Tommy Olivencia's Musical Sensacion in 1967...

For this post, I'm recommending the 1967 album release by orchestra leader & trumpeter Tommy Olivencia. The title of this underrated classic is "Tommy Olivencia Y Su Orquesta, La Nueva Sensacion Musical De Puerto Rico." The two lead singers on this are the forgetten sonero Chamaco Ramirez (who in my humble opinion gives Hector Lavoe & Ismael Rivera some tough competition in improvising lyrics) & Paquito Guzman (who would later in the 80's make a comeback with a more romantic style of Salsa). There are 11 tracks in total, all of which are excellent to very good (ok with the exception of two so-so tracks, # 2 & 11 ). The songs are:

1. Sabroso (Guaguanco)
2. Este Rencor (Bolero)
3. Adios (Guaguanco)
4. Oye Mi Consejo (Guajira)
5. Mi Puerto Rico (Guaguanco)
6. Como Te Canto Yo (Guaguanco)
7. Trucutu (Guaguanco), quite arguably an eternal classic in the Salsa Genre.
   
8. Este Guaguanco (Guaguanco)
9. La Vecinita Del Lado (Guaguanco)
10. Casabe Con Longaniza (Guaguanco)
11. La Comay (Peregrina)

I can't praise this album enough, it is an essential piece of Salsa's history. Especially in regards to recognizing who were the important bands playing in Puerto Rico during the 60s & 70s. The classic on this album of course is the song "Trucutu," (most dancers/collectors who actually remember this song, have heard the later version remade by Tommy Olivencia from his other classic album "Plante Bandera".) The earlier version of "Trucutu" on this album here, is as Hiram Guadalupe Perez, (author of "Historia De La Salsa.") wrote, the original version made in 1962 with the Tioly music label which was never released when it was initially made.
From the moment you hear the first track ("Sabroso") with Chamaco's voice soaring over the trumpets & rhythm section one realizes that this band had swing! It also helps to have an up & coming timbalero by the name of Endel Dueno ( one of the best timbal players to come from Puerto Rico since Tito Puente)on this obscure classic album. You might be able to find this album at a Latin-music store that specializes in afro-cuban & carribean music, one source that I would recommend would be www.edenmusicalrecords.com