Reviews (page 2 of 14)
Buena Vista Social Club | Buena Vista Social Club (1997) — 5 / 5 An absolute masterpiece. Listening to this album is pure fun, pulling you entirely into its world as you vibe to a rich tapestry of traditional sounds, from rhythmic son cubano and bolero to lively dances. The tracklist is incredibly deep, maintaining a flawless standard of musicianship from the very first note to the last. While "De Camino a La Vereda" is a massive standout that draws you right into its infectious rhythm, the entire experience is elevated by a staggering run of favored tracks. The hypnotic groove of "Chan Chan," the high-energy burst of "El Cuarto de Tula," the elegance of "Pueblo Nuevo," the romantic longing of "Dos Gardenias," and the brilliant interplay on "¿Y Tú Qué Has Hecho?" and "Veinte Años" all build a magnificent foundation. That brilliance carries all the way through to the back half with "Orgullecida," "Murmullo," the self-titled "Buena Vista Social Club," and the gorgeous closer "La Bayamesa." It is a flawless, vibrant time capsule.
I have no idea what they're saying, but the extraordinary sense of bliss i receive from listening to this album is immense. I love jazz, but i dont really listen to it that often. Hearing this album has opened my eyes to alternative jazz options, and not just those in English. This album is so groovy and yet classical at the same time. I love it
Love it
There is literally no occasion where I would not feel like putting this on. One of the great vibes.
A classic
Quite lovely of a listen, unclear what they are singing about but nice background noise while reading. I’ll seek out the documentary as I’d like to know more about the album and how it was created. Happy listening!
Incrível!!!
This is such a great album. There is some freedom in not understanding the lyrics, everything just becomes feel, and this album has a lot of that.
I'll rate this album with a straight 10/10,because of the calm and relaxing music that this album gives. I recommand it👍
I love the 90s Cuban and this album from start to finish has a very unique vibe to it. Within this genre I have noticed a lot of great songs has a somewhat tragic vibes to them but this album, or rather the group has a more uplifting, dancy vibes to it, somewhat reminds of the italian jazz genre. Its such a joy to listen to and I loved it. 5/5
its so good and captivatinggg
I remember when this was the cool, new thing to know and like - as if everyone thought they were the only person to discover it, even though it was everywhere due to the documentary and being played and talked about all over the place. However, it is very good music and perfect for the start of summer. I'd give it 4.5 stars, but I'm going to bump it up for this rating scale, as it is timeless music performed very well. I can understand why it would not be everyone's thing, due to the genre - it's not something I will go back to a lot - but I still think it was a pretty monumental album.
GAS GAS GAS
I believe this was my first time listening to this and I quite enjoyed the whole thing. I don’t really understand the negative reviews. Most are criticizing the type of people who listened to this when it came out and I’m not sure that’s fair to the music itself, but I was only a toddler then so perhaps I just had to be there to get it. For me it was high energy and joyous and brightened my day. 5/5
Listening to this while riding around the cloudy mountains in Mexico with my dad and uncle was quite the trip. Though I fell asleep near the end, so I put it on again near my grandmother's memorial. Hey Gordon, this gets the green from me (8/10, 5/5 on this scale)
My Spanish is practically non-existent, but this album is proof that music is a universal language. Every artist on this album are masters, and you don't even need to know what they are saying to know what they are feeling. Just phenomenal music of Cuba.
This is a great album. The story about Ry Cooder bringing these musicians out of retirement really captured the imagination when it was released alongside the Wim Wenders documentary. Such fabulous talent and every track is engaging. I know little of Latin American music, but it surely doesn't ever get better than this.
I’ve listened to this album several times, but revisiting it today while reading about its history gave me a deeper appreciation of what makes it so special. More than just a great collection of songs, it’s a triumph of musical community: veteran Cuban musicians coming together to create something timeless. The album is a joy from start to finish, and I’d happily recommend it to almost anyone.
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB!!!! I discovered this one years ago at my favourite diner (which has since shut down 😢)... They had it in frequent rotation, I guess the owner was a fan lol. Excellent tunes to go with excellent food.
listen, I already loved this album, but this time was better than I remember
FUCK I LOVE THIS SO MUCH
A Classic, it immediately takes you to a nice little café in Havana where they serve the freshest of Mojitos. I like being in a place like that, so I like this album for that reason. 5/5
Really a 4.5/5, but adding an extra bit to counter all the weird xenophobia.
