Buena Vista Social Club is the debut album by the Buena Vista Social Club, an ensemble of Cuban musicians directed by Juan de Marcos González and American guitarist Ry Cooder. It was recorded at Havana's EGREM studios in March 1996 and released on September 16, 1997, on World Circuit. It is the only standard studio album exclusively credited to the Buena Vista Social Club. Buena Vista Social Club was recorded in parallel with A toda Cuba le gusta by the Afro-Cuban All Stars, a similar project also promoted by World Circuit executive Nick Gold and featuring largely the same lineup. In contrast to A toda Cuba le gusta, which was conceived as a revival of the son conjunto, Buena Vista Social Club was meant to bring back the traditional trova and filin, a mellower take on the Cuban son and bolero, as well as the danzón. A critical and commercial success, the album's release was followed by a short concert tour in Amsterdam and New York's Carnegie Hall in 1998. Footage from these dates, together with the recording sessions in Havana, were shown on the Buena Vista Social Club documentary by Wim Wenders, released in 1999. In 2022, The album was selected for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally historically or aesthetically significant".
I felt like a sexy latino on a sun drenched beach in a quiet fishing town in Cuba sipping pina coladas and smiling at the world. Then I got angry that I wasn't on a beach in the sun, drinking and punched a wall.
Well, that was an unexpected joy to listen to. I don't understand a word they're saying but dang if I don't wish I did. They seem to be having so much fun. In some ways, I'm glad I couldn't understand what was being said. It made the whole album into a killer soundtrack for work that enhanced the experience but didn't distract me from the words I was writing. Musicality is so on point it should be bleeding. Just really great.
Blended harmonies, sugary melodies, complementary percussion, buttery voices. A pleasing medley it'd be churlish to pretend isn't, well, pleasing. So I happily tolerated it and would be unlikely to object if I ever heard it again even though ultimately polite musicianship doesn't lift, cleanse or scratch my soul and music that tends too agreeable makes me a tad dis. If that sounds contrarian I guess that's because, to an extent, that's how I like my music - with contradictions and contradistinctions. To put it in a less assholish way: I tuned out a lot That seems to be part of the design here, which I don't get. That's like opting to get your hair stroked when you could get your butthole eaten ;) Okay, now I am being churlish. It was very pleasant.
Score: 70 If you left a 1 star review with the reason stating why being it's not in English, get the fuck off this website. That isn't constructive, it's not a review, and it certainly isn't a review of the album. It's nothing and you're either a dumbass bigot or you don't know the right time and place for jokes. This album starts off incredibly strong and slowly throughout its runtime becomes a little more average and tame. All the while the production and instrumentation are great, but the tracks become slower and a bit less exciting. Very chill and enjoyable. This album also made me very hungry. I'm giving it a 5 to counteract some of the dumbfuck reviews
This is not music I would normally listen to, but I can appreciate its quality nonetheless. The record starts of well with the energy and swing of Chan Chan and El Cuarto, but Pueblo Nuevo's, or danzon in general, is not something I would find time in my day to listen to. The slower Dos Gardeniaas and Veinte Anos bored me quite a bit. This is a well executed and original album, but it does not fit my music taste very well. Overall score is a 4/10.
Not in English.
Even though it compiles lots of different musicians, there is a great flow to this album. I particularly enjoyed the piano tracks. Highly recommended!
Perfect jazz album. Really took me to an happier place
I love this album. Haven’t listened to it in a long time. It’s the spirit of Cuba - and by extension - the Caribbean. The songs have a folk-tune, comforting quality to them that transfers to the listener, even if you can’t understand all the lyrics.
❤️
What a way to while away a dark Monday morning. Instantly transported to a cool Cuban bar, with swaying rhythms and cocktails to hand. Perfect.
Came across this before on another chart. It's pretty highly regarded and plays well- soothing and transporting so it's mood music. You don't need to know what they're singing about. In fact that helps to concentrate on the music. Highly accomplished ensemble - smooth and co-ordinated and although this grates on some people it really hits the spot with me. Superb.
