Silvestre Mendez, El Rey del Canto Afro-Cubano y Su Orquesta

Artist: Silvestre Mendez, El Rey del Canto Afro Cubano y Su Orquesta

LP: Oriza (Afro-Cuban Rhythms)

Song: "Nueva Oriza"

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Song: "Laye Laye"
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Song: "Malambo"
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The other day after work I was in serious need of some vinyl retail therapy, so I stopped by Daybreak Records on my way home. This spectacular collection of Afro-Cuban rhythms from Silvestre (Mendez), the King of Afro-Cuban Singers (or Rhythms, or both!) and His Orchestra is one of the things I found. According to the online Seeco Album Discography, this LP (catalog #CELP-426/4260) was the label's final release of 1959. I've got the stereo version, which turned out kinda' crappy on my rinky-dink mp3 converter turntable. The horns and Sylvestre's lead vocals shine, but the backing vocals and cowbell (on "Laye Laye") aren't done justice here. You'll just have to come over to listen on my Gemini turntable instead. According to what I've found here, Silvestre Mednez was born in the Jesús Maria neighborhood of Havana in 1921. He left Cuba for Mexico in 1945 and never went back.

 [ Silvestre Mendez: December 31, 1921 — 1997 ]

Baby Called My Name

Elliott Bay Public House and Brewery on Lake City Way, Friday, June 22, 2018 at around 7:15pm: Darla Helen O'Connor called me "Uncle Alex" (well, "Unk Alks") for the very first time. I floated away on air!

side one:
01. Baby, Oh No - Bow Wow Wow
02. Give Me Your Love - Frank Duval
03. Sweetness and Tenderness - The Rentals
04. She's My Girl - Bearz
05. Meu Delicado Drama - Evaldo Braga
06. Treasure Hiding - Cocteau Twins
07. The Last One to Be Loved - Burt Bacharach
08. I See a Star - Mouth & MacNeal
09. Love Is What We Need - Back In Time
10. My Life Will Be Sweeter - The Dixie Hummingbirds
11. Mon Amour - BZN
12. Here - Richard Cocciante
13. Girl - Jay and the Americans
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side two:
01. Why Are Babies So Wise? - Bow Wow Wow
02. King of Your Castle - Echo & the Bunnymen
03. Surrender to Your Kings - The Amboy Dukes
04. It Didn't Have to Be this Way - Hidden Strength
05. Black Wings - His Name Is Alive
06. It's Snowing - Linda Yamamoto
07. I'm Alive - Electric Light Orchestra
08. One More Time - Biky
09. Love Is All I Can Hear - Music Go Music
10. A Smile Is Diamond - A Band Called "O"
11. We Put a Pearl In the Ground - St. Vincent
12. Room For the Life - Kate Bush
13. I Melt With You - Modern English
[ listen ]