Summer vibes love it
Je to výborné, pre mňa nie na každý deň, ale je to ozaj výnimočné
Iconic album
Feel like I've heard of the first song "Chan Chan" and definately "El Cuarto de Tula". I like its Cuban style tune and rythm, and I felt like I could see the mango trees in the heat wave. Gives me hope on such a gloomy Scottish day. Fun facts: The ensemble was named after an actual members-only club in Havana from the 1930s–50s, the Buenavista (good view) Social Club, that was shut down after the Cuban Revolution. The entire album was just recorded in six days!
Played this a lot when it came out
Such a beautiful record. This one is in regular rotation at our house
This one takes me back. My recollection of this album is that it sweeps in on a series of very strong songs before settling into a long tail of sameness, resulting in an album that, when one returns to it, is never as good as one remembered it. A striking instance of artwork we assimilate through its story. The image of these musicians laboring faithfully at their craft in total isolation from the larger world, creating a strange time capsule, is irresistibly charming. Impoverished virtuosos dedicated to their art ... who could say No to them? There is something very intimate about the sound of this music. It's recorded in a way that makes it muted. Chan Chan is a great opener. It sets the mood and weaves a subtle magic that draws the listener in.I think it's impossible to hear that song and not think, More of that, please. I'm finding that the album does reward a full listen. I think maybe one song drags around the 4th-5th tracks that I just need to skip. I think that's where I went wrong on certain occasions in the late 90s and early aughts. Tracks like El Carretero and Candela have a quiet intensity and drive that I really enjoy. The interplay of the many instruments is lovely. There is a lyrical, atmospheric quality to several songs that makes it great mood music for a relaxed gathering. Very good record.
I first learned about "world music" with Peter Gabriel's late 80s label, "Real World." I still listen to his recordings of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Of course I'd been exploring music from around the world via my public library for years by then, I'm proud to say. So I first heard Buena Vista Social Club within the context of the little map of world music traditions growing in my head. I loved them! This album was on repeat while I was at Tufts. Still love it today.
frankly just a fantastic display of musicianship, both individually and collectively.
omg wow!!
Bangerzzzzz
The album cover alone I mean come on this is fire
When this album came out, it opened a world of music to me.
Amazing band that laid the foundation for the world-wider Afro-Cuban music scene. Stunning music that will live forever.
Automaticamente transporta me para cuba basta as primeiras notas da primeira música. O verdadeiro 5
Delighted to listen to this, as I had a brilliant time at an Eliades Ochoa gig in London last year (2025), which I'd booked on a whim, not actually knowing anything about him. Having "followed" him since, I can report that, astonishingly, he's been on tour constantly ever since. I mean, he's 80-something, and he still puts on a fabulous show. Anyway, I now get why Chan Chan was received so rapturously, at the gig. I love this sort of music, and particularly enjoyed the songs sung by the man in the hat. Typically of this genre (in my limited experience), the ensemble is so tight, yet manages to sound loose, spontaneous, natural and joyful. Absolutely nothing to dislike. Bailamos!
Despite having listened to this many times over the years, I still consider it a bit of a slow burner. Each song is delightful with beautiful instrumental work, and it's recorded brilliantly - you really feel you're in the room. It still takes several listens to sink in, but when it does it buries a place in your mind. First listen felt like a 3, by the third listen its a clear 5.
Impossible to stay still when listening, so beautiful! Favourite track: Dos Gardenias
Great intro to some of the funkiest music anywhere - Cuban. If I didn't love Ry Cooder for anything else (and I do) then this album would ensure his place.
Excellent
Had a blast, absolute summer feelings comming up
5/5
Moodier than I expected.
5 all day. Impeccable album.
I love this album, I own it on vinyl, I own albums (digitally) by Compay Segundo (guitar), Rubén González (piano) and Ibrahim Ferrer (vocal), I've seen them perform live 3 times, I've even seen their replacement pianist, Roberto Fonseca perform live and I think the documentary is great! There's so much talent here it's frightening and what they produce, mainly arrangements of each others songs, is spectacular. They say it's about the notes you don't play and this is a perfect example of that (the notes they do play are quite good too though 😉 ). Largely recorded with the musicians 'in the room' and typically in a couple of takes, it takes on a live feel and the space in the recording and production means it's really immersive and you can hear everything distinctly. Yes this works as background music, as others have said, but the real rewards are in sitting down with no distractions and taking it all in.
https://nirvannathebandthe.show/episodes/S00E11-The-Buena-Vista-Social-Club/
Muy necesaria esta obra para difundir en el mundo la calidez, el esplendor y el profesionalismo del artista cubano que te adentra a un paisaje sonoro que te invita a disfrutar sus Tierras a través de la música.
