you're buying albums on CD then about 20% of your music is going to be really danceable. But I think it's fun and useful to listen to and enjoy the other music because it rounds out your listening and your taste for latin music, then you have a wider spectrum of emotions to draw on when dancing. From long fast epic descargas to self-indulgent jazz to banging colombian boogalu mosaicos to urban NYC takes on folkloric PR music, it's all good and it all gives you an "in" into the rhythms and the asthetics of afro-latin music.

 

[DJ Yuca]

One thing that's been true in pretty much all my music purchases is that if you're buying albums on CD then about 20% of your music is going to be really danceable. But I think it's fun and useful to listen to and enjoy the other music because it rounds out your listening and your taste for latin music, then you have a wider spectrum of emotions to draw on when dancing. From long fast epic descargas to self-indulgent jazz to banging colombian boogalu mosaicos to urban NYC takes on folkloric PR music, it's all good and it all gives you an "in" into the rhythms and the asthetics of afro-latin music.

I'm sure many on here agree, I certainly do. It's not exactly what the op requested but a good recommendation regardless.

 

[michaelsalsa]

There are many salsa compilations available on spotify if you have an account.

 

[DancingGuy]

So the only salsa you own is 2 compilations, neither of which you're very keen on?

Yeah, this is the Salsa CD I own.

http://www.amazon.com/40-Salsas-Poderosas-Various-Artists/dp/B001G7IDCS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1285179458&sr=8-1

It's a 2 CD set with 40 Salsa songs. If you listen to the samples, you can see that they're not very good. At my Salsa lessons, I hear a lot of awesome Salsa songs. If only I knew Spanish, I could catch a few words of the lyrics, google them, and download those songs off ITunes. But sadly, I can't because I don't know Spanish.

 

[chrisk]

At my Salsa lessons, I hear a lot of awesome Salsa songs. If only I knew Spanish, I could catch a few words of the lyrics, google them, and download those songs off ITunes. But sadly, I can't because I don't know Spanish.

Well, have you thought about asking your instructor for the title/interpret of the song that he played and that you enjoyed so much?

 

[DancingGuy]

Well, have you thought about asking your instructor for the title/interpret of the song that he played and that you enjoyed so much?

I'm a bit shy.

If after days and days of researching to no avail, I'll eventually resort to that.

 

[kbitten]

The Best for your purpose- enciclopedia de la salsa ( varios artistas)

they are 40 volumes and lots of good songs..they are available for download

 

[terence]

so the only salsa you own is 2 compilations, neither of which you're very keen on? You sound like a few instructors i've come across. They double up as djs too.



.

lol...........

 

[chrisk]

The Best for your purpose- enciclopedia de la salsa ( varios artistas)

they are 40 volumes and lots of good songs..they are available for download

First, the collection consists of 50 volumes, but second and more important, the legality of this collection. When some of our members last talked about this collection here on SF, they mentioned that it's only available as download as well as looking like it was put together without concern for any licensing issues. Check the old thread here:

La Fantastica - Las Nenas

So I would be careful about suggestion this collection to anybody.

I'm a bit shy.

If after days and days of researching to no avail, I'll eventually resort to that.

So you're never asking any question in class? :tongue: I don't think that your instructor will mind any question about the music that he/she is playing in class. I think that he would rather take it as an additional compliment to not only his classes being good enough for you to regularly take them, but also his music taste/selection being well received by at least one student. And in the end it's about asking just for a title and not for the telephone number of your latest crush.

 

[DancingGuy]

So you're never asking any question in class? :tongue: I don't think that your instructor will mind any question about the music that he/she is playing in class. I think that he would rather take it as an additional compliment to not only his classes being good enough for you to regularly take them, but also his music taste/selection being well received by at least one student. And in the end it's about asking just for a title and not for the telephone number of your latest crush.

Ok, I decided to ask him and guess what? He couldn't remember the song he played. It was even the last song he played in the previous class before mine. As soon as he dismissed the class, I asked him if he could tell me the name of the very last one he just played. He couldn't remember. The problem is... he plays the songs from his Ipod, which I can only imagine has thousands of songs. He was like, "Ok let me check" and then he played a few songs and those weren't it. So then he says, "I can't find it. If I play it in class today, stop me and I'll let you know." But he didn't play in our class. He said he believes it might've been a Marc Anthony song, but he wasn't 100% sure. But I'm working on sampling every Marc Anthony song on Itunes and so far, nada.

Argh!!!

 

[salsa4fun]

Ok, I decided to ask him and guess what? He couldn't remember the song he played. It was even the last song he played in the previous class before mine. As soon as he dismissed the class, I asked him if he could tell me the name of the very last one he just played. He couldn't remember. The problem is... he plays the songs from his Ipod, which I can only imagine has thousands of songs. He was like, "Ok let me check" and then he played a few songs and those weren't it. So then he says, "I can't find it. If I play it in class today, stop me and I'll let you know." But he didn't play in our class. He said he believes it might've been a Marc Anthony song, but he wasn't 100% sure. But I'm working on sampling every Marc Anthony song on Itunes and so far, nada.

Argh!!!

Was it a Duet ?

 

[sunsoul]

Yeah, this is the Salsa CD I own.

http://www.amazon.com/40-Salsas-Pod...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1285179458&sr=8-1

It's a 2 CD set with 40 Salsa songs. If you listen to the samples, you can see that they're not very good.

I think I may have that CD. There are actually two CD sets, and I am not sure if that is the one that I bought... will check. Yes, average tunes.

I would recommend looking at the rough guide compiliations, some very good ones being:

Rough Guide to Salsa
Rough Guide to Salsa Colombia
Rough Guide to Salsa Dance (second edition)

 

[chrisk]

Ok, I decided to ask him and guess what? He couldn't remember the song he played. It was even the last song he played in the previous class before mine. As soon as he dismissed the class, I asked him if he could tell me the name of the very last one he just played. He couldn't remember.

Oh, this sounds really annoying as you seem to have enjoyed the song a lot. Especially considering that he just played the song, I wonder if he couldn't have checked his ipod to find out what the last tune was. Additionally it sounds to be a bit like the instructor hasn't much knowledge about artists/titles as well and can't tell his students to get them more interested in good music.

As I would guess that this will happen again when you'll find a good song in his class, do you have a mobile that you can use to record a bit of the song? If yes, record some and then ask our experts in 'Name that tune'.