Whoa, nice! So soon we're back in Havana! I recognized this name immediately, and I realized that's because there's a documentary by Wim Wenders about this project that's in the Criterion Collection. I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't this. This is some great Cuban music--less jazzy, and more organic than what we heard on Machito. At points I think it could use more energy, particularly in the vocal performances, but it's still a trip worth taking. I could never dislike an album like this. Inevitably though, when it comes to Latin-American music, I can't help but compare what I hear to Totó La Momposina's "Pacantó," which is one of my all-time favorite albums. This doesn't reach the same high-water mark for me, but it's still great. Lots on here to love. Favorite tracks: El Carretero, Chan Chan, El Cuarto de Tula. Album cover: Pretty simple photograph, but I think it's mostly effective. I really like the BVSC stamp, that's a really cool design. But I also think they could've gone with a more exciting, more culturally indicative picture. Actually, this reminds me of that Oasis album cover, What's the Story, Morning Glory. That was two years before this, so maybe these Cubans were huge fans paying homage to their love of Wonderwall. 4/5
What a refreshing album from a talented group of Cubanos. I can definitely see myself spinning this again in the future in order to set a mood, transport myself to another place, dance, or meditate on our brothers and sisters in this intriguing country. I can hear joy and pain in each song, much like Jamaican reggae or Latin/Mexican mariachi music. I am ready to get out of this country and hide in someone else's culture for a while....
Good fun, I’m trying to decided whether this would be better if I could understand Spanish or maybe because i don’t understand the lyrics it makes seem more profound. They are probably just singing about really mundane shit just like Taylor swift does.
The concept behind "Buena Vista Social Club" (the album and especially the band) is fascinating. Today I learned the original Buena Vista Social Club was based in Havana and had its heyday in the 1940s. Fifty years later, this band was formed from an ensemble of Cuban musicians (some young, many retired after having been active in the 1940s). We shouldn't ignore the fact the project was masterminded and produced by white American Ry Cooder, which raises an interesting debate around the merit of Western-branded "world music": why must lists like these prioritise Latin-American/Caribbean, African or Asian pop tailored towards Western audiences? Putting that aside for a moment though, at its most basic reading "Buena Vista Social Club" sees an ensemble of retired Latin-American people celebrating the music bringing them all together, reaching back into a shared history of a pre-revolution Cuba. It's basically the Avengers of Latin-American popular music, which is super-cool. It really made me feel invested in the album and root for the people involved: here we have a group of dozens of musicians audibly having the time of their lives and getting lost in their work. It's a great set-up, although much of it ended up a bit lost on me. I'm a total novice in Cuban or Latin American music: I'd never heard of the trova or filin so can't appreciate the intricacies of those forms of music and how they're celebrated here. It was inevitable that after a few tracks, the similarities to my ears began to blend together and the album was best enjoyed as a background accompaniment to a sunny day. Highlights? The laid back piano running through "Pueblo Nuevo"- and the ecstatic release when the trumpet bursts in. The danceable high-energy of "El Cuarto de Tula" and "Candela". The call-and-response of "De Camino a La Vereda". I could, of course, still appreciate the emotions and vibes coming across: "Buena Vista Social Club" is carefree, relaxed, breezy. It's a lovely way to spend an hour and made me want to learn more about the styles/lyrical themes so that I could come back to this in future and enjoy it more.
I don't recall how or when, but I have heard of this band before. Regardless, I really enjoyed listening to this album. I love the rhythms and percussion, and all the layers of music on top of that great foundation. Such rich textures.
Fuck no! First world, early new century granola eaters going to have their latte to the fair and inclusive café right in their basement, and feeling great about themselves for oh such an open view on the world around them. Bleurgh!
Cool!
Buena vista social club - cuban like!!!
What a beautiful album.
This was a wonderful album to have on in the background while I worked today. Loving the latin sounds.
Absolutely joyous.
Some fantastic stuff on here bringing that kind of Latin jazz back to the forefront
Fantastic album, well worth a listen.
Sin lugar a dudas. Solo es cinco porque no hay seis.
I need to listen to more latin jazz.
Perfect
I heard “Chan Chan” in college in…music theory, I think? Anyway, I really liked that song, so I anticipate liking the rest of the album. Yes, I absolutely loved this album. It was so relaxing and beautiful and just good. I should download it.
This was so uplifting, relaxing and coooool. I really enjoyed it
All-time classic. Always enjoy listening to this, front to back.
Cannot beat this classic! Truly beautiful music from la isla. I played this for my abuelo and he wept.
maravillosa musica cubana
Muy bueno y sabroso
Lovely album. Really enjoyed the Cuban vibes and African overtones. Dad enjoyed it too. I made him listen in the car. I would most certainly listen to this again
Classic, no surprises
Buena vista!!!!
Memories 😊
It's the cheesy backpacker hostel mainstay, but still warms my cold heart
I mean, its an all time classic of all time! The idea behind Buena Vista Social Club was to revive pre-revolutionary music of Cuba, listening to this record definitely paints that landscape.
Excellent album that brings together a who's who of Cuban musicians to create something truly wonderful. This album is at once listenable, danceable, and features some amazing musicianship and arrangement. This will going into my rotation.
i am shocked 81920480218409281094/10
I love this album! So good, and Ry Cooder's musical contributions don't stick out.