Untouchable. All time classic
Whoever picked the room to record this album deserves a lot of credit. A very “live” space that lets the musician’s chemistry and skill shine through. “Chan Chan” was a hit when this album came out, and I never listened much beyond that song. But this whole album is fantastic from start to finish. The last few tracks are just as strong and enjoyable as the first. Top songs: De Camino a la Vereda, Tu Que Has Hecho?, Orgullecida, Chan Chan
Doux, apaisé, chaleureux, serein, ensoleillé
YYYESSAHHH!!!!!
Espectacular
The best of the best
Bueno!
Ry Cooder took part in three incredible albums in the 90s: A Meeting By The River, Talking Timbuktu, and BVSC. BVSC is by far the most successful, and accessible, but all three are must hears, imo. Anyway, kudos to RC for bringing the musicians and music featured here to the masses. Truly a brilliant record and beautifully recorded, which is a bit amazing considering most (all?) of it was recorded outside of a studio
I love this album. So good. A classic.
Still as wonderful as when I first heard it.
Absolutely lovely, joyous, and sweet. Liked even the more minor key tunes. Multiple ‘likes’ added on Spotify.
Such a great band, I'll have to listen to more
A beautiful album, with the most relaxing and summery sound. It made me feel as though I was sat in a cafe in Cuba listening to the Buena Vista Social Club perform live, it’s recorded to have that live feel to it. This is a great great album
Old hands and voices that just know what is what. Soul, rhythm, life, love, joy. And Ry Cooder to boot
Perfect for someone obsessed with and trained in Latin dance.
Good.
One of the first albums I have ever heard in my life, still an amazing listen to this day.
Hermoso. Me emocionó que fuera el primer album en español que me remociendan.
one of my favs lately
#92/1001 🇨🇺 Ry Cooder brings a collective of veteran Cuban musicians together to document the music of their past. This is a simply wonderful record, i bought it unheard one day having no clue what it was and have loved it ever since. I had a habit of burning through £50 in HMV most weeks on payday, often buying albums that i knew nothing about on the strength of their artwork or sometimes an NME review. This was undeniably one of the best of these purchases and it still sounds wonderfuly fresh today. Now pass me a Cuba Libre Best Tracks: El Cuarto De Tula, Candella, El Carretero, Chan Chan.
Una obra maestra extraordinaria. Los sonidos de La Habana te llegan al alma y te hacen bailar el corazón gracias a una armonía musical brillante. El ensamble impecable entre la percusión tradicional, los pianos y las guitarras construye una experiencia instrumental de primer nivel. A este despliegue sonoro se le suma una riqueza vocal impecable y una lírica profunda, con baladas y relatos de amores perdidos que invitan a un análisis detallado.
You can tell how professional and tight these musicians are. It’s sexy, smooth and delightful.
Simply lovely
Amazing vibe and the live recording perfectly executed. thanks
One of my favourites. Love the rhythms so much. Love the beautiful arrangements supporting those rhythms with all the right instrumentation. Love the understated but incredible playing. All very beautiful. Ought to be a fairly regular listen for me - I need to remind myself it exists and is there for me!
LIKE
i felt like i was sitting on a beach in puerto rico. absolutely LOVED it
The álbum sounds good, is like a type of soul but in spanish, I like this types of music, cause it’s relaxing and transmit a lot in their lyrics, I love it!
I remember when this came out. Was such a breath of fresh air. Within a few months it was in every cafe on earth (and must be somewhat responsible for Putamayo becoming a label). Such an amazing live experience as well. I have you to find a mood or time this album is not appropriate.
Ry Cooder was responsible for organizing this project, rounding up still-living Cuban musicians from the 1930s-1960s. Traditional Cuban/Latin music was no longer popular by 1996, but this album created renewed interest worldwide. The music provides great Latin atmosphere. Ratings boost because of the historical/cultural significance.
Pure and joyful in any context and any mood. Expected but greatful that it's featured on this list. Fav tracks: Chan Chan, Candela. RYM: Y (#577) Saved a song: Y
8.7/10 lo volvería a escuchar más adelante perfecta para darle buen ambiente a un día ajetreado
Really enjoyed this. Beatiful music, the kind of stuff I have playing in the background when I'm cooking up some fire in the kitchen
great classic music, so many talented musicians
Background bbq music, would listen again
Absolut großartig!
If this is the album we have to thank for modern Latin music, the. This deserves five stars. That and it’s super fun.
Waffled between 4 and 5 with this. But, it was matching my mood today and is really excellent.
Classic.
Wow! I absolutely adore this album. If the riff on the first track doesn't get you feeling some kind of way then I don't know what to tell you. This project is a commendable collaboration and a half. There are these musicians that all seem to know how to play their instruments better than anyone else. I guess it just sounds perfect to me.
Este disco lo conocí por mi abuelo, es una joya de la música cubana, creo que junto con uno del Compaye Segundo, son los discos más representativos.
