Siembra

Siembra
Studio album by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
Released 1978
Recorded La Tierra Sound Studios
New York City
Genre Salsa
Length 43:45
Label Fania Records JM 537
NYC
Producer Willie Colón
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades chronology
Metiendo Mano!
(1977)Metiendo Mano!1977		 Siembra
(1978)		 Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos
(1981)Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos1981

Siembra (English: Planting) is an album by Rubén Blades and Willie Colón, released by Fania Records in 1978. It is considered the best selling salsa album in the history of salsa music and Latin music.

Background

Siembra is the second of four collaborative duo albums produced by Rubén Blades and Willie Colón. During its time, it was the best-selling salsa record in history.[1][2] It has sold over three million copies worldwide,[3] and almost all of its songs were hits at one time or another in various Latin American countries. With its rousing social commentary and unconventional sound, "Siembra" set the salsa world on fire and remains one of the most original and influential works in that genre.[4] Among Siembra's tracks, Blades' masterpiece is still "Pedro Navaja," a song that he fashioned after Bertolt Brecht's "Threepenny Opera."[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[6]
Wilson & Alroy's[7]

John Bush of Allmusic gave the album a five-star rating, praising the composition of the songs by Blades as well the arrangements by Colón. Bush emphasizes the use of disco arrangements at the beginning of the first track, "Plástico", until Colón's band "slip into a devastating salsa groove". He also praised Blade's vocals, noting his high-tenor voice on "Buscando Guayaba" and tender tones on "Dime".[6] David Wilson of Wilson & Alroy's also gave the album a five-star rating. He praised both the arrangements and the message of "Plástico", referring to "Dime" as "a beautiful love song".[7] The album was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.[8]

Also in May 2007, Ruben Blades was sued by his former band mate, Willie Colon for breach of contract. This led to a series of suits and countersuits that lasted over five years. A book titled Decisiones detailing the inside story of this legal battle was written by Blades' former agent, Robert J. Morgalo and published in 2016 in English and Spanish website. The court documents can be read here and full transcripts of depositions and court rulings can be seen here

In pop culture

The song "Buscando Guayaba" was featured in the 1988 Disney animated film, Oliver & Company.[9]

Track listing

All tracks written by Rubén Blades, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Plástico"Rubén Blades6:37
2."Buscando Guayaba"Rubén Blades5:43
3."Pedro Navaja"Rubén Blades7:21
4."María Lionza"Rubén Blades5:27
5."Ojos"Johnny Ortiz4:50
6."Dime"Rubén Blades6:59
7."Siembra"Rubén Blades5:21

Personnel

  • Willie Colón: Album Producer, Music Director, Chorus Ensemble, Trombone
  • Rubén Blades: Composer, Songwriter, Lead Vocals, Chorus Ensemble
  • Jon Fausty: Audio Engineer, Recording Schemes, Mixing
  • José Torres: Piano, Fender Rhodes, Electric Piano
  • José Mangual Jr: Bongos, Maracas, Chorus Ensemble
  • Jimmy Delgado: Timbal
  • Adalberto Santiago: Percussion, Chorus Ensemble
  • Eddie Montalvo: Tumbadora, Percussion
  • Johnny Ortiz: songwriter (Ojos)
  • Bryan Brake: Drums (Plástico)
  • Salvador Cuevas: Bass
  • Eddie Rivera: Bass
  • Jerry Masucci: Executive Producer

References

  1. ↑ Home to the Music. Billboard. July 8, 2006. p. 46. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  2. ↑ "Music: The Keen Edge of Rub". TIME. July 2, 1984. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Gurza, Agustin (December 23, 2006). "It's Fania salsa remastered, with a true kick". L.A Times. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  5. ↑ ""Siembra," by Willie Colón and Rubén Blades, turns 30". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  6. 1 2 Bush, John. "Siembra: Review". Allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  7. 1 2 Wilson, David. "Willie Colón/Rubén Blades-Siembra". Wilson & Alroy's. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  8. ↑ "Latin GRAMMY Hall Of Fame". Latin Grammy Award. Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Oliver & Company OST - 10 - Buscando Guayaba". YouTube.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.