Cuba's best musicians gathered together in 1997 to recreate the island sound of the 40's and 50's. This is what resulted and its fucking magical. Authentic and timeless. 5/5
have already listened to this a billion times
Great vibe throughout. Musicianship and cultural importance meets on this album. Sometimes the impact outstrips the actual music and this is one such case. Deservedly considered a classic.
Like a refreshing sip of iced cool water, an immense breath of fresh air, a much needed sigh after undergoing a repetitious round of heavy lifting. No amount of language barriers can contain the musical synchronicity present in this album, a complete blessing from a country that was once forbidden and sequestered. No club is cooler than the Buena Vista Social Club.
One of my all time favourites.
Each song conveys and incredible warmth and depth. Infectious beats, sweet melodies. Absolutely fantastic.
It's a nice easy listen, but I'm not really invested in it. I found it a bit much after about 6-7 songs. If I were watching them play in a Havana club while sipping a rum cocktail then this would be 5/5.
File this away with Manu Chao in the 'things that I only ever listened to to impress girls' cabinet. Not memorable in any way, can appreciate that there's a range of styles there, but don't particularly enjoy any of them. Not unpleasant background music, so it can sneak a 2.
Love this album, always feels like a tropical escape. Great songs, wonderful feeling I get from it. All in all fantastic for an album where I don’t understand a single word.
Love it. Mum had this album and a live DVD too ... remember this album cover vividly
Class album
Classic.
I was introduced to this album by my Chinese-Brazilian roommate along with a bunch of bossanova stuff. I played this one and Joao Gilberto Live in Montreux endlessly for months, and I still come back to this one frequently. It's even on my regular running playlist. I just love it.
Un album recontra escuchado. Joya de músicos.
This is sublime, loved every song.
Heard this when it was released. Ridiculously enjoyable and authentic. One of my go to albums when I'm looking for something different.
La joya de cuba.
Such a fantastic album, Ry Cooder is a national treasure.
Absolutely impeccable Cuban music. The artistry and lyrical genius on here is hard to deny. Near perfect. Will always put this on if I have a rainy day.
Gawd, this is so good. Absolutely heartfelt and timeless.
Love it start to finish. Timeless. Contains all life itself.
Classic
I haven't listened to a lot of cuban music so this was a real treat to listen to critically. Well produced with a lot of beautiful musicianship on display. Favorite Song: Dos Gardenias
Brilliant for any occasion
Top notch chill Cuban music. Maybe best for background listening?
Great to revisit this one.
Calming, Latin
Awesome vibes
Amazing bossa nova album I absolutely love this album its sooooo good. The mood the instrumentation even tho I have no idea what they're saying. I feel like I'm being transported to Cuba with a cigar in my mouth. 9.5/10
Claro que sí, por favor
Not sure I could manage the whole album in 1 go but this is a significant enough album from the late 90s that was part of me visiting Cuba so marked up
Great world afro-cuban album.
J'ai noté l'album de living color 5/5 au lieu de cette album. Mais living color est 4.15 et celui ci est 5/5. Vraiment un classique. Tellement bon.
A great album, got some heavy listening from me and friends back in the day.
I think this is a great thing, a true artifact in culture. It has its imperfections but for what it is in itself, about perfect
Delightful. Really enjoyed it.
Listened to this one for pretty much an entire day, the composition is amazing and absolutely fantastic as background music for a relaxed diner. It does really feel like it was recorded in a Cuban social club, and the album is amazing for it.
Just awesome.
This album got into myy soull every song but especially camino vereda and the womans songs
Acere, que bola!
HERMOSO
It's a classic, listened to this a lot growing up. It's impressive how an album from a genre that normally gets very little exposure became this popular
Great album. Always loved this one.
Groovy
Great album! Introduces the world to Cuban music, I guess. But I love the beats and the instruments. Great variation in the music, all are excellent
New one for me. Nice for cooking.
I love this album. They have such a unique and pure sound. It's one of those albums that speak directly to your heart and feels like a balm to the soul.
Beautiful album. Not a wild range, but the instrumentation worked wonderfully for what it was. I love this album-a-day!
A beautiful classic.
I just love this album, a lot of nostalgia for me with this one. Masterfully Cubano.
5/5. Historical, very lovely, nuff said
Maravilhoso d+
Fantastisch album voor bij een zomers weertje! Direct in Cubaanse sferen vanaf de eerste noot. Een uurtje genieten!
I loved it. It is a great album.
I love this so fucking much, god I wanna go to Sicilly. Even though it's Cuban. And they speak spanish. But it's close and I still love it too much to give it less than top score.
Love it!
Really like this album, so summery and uplifting