Beautiful music! Happy to have discovered this!
another one with deep nostalgia for me, reminds me of my grandma or mom making tostones in the summer with all the kitchen windows and back door open ):
Obviously a banger
4,5: suuper nice maar niet elk nummer is ook echt even insane dus toch net geen 5
An old favorite!
Сразу захотелось взять сигару, и стать диктатором одного из островов карибского бассейна. За это ощущение спасибо! Приятный альбом, хорошая музыка. Было приятно послушать это на фоне во время работы.
Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club (1997) Вывод: забытая золотая эпоха, ставшая мировым наследием Buena Vista Social Club альбом о ушедшей эпохе гаванских салунов. Музыкально это звучит как застолье старых друзей. Для меня это не модная, а душевная музыка. Уютная атмосфера Гаваны конца 40-х, энергия болеро слилась со сном в жаркую тропическую ночь. Подобная музыка это настоящая находка и мост между поколениями и культурами. Это тот случай, когда ностальгия становится не грустью, а жизнеутверждающим жестом, а забвение оборачивается бессмертием.
I bought this when it came out, played it to death. Ace
Definitely deserves to be on this list
Хороший альбом і класний документальний фільм саме з музичної його сторони. Мені здається, він також багато зробив для популяризації музики поза західним світом.
bastante bien para ser el primero
Wow! This is pretty stellar!! Wikipedia notes are very interesting/useful, the music is super interesting. I don't know much about these styles, but I am up for the sounds, ready to dance :-) I enjoy my listen through (and some re-listen, it's Quite Wonderful, 9/10. That paragraph above is my main comment, this is my side whinge. Trigger alert: this paragraph might bring you down. My rage at Gorillaz' first 'album' and Damon Albarn in general can only deepen, when I read about what Ibrahim Ferrer did, and wrote, for this Buena Vista Social Club album. Then Albarn and co-conspirators just "plug him in" to their shitty "London dance music"? Goddam white boys from the "first world", oh wait, I guess I'm one too.
Exquisite. Viva Cuba libre!!
This was pretty cool, really enjoyed it.
This album is delicious. There are so many great songs in here, and very vivid too. It's a very enjoyable record but, also, one that really stands as a mixture between Cuban music and jazz, making of it a very interesting listening. I've loved it. It's of such a musical taste, freedom and joy that it transmits a lot of passion and joyfulness.
Legendary album by legendary cuban band.
These guys are the real deal. Great sounds all around.
so so so so good
L'impression d'être à la fois en train de faire du transit de meth et d'être dans Tropico 5. Album qui passe partout, tout en représentant très bien d'où il vient Au niveau musical c'est abouti, en n'ayant pas que la guitare en lead, ça ajoute une dimension à l'album tout en restant dans l'ambiance Un peu sur les longueurs au niveau des deux tiers de l’album mais cela reste un excellent album dans son genre J’ai longuement hésité mais la proposition et la réalisation vaut le 5*
This album is really fun. I’m not super knowledgeable about Latin music but this is great. Upbeat but sooooo smooth and chill, just makes me want to sit outside a bodega on a hot day and drink light beer.
I’ve always loved this album. This listen was no exception. I think I latched onto the production this time. Something about the percussion is so crisp in a way that sounds timeless. The band sounds so tight.
If this doesn't move your body, heart and soul, you aren't fully alive.
So good it makes me wish I spoke Spanish
Favorite songs are "Veinte Años", "Amor de Loca Juventud", and "La Bayamesa". As a New Orleanian, I'm tickled to hear how Cuban music has inspired some of the great jazz I grew up on; the song "Orgullecida" could be something I'd hear in a club by my house. I'm so glad I got this album on a Saturday so I can give it multiple listens in a day!
Excellent though especially emotionally charged in this moment.
So good. These guys are amazing. And Ry Cooder is an underappreciated national treasure.
This was more or less the soundtrack to my life in Austin, TX, back in 1997-1998. Saturday mornings spent slow rolling with lots of french press coffee and hard rolls from Texas French Bread down on Guadalupe, warm breezes through the windows, and this playing on the legit hi-fi system. Damn that was some good living. Soooo, it's really hard for me to separate my current enjoyment of this album from the memory of me enjoying it. That it mostly holds up in the context of me sitting in my federal office working on crappy legal stuff means it's a damn good album. So good, in fact, that I'm going to rank it a 5.
I heard some of this back when it was a hit and liked it well enough, but had pretty much forgotten about it. Was great to revisit -- smooth and pleasant throughout.
