Track Mania

Tito Puente - Top Percussion / Dance Mania (1957) {RCA-Bear Family BCD 15687 rel 1993}
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© 1957, 1993 RCA Victor / Bear Family Records | BCD 15687
Jazz / International Jazz / Latin Jazz/ Cuban Traditions / Mambo / Afro-Cuban Jazz

The mambo has become fashionable again lately, but for Tito Puente it has never gone out of fashion. In 1957 he cut two stellar albums for RCA, but just how good they were didn't become obvious until the advent of the CD. The full, rich sound on these LPs is nothing short of astonishing. This is mambo at its most ecstatic: blasting brass, sensual saxes, and that irresistible Afro-Cuban rhythm section led by Tito, Ray Baretto and Mongo Santamaria. This set contains 23 titles, including 3-D Mambo, Mambo Gozon, Conga Alegre, Hot Timbales…. etc.. Ay! Ay! Ay!

Various Artists - Mambo Mania! The Kings & Queens Of Mambo (1995) {Rhino R2 71881 rec 1949-1980}
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© 1949-1980, 1995 Rhino Records | R2 71881
Jazz / Afro-Cuban / Latin Jazz / Mambo / World Fusion / Boogaloo

Mambo Mania! may not be the last word on the Afro-Cuban music of the 1950s and '60s, but for beginners, it's a darn nice place to start. Rhino can usually be counted on to do its homework when assembling compilations, and this superb 18-song CD is no exception. Serious fans of what came to be called salsa will be more than familiar with such classics as Celia Cruz's "Tumba La Cana, Jibarito," Beny More's "Me Gusta Mas El Son" and Tito Puente's "Guaguanco Margarito" – all of which are essential listening for even the most casual salseros.

Tito Puente - Dance Mania (1958) {2CD 2009 Legacy Edition Vol 1&2 Extra Tracks}
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© 1958, 2009 RCA / Legacy / Sony Music | 88697 44710 2
Jazz / Latin Jazz / Afro-Cuban Jazz

Dance Mania, Tito Puente's best-known and best-selling album, came ten years into his career, but at a time (1957) when the craze for mambo and Latin music was beginning to crest. (Another landmark LP, Pérez Prado's Havana 3 A.M., had been released the previous year, and Prado's "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" had hit number one in 1955.) Recorded as part of a just-signed exclusive contract with RCA and appearing in vibrant sound as part of the label's Living Stereo series, Dance Mania exploded with a series of tight arrangements, propulsive playing, and the features of new additions in vocalist Santos Colón and conguero Ray Barretto (who helped, in part, make up for the recent loss of Willie Bobo and Mongo Santamaria to Cal Tjader's group).

"Hair Metal Mania" is a compilation album that celebrates the vibrant and flamboyant era of hair metal, a subgenre of rock music that dominated the 1980s music scene.

"Hair Metal Mania" is a compilation album that celebrates the vibrant and flamboyant era of hair metal, a subgenre of rock music that dominated the 1980s music scene.

Sodom's landmark Persecution Mania stands at the very crossroads of thrash and death metal. A virtual tour de force of blinding speed and blunt force, it is also arguably the best album of Sodom's checkered career. Recorded shortly after the arrival of guitarist extraordinaire Frank Blackfire, Persecution Mania took the group's fast-as-can-be, subtlety-free, roast-every-bridge approach to a whole new level of intensity and power…

Truckfighters is one of those unfortunate bands that is doomed to go through constant and destructive line-up changes, dropping members like flies. Since 2008, Truckfighters has gone through two drummers and a guitarist. Their second drummer left due to an injury and was replaced by their original member who left again very shortly after. The second guitarist Fredo abandoned ship in early 2008 and Truckfighters wall of guitar sound was greatly diminished as a result. Mania is Truckfighter's third studio album and although it is still a great effort by the band (which is now only Ozo and Dango), the lack of a second guitar is quite noticeable.