Opinion on Buena Vista social club CD?

There is the original, which is terrific. Then there are at least to solo albums I recomend, one by Omara Portuondo and one by Ibrahim Ferrer. Now they've come out with a live version which is supposed to be great. By the way, if you like this type of music try the latest from Susana Baca, a peruvian singer. She is fantastic and the sound is A+.

i believe ruben gonzales, the keyboard player, has also released a cd...

re: the bvsc cd, it sounds great, but the winyl wersion is better... ;~>

doug

ps - a couple of the folks are on tour - i hope to catch 'em in the dc area next month...

There are four CD's that I am aware of (we have the first three). Plus there was a sampler CD put out by Barnes & Noble "Women of Song" that contains two singles from the latest solo CD. So, I guess that makes five CD's kind of. All are great, but the recording of the first release -w- Ry Cooder playing is the most unusual recording. It sounds like it was recorded in a small club, while in reality it was recorded in a rather large single room in an ancient recording studio without the use of isolation booths (like the studio version of "Layla"). See the documentary if you get the chance.

In addition to the above alumni of BVSC, Eliades Ochoa, guitarist, and Compay Segundo, vocals and congas, also have albums out. Almost everyone wants in on the act, and why not? I believe pianist Ruben Gonzalez now has a second CD out. Haven't heard it, but his first solo CD "Introducing..." is beautiful.

The Buena Vista guys & gals were originally presented as the AFRO CUBANO ALL STARS. The first CD came out in 1997 ... entitled "A Toda Cuba Le Gusta" (1997) and the second CD came out last year entitled "Distinto Diferente" (2000) ... both on the Nonesuch label. A Toda Cuba Le Gusta is still my favorite of the 10 or so Buena Vista like CD's out there. Try to see them live.