Tropical, agradable. Variado e interesante, ritmos caribeños clásicos, recomendado para todos! En especial latinos
Wonderfully uplifting record! I had heard of them before this but I didn't know any of their music so I'm glad I've now been introduced to them. 5 stars.
Dude this is heat
I went through a phase where I listened to this album constantly, but then it fell out of the rotation. I’m thrilled that the random generator put this album back into my consciousness. It’s timeless and classic. This is music that never goes out of style, and fulfills something deep and nourishing within my soul.
Même pas besoin de l'écouter je l'ai poncé et reponcé c'est banger, la musique du soleil qui donne le smile
Excelente album. Histórico.
i love this album.
This is one of the GOAT albums. I still own it.
I never listened to this when it came out so it was great to see it come up here. Such a great cultural snapshot that shines a light on a forgotten, underexposed group of musicians. I especially liked "El cuarto de Tula" and used the translate feature on Apple Music. This is one of the best world music/jazz albums of the last 50 years.
Lotta fun listening to this one. Such a cohesive group of brilliant musicians. So vibrant, so much life. I love music that's deeply rooted in place. Never been to Cuba but almost feel like I've walked the streets of Havana after listening to this one. Gotta check out the Wim Wenders doc about these guys
Just another album that reenforces my need to really learn Spanish. Shout out to Siembra, RIP Willie Colon.
There's something about Hispanics (in this case, Cubans) and music. They just know how to make music that sounds fun, pleasant to listen to and full of heart. BVSC is a wonderful and talented group of musicians and this album shows that. Chan Chan is obviously the highlight here, but the rest of the album is just as wonderful to listen to. If you like Chan Chan, I highly recommend you check out the rest of the album. 9 / 10
my childhood
¡Que música tan hermosa! Listeners of this record are treated to a vibrant time capsule of Cuban Nostalgia. Buena Vista Social Club was clearly meant as a cultural homage to a bygone age in the island's musical history, and one can easily imagine themselves walking through the streets of Havana 60 years ago on a sunny afternoon and hearing music like this playing around town. As someone who's been learning Spanish for a couple of years now, I relished the opportunity to enrich my immersion, and I appreciated being introduced to many Cuban-specific words and phrases. There's much more to appreciate in this album beyond the cultural elements, as all the musicians put on a splendid performance that I enjoyed listening to from start to finish. One likely does not have to understand Spanish to grasp the beautifully poetic sensations being delivered by the lyrics, but I found lines like "Un pedazo de alma (a piece of soul) Que se arranca sin piedad (that tears itself apart without mercy)" to be hauntingly romantic. I would recommend this album to anyone, and I undoubtedly will be adding it to my collection of replayables.
The recording has so much energy. It’s like the sound engineers just got out of the way and let these people cook. I love how crisp and layered the sounds are. The compositions and vocals are also just beautiful. What a record.
I love this sound. The guitars and the rhythms and the vocals are all laid back and calming. The music is communal and you can imagine a group of whoever is around grabbing an instrument or singing along. Just great vibes all around.
The opening guitar strum is like a cold sip of water on a hot, humid day. I've listened to this album countless times, and it never really gets old.
Znam na pamięć nutka po nutce, album genialny
The production quality really sets such a mood and makes you feel like you're in the room with them. The whole album is such a vibe, especially after learning the backstory. This was already one of my go to records, so hard not to call it a 5.
Yep, very nice and easy to listen. Percussion and guitar great in particular.
Pre listen thoughts. I love this album, they were amazing live, it will be getting a 5. I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning when it gets a listen . Post listen thoughts. Yeah it's still one of my favourite albums.
triple platinum!!!
Checked a copy of the documentary out from the library when I was 18. I didn’t have much exposure to this genre of music, and the album that came out of that documentary quickly became a heavily rotated album. I sampled a lot of it in my earliest production, but I haven’t listened to it in a long time. Now I have a wider, deeper understanding of this record’s, and the music still feels fresh, relevant, and such a joy to listen to.
Really enjoying this much more than anticipated. A great variety of moods and sounds on this album, so much so that I think it might be a great beginner piece to introduce someone to the sounds of Latin music. In fact upon further research of Buena Vista Social Club I have to praise it even more. The story behind this group is just as rich and interesting as the music
Que dire de plus excepté qu'on a une pensée pour la grande majorité des Cubains qui subissent la bataille des idéologies politiques.
C'est de la bombe! Cet albun a la propriété de propulser l'auditeur immédiatement dans les Caraïbes et de rendre joyeux. Au même titre, mais différemment quebla compagnie créole mettons. Des musiciens extrêmement talentueux.
Que dire de plus. Un classique dans cette maison. Commencer avec Chan Chan en plus, wow.
