La Sonora Ponceña - suggested albums please?

[HalfMan]

Hi,

I have no Sonora Ponceña music in my collection; and it's about time that fault is rectified. But when I look up their discography - it's huge - 30+ albums spanning 55 years! Where do I start?

There's been a couple of useful suggestions in this forum recently:

Sonora Poncena - I like all their albums, their most recent is excellent.

Also as far as La Sonora Poncena goes your right , you cant go wrong with one of Puerto Rico's pride and joy. Since i dont own even half of there albums , i will say that so far my favorite two albums are "Musical Conquest" and "Unchained Force". Both of these albums are just perfect.

I think Mr. Afinque and I share the same taste in music so these two albums can go straight onto the shortlist. I would like to know the name of Enid's recommended album, please. I have also read some encouraging reviews of the "Explorando" (1978) album.

Another one that caught my eye was "Sonora Poncena - Greatest Hits" from Digipak which covers the 15 year period from the late 60s to the early 80s. There is also a recent album "A Band And Their Music" (2 CD Set) from Fania which looks like it covers the same material.

What would be your suggestions?

Many thanks.

 

[groovetpt]

I don't think there is such a thing as a bad Sonora Ponceña album. "Jubilee" is one of my favorites and the 50 Aniversario, Vol. 1 is outstanding with some great guest artists along for the ride.

 

[GroovyMambo]

In addition to the albums listed above, I recommend "50 Aniversario Vol. 2", "La Ceiba (with Celia Cruz), and "Hacheros Pa' un Palo".

 

[EMOYENO]

I'm just like you... cant get enough of La Sonora. Just take it slow and enjoy the music. Anything Sonora is great!!!!

 

[Abayarde]

There is also a recent album "A Band And Their Music" (2 CD Set) from Fania which looks like it covers the same material.

This one was recently released. I was about to start a new thread about this compilation but I think this is the better opportunity to let you know my two cents.

a few years ago, friends asked me to make a list of the best songs of La Ponceña. the first thing I told them: "2 CD's aren't enough".

compared to other compilations, this one is excellent but too much was left out. I may recommend, at least, 2 more volumes or a 6 CD box set.

I might add the following songs from the Fania/Codigo catalog...

Changuirí
Suena Tu Bongó
Al Pan Pan, Al Vino Vino (Papo Lucca playing tres)
Nosotros
Yo Vengo Del Monte
Sancocho Prieto (yes, a merengue but it was a great hit then!)
Las Mujeres Son De Azucar
Todo El Mundo Escucha
La Pobreza Y Yo
Tiene Pimienta
Paño De Lagrimas
Tumba La Caña, Jibarito
La Montaña Del Oso
Prende El Fogón
No Muere El Son
Como Mangó
Hachero Sin Hacha
Lloré y Reí
Tumba Mabó
La Clave
La Pollera Colorá
Yeyey
Rumba En El Patio
Jubileo 20
La Gotera
Se Formó
Madrugando
Ahora Yo Me Rio
No Haz De Verme Llorar
Lo Que El Viento Se Llevó
Vas Por Ahí
La Ceiba y La Sigüaraya
Pensándolo Bien
Sonora Pa'l Bailador
Huracán
Caballo Viejo
Borrachera
Umi-Layé
Cuestiones De Amor
Yambeque
Agua A La Candela
Soledad
Como Te Quize Yo
Herida Cerrada En Falso
El Dulcero
Date Cuenta
Si La Ven
Odiame
Te Vas De Mi
Woody's Blue
Night Love
Sola Vaya
Bello Y Monumental
Sigo Pensando En Ti
Abanacué
Jíbaro En Nueva York
La Rumba Soy Yo
El Tiempo
Abuela
Yaré
Homenaje A Tres Grandes Del Teclado
Layé Layé
Trabajando
Descendencia
Mi Cantar
Canción Para Mi Viejo
Sonaremos El Tambó
El Rincón Caliente
El Momento
Busco En Sueños
No Muero Todavía
Congo Carabalí
Percusión

...still, three christmas albums and two independent albums (Back To The Road & Trayectoria + Consistencia) are not included on this list.

 

[Mr.Afinque]

I don't think there is such a thing as a bad Sonora Ponceña album. "Jubilee" is one of my favorites and the 50 Aniversario, Vol. 1 is outstanding with some great guest artists along for the ride.

I'm just like you... cant get enough of La Sonora. Just take it slow and enjoy the music. Anything Sonora is great!!!!

Halfman , both groovetpt and EMOYENO are right. When it comes to La Sonora Poncena you may prefer one album over another but none that I own or have heard are bad.

Please do take your time listening to each album and enjoy them to the fullest, though I know you will. Becareful not to buy too many albums at once for you may feel the urge to quickly finish one album and jump to the next without having really apreciated the first one you listened to.

As far as where to start, I usually like going as far back as possible so I can see and listen to the journey that the band has taken throughout it's history.
But at the same time you may just one to go with any one of the albums that these fine music enthusiasts have mentioned.


P.S ..... man Abayarde what a great list. Theres a few songs you mentioned that I havent listened to yet. I will be sure to check them out.

 

[HalfMan]

Wow! Groovetpt, GroovyMambo, Emoyeno, Abayade, Mr. Afinque - thanks guys for your replies. There's plenty of good suggestions to check out, it is very much appreciated.

Please do take your time listening to each album and enjoy them to the fullest, though I know you will. Becareful not to buy too many albums at once for you may feel the urge to quickly finish one album and jump to the next without having really apreciated the first one you listened to.

Good advice. I do listen to a lot of music in a week (it's the only plus of having a 2 hour commute each day) so I like to have one or two albums in reserve, so to speak. But you're right - the music is there to be savoured and understood, and not rushed.

Be careful out there.
Kind regards
HalfMan.

 

[El Caobo]

Wow! Groovetpt, GroovyMambo, Emoyeno, Abayade, Mr. Afinque - thanks guys for your replies. There's plenty of good suggestions to check out, it is very much appreciated.



Good advice. I do listen to a lot of music in a week (it's the only plus of having a 2 hour commute each day) so I like to have one or two albums in reserve, so to speak. But you're right - the music is there to be savoured and understood, and not rushed.

Be careful out there.
Kind regards
HalfMan.

Not yet released, but coming soon, probably tomorrow, is a 2-cd set called "Sonora Ponceña, El Gigante Sureño" on the "A Band Its Music" series. Most of the classic popular hits are on it.

Be on the look out for it.

 

[TurqoiseHexagon]

I've been listening to the album "Unchained Force" for the last couple of weeks. Absolutely love it!

 

[Abayarde]

Available albums from Fania/Codigo are:

Hachero Pa' Un Palo
Algo De Locura
Desde Puerto Rico a Nueva York
Sonora Ponceña (1972)
Sabor Sureño
Musical Conquest
Explorando
El Gigante Del Sur
New Heights
Energized (compilation)
La Ceiba
Night Raider
Determination
Future
Jubilee
La Orquesta De Mi Tierra
Into The 90's
On Target