Cheo cover
Released

Cheo Feliciano started out as a percussionist before revealing his stunning baritone voice with Joe Cuba’s and Eddie Palmieri’s bands. Drugs derailed his career, though; when he returned, with this 1971 album, the salsa community rallied around him. Legendary composer Tite Curet Alonso wrote six of the nine tracks, and the band included percussionist Johnny Pacheco, vibraphonist Louie Ramirez, pianist Larry Harlow, and bassist Bobby Valentin, with subtle touches of electric guitar and tres giving the arrangements a jazzy feel, particularly on the ballad “Pienso En Ti.” With its mix of uptempo tracks, which Feliciano seems to sing at a very slight remove as the male chorus (which includes Pacheco, Ismael Quintana, and Justo Betancourt) tries to draw him into the party, and achingly romantic slow songs, this is nothing so much as a Latin equivalent to one of Frank Sinatra’s classic 1950s concept albums.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Squeeze Box King cover

Squeeze Box King

Flaco Jiménez
Dance Mania cover

Dance Mania

Tito Puente & His Orchestra
Fogaraté! cover

Fogaraté!

Juan Luis Guerra
Metiendo Mano! cover

Metiendo Mano!

Willie Colón, Rubén Blades
30 Aniversario cover

30 Aniversario

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
Cosa Nuestra cover

Cosa Nuestra

Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón
Irrepetible cover

Irrepetible

Gilberto Santa Rosa
San Juan 73 cover

San Juan 73

Fania All-Stars
The Alegre All-Stars cover

The Alegre All-Stars

Alegre All-Stars