Yeah my first 5 star! Too bad it was not a discovery. An album that I've been listening to since I discovered it decades ago. Still loving it
Found treasure
Classic album
хорош,7/10
Can’t understand a word but I know exactly what it’s about.
This one hits really close to home for me, as someone who's parents played this album constantly when it came out. I don't think I really appreciated it at the time, but it was certainly foundational when I was developing my musical tastes at age 10-11. I don't think I'm really able to put into words why this album will be a 5 from me, other than the feeling is conveys is just so organic, airy, and smooth while also being emotive and a just a little rough around the edges. It's music that makes you feel at ease, like there is nothing in the world you need to be doing than sitting, listening, socializing, and soaking in a sunny day. 5/5
Absolutely loved this
Perfect pairing with dinner and a glass of wine! This album is exceptional!
Really loved it
Classic, deserves all 5 stars
Loved. Good for a million different moments
Love it, everything is so easy and authentic.
I've never really listened to Latin music before, and I must say it is extremely enjoyable. The great melodies, emotion, and presentation make Buena Vista Social Club very refreshing for me, as a newcomer to the genre. I will say I did recognize the singer on "Dos Gardenias" as the person who did "Latin Simone (Que Pasa Contigo)", which was interesting. I really enjoyed his work on this album, as I did with "Latin Simone". This album has piqued my interest in Latin music, I'm definitely going to check out more of what the genre has to offer. Favorite Song: "Dos Gardenias"
Ui, schön! c
That album was on repeat for many years when it came out! Brought back a lot of memories.
So nice
Enjoyed it!
I'll be honest, I started listening to this in the background while I did chores and immediately recognized it as "that muzak my manager always played at the Borders I worked at in 2002" and it got prejudicially categorized in my mind as boring background music. I got interrupted, so paused about halfway through, then put it back on with headphones while I paid it more attention, and WOW it's so beautiful! Immediately restarted the album and loved every minute of it. No wonder my manager at Borders in 2002 played it all the time!
Beautiful
Classic, love
Absolutely remarkable. Wide range of instruments and genres- a big catalyst for Hispanic music in the years to follow. An album that truly marks history with an interesting story to tell
Nothing beats laying on the beach, rum in hand, watching the sunset while listening to this <3
Fantastic!
I love this album. So smooth, so much soul. Favourite tracks: all of them.
So good, feels nostalgic. Makes me want to dance
En espanol love it
Fantastic! Jazzy and chill Cuban music with excellent rhythms. Just a lot of fun to listen to, and the production is fantastic with all of the instruments being so clear in the mix despite how busy it sounds. De Camino a La Vereda was my favourite on first listen, with Chan Chan a close second.
This really makes me wanna go to Cuba. Amazing vibe.
I live in Da Nang, a well known coastal city in central Vietnam. Perhaps because of that, I can feel the breath of the sea, the wind and the sand, in every sound this album carries. Its rhythmic drum patterns are both driving and gently swaying, pulling the listener along and making me want to step outside, sit on a beach at a distant Asian city, yet still feel a Cuban breeze blowing across my body. It truly is a lush and free spirited album.
The best. Immediately sets the mood. So many great memories listening to this album.
I enjoyed the sounds of this album yet was unable to connect to the lyrics. I do question the authenticity of the work and it's something I MUST learn about. I am happy to see non English work on the list! Let's go Spanish!!!!
there's nothing for me to say about this one that you can't read elsewhere. just hit play again
Incredible album!
A beautiful audio postcard
what a VIBE. the perfect album for sitting in your lawn chair under a tree in your backyard with a glass of iced tea and a book.
Very swingful, makes me feeel happy for some reason!
Yearn for cuba
Ja
So good. Timeless in the same way Kind of Blue is.
Vibey
I love this album. Need to listen to it more
C'est vraiment un pur classique ; très très agréable à écouter !
try
5/5. This was a sensation stateside when it came out. And so touching when the musicians - most in their 70s and 80s - got special visas to perform in the U.S. after decades of embargo and more. It felt almost like this beautiful music could help melt those ugly laws hurting people and keeping us apart. And the music… Cuban son, bolero, the voices, the wonderful documentary too. It’s timeless, it transports, it’s universal. It’s just that good.
beautiful beautiful beautiful
Beautiful, loved it, fuck yeah. I didnt realize, but i already had three of the songs from this album on another playlist! I love latib music, i love how upbeat and happy the music is. Its a very tropical groove, i can tell they had fun making this album. Its just absolutely peaceful and warming. Great music to fly a seaplane at sunset, drink ur favorite cocktail in rio during the fireworks, go on a jungle adventure, go horseback riding homies, run after this beautiful woman who caught your eye in the brazillian favella(careful with that one), or duel your masked nemesis across many roof tops during dia de los muertos to.
