great music from some of spain's greates

Glad that this isn't pigeon-holed as 'latin' music or some other thing that reduces its appeal. The songs are mostly by spanish singer-songwriters, particularly Victor Manuel, of course. But also the catalan Joan Manuel Serrat, the brazilian Djavan, the american Billy Joel (a powerful tour-de-force performance by Ana Belén of "Piano Man").

They are sometimes unashamedly pop (I mean both the singers and the songs), sometimes delicately they fuse romantic and protest song - as in "I was also born in '53" and "In a Lion's shade". Sometimes, they are outright bluesy: "Road Blues". Sometimes epic "La Puerta de Alcalá". Sometimes more overtly sexual as in "Lia". Or downright political correct with plenty of rythm to go along with it as in "Contamíname" ("Infect Me" - how about that for promoting contagiating the outrageous? - cultural exchange, rythm exchange, love)
Victor's duet with cuban great Pablo Milanés "Solo Pienso En Ti/I Think Only of You" - a love story between so-called mentally handicapped people taking place in one of those old school mental asylums that thank God are no more is absolutely heartbreaking. As is Ana Belén & Antonio Flores rendering of "Solo Le Pido A Dios / I Only Ask Of God".

This was recorded live in Gijón, Asturias - and the sound quality plus the inclusion of some songs that seem frankly minor compared to so many superb ones is my only reason for giving it 8/10 stars rather than the full (humble) endorsement.



8/10