Hope they weren’t singing anything offensive because I loved this album! Fantasticly smooth and sultry. Definitely deserves its spot on the list.
Fantastic
I love this album. There are only a couple songs I would skip, but I don’t. The mixed vocals, the instrumentation. I just want to witness this live in a outdoor small venue.
Taste the mojito, smell the Cohiba, and let the infectious sounds of the Buena Vista Social Club fill your soul with joy.
Overall Rating - 4.54/5 (9.07/10). This album scratches an itch I didn't realize I had.
love this album!!!! Nostalgic, catchy, and just plain good !!!!!
Already listened and own
Excelente sason cubano, perfecto para escuchar en la mañana
I love the BV Social Club! Such a great group and such a great album. Loved the movie too.
I was only passingly familiar with BVSC and had been meaning to investigate them further for a little while. This album was the perfect antidote to the dreariness of a long drive through wintry mix and holiday traffic, so much so that I let it run through again and enjoyed it at least as much the second time. It kept me sane, alert, and entertained through what would have otherwise been a slog. Loved the rhythms and different instrumental voices, the harmonies and the sense that they're really having a great time playing and singing together. There was so much going on at any given time that it was the kind of music you can do the auditory equivalent of looking around the scene in a movie and keep finding new things. Fun to sing/make noise along to. Would probably have been 4.5 if that were an option. I don't know if this will stay in my pantheon but it absolutely delivered tonight and I look forward to revisiting it.
This one was a vibe all the way through. Thoroughly happy listening to this almost any time. Ignorant american in me says "i can't understand it so i can't give it the highest score" since i try to score (at least a tiny bit) based on lyricism when its there, but i simply cannot do that here. just gotta go off feel and vibe and as far as those two are concerned, banger. i think the bonus songs came on after and i didn't even mind i still wanted more
I listened to this today whilst in God’s Own Country (the Bluegrass Parkway) and absolutely loved it. 2024 was my Tejano phase, so 2026 may warrant another foray into some Latin American music.
Another album I discovered because of Vinyl Me, Please (pour several out). I thought this was the coolest shit ever when I spun it for the first time in August 2020. It’s still probably the coolest shit ever. I remember dancing poorly to it alone in the kitchen of my new house and wishing like I could be as cool as the guy on the cover. The VMP version is definitely not the best release, but it’s a treasure in my collection. “Pueblo Nuevo” always stands out each listen — I love how it begins with a simple scale then evolves into an elaborate jam while not sounding like anything more serious than a couple people jamming out in a garage. Just masterful structure and collaboration as a group. Slap after slap.
Laid back and fabulous Cuban beats a warm and smooth listen jazz inflected a form of perfection.
cha cha cha
bah ntm je l’ai déjà ecouté
Zajebisty
Really liked the singing. Dos gardenias is great. Want to watch the documentary now
Better than Coldplay
A classic! Smooth yet peppy. I know SO many people who love this album who you’d least expect it from and I think that’s a sign.
After listening to Caetano Veloso, the Brazilian jazz fusion that came up in the generator a few days ago, Spotify automatically suggested a next album - which was this one by the Buena Vista Social Club. It actually led me to rate Caetano slightly lower than I may have, just because the music I was now listening to with Buena Vista Social Club was just soo good. In comparison Caetano needed a lower ranking. This album is perfectly executed and produced. There are so many layers of depth to each song. There is so much warmth and joy in the music style, I feel like listening to it put me in a good mood. I wonder if maybe others may feel that this album is overproduced or a little too refined for "traditional" Cuban music, but to me the level of refinement was impressive and makes me feel that this album should be a staple of my "world music" rotation which I will definitely go back to.
This is an album I always forget to listen to but it's been on my radar for ages. Love this recommend. So good and can't believe I've never taken the time to listen!
Fantastic tapestry of traditional Latin/Cuban sounds.
The hype was real and it was good. A quintessential modern classic for music that is a lot older, with lots of tradition, but which the listener can find all bought together on this album.
Forgot how good this album is
Pretty easy 5 star album for me today, I remember watching some of the documentary too
Fantastic window into Cuban music. 5 stars
Beautiful. Brightened my day and will easily work its way into my rotation. Just a lovely album created by some lovely musicians.
Beautiful album
Such a fantastic album!
I already know this one well. 5/5 no need to listen but I will
Great album!
So good, some songs on here I’m not going to stop thinking about for a while.
Enjoyed having something different from the usual 80s synt pop/90s Brit pop. This list needs more like this.
Hispanic Grammy music, very calm, very light, would listen again.
Fantastico tico-tico! 5/5
Classic must listen
Hell yeah
I’ve listened to this album probably a million times!
My favorite music genre, hard not to like this one
Fabulous
What a vibe
Moving music that reaches each limb through the heart
This album did exactly what it intended: it introduced Cuban music to a world that had forgotten, or never heard, it. And the world is better for it. Also, to the person who gave this 1-star because it's "not in English", I hope you lose your ability to speak and hear. You've been wasting those gifts.
This album summoned idyllic images of sitting at a shaded table in a charming town square sipping a refreshing alcoholic beverage as I listened to this band while watching couples dance. Great stuff and a lovely, enjoyable listen.
Classic. Favorite.
"Not in English." Y'know, I was always gonna hate that review — and I mean truly despise it. Even before I knew it was real! I honestly thought it was something the top-rated review had made up, but nope! There it is! And highly rated itself! And if I can be perfectly blunt, a "review" like that honestly sort of disgusts me. If you're gonna give an album 1 (any album, not just this one) solely for the fact that it's in a different language with yours ... well, look in the mirror: you've found someone with an opinion not worth listening to. And that dislike of my review only deepened the further I got into the album. I mean, I'll admit that at the top I was expecting to tire of this thing rather quickly. It's 60 minutes of Cuban music, and I'd decided to take it all in one shot. No matter how good the music would be, I figured I'd tire myself out on it before too long, and I'd have to write a review admitting as such. I tell you: I put this on when I started doing dishes, and it surprised me to sit down after I was done and discover that I was only three songs in. And I had 11 left to go! Goodness. That's likely how it would have gone — if, on a lark, I hadn't looked up the album on Discogs. I guess I was curious to see what all of the art surrounding the album looked like ... and that's when I discovered that the liner notes were scanned in full. This is where things really started to get interesting for me, because the liner notes contained write-ups for each and every song, briefly going over their histories **and** providing a little background on the various artists that perform on this thing. That's pretty! But only that, it also has the lyrics for each song — with an accompanying English translation right next to them! And footnotes to explain some of the cultural references that a dumb Canadian like me wouldn't get! Hey, "not in English" guy, maybe if you'd known about this...! 'Coz I gotta tell you, while I think I always would've liked this album, reading the write-ups and translations alongside each song **heavily** elevated the experience. Before, I would've just been a tourist, admiring on a surface level how pretty Cuba looks. But with these liner notes ... I'm still a tourist, sure, but dang it, I get to **appreciate** a bit better what's going on here! It helped the time fly by as I got to take in each and every song on a level I would not have been able to otherwise, and I never **once** got tired of it. I suppose it shouldn't be too surprising to learn that actually knowing a bit or two of the cultural context would help, and even if I could never probably understand it the way Cubans do ... dang it, I understand it enough to love it. It's just a fun as hell album, with great performances all around. Great singers, great guitars, great pianos, great horns ... great everything, honestly. When it ended, I was honestly a little sad. Like, what do you **mean** the party's over? I could keep going! And I maybe just might will. I just can't recall the last time I loved a piece of world music as much as this, but goodness, I do. And I could go on, but I think it's an experience you just need to have for yourself. Go find the liner notes, put this thing on, and just have a good ol' time. As a crash course in Cuban music, I don't think you could find anything better. And to the people of the world who would throw this stuff in the trash because it's not in English — I don't exactly feel sorry that we who **can** appreciate it don't have to share it with you losers. Sucks to be y'all!
Very Cuban. Very Good. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
I’m at a 5. I don’t have that much to say, thankfully. I’d heard of “Buena Vista Social Club” as a title before listening to this, but I’d never heard the album or really knew what it was all about. It’s just a revival of the Cuban music of the 1940s, done with modern instrumentation & made by Cuban locals with a passion for the craft. Their love for this, and their genuine desire to share it with the world, clearly comes through on this album, and their energy is infectious. There’s a quote from a Guardian article, cited for an essay noting this album’s inclusion into the Library of Congress, calling this “the album that collapsed the cold war wall between Cuba and the west”. That feels like a pretty apt description. There is one minor critique I have, but it’s probably related to how Cuban songs / “classical standards” were just composed back then – I just think there’s a bit of repetition on a number of tracks. It didn’t bite me too badly, but “El carretero” was the one that got me the most, given that it’s just a slower track in general. Given that the soundscapes & the vocal harmonies (as well as the lyrical storytelling, to a degree) are the focal points of the album, it’s a very minor critique, but one that doesn’t matter that much in the long run. I do wish there were a few more fast-tempo tracks, but that’s just my own tastes speaking. Overall, it’s just a delightful album, and worthy of all the name-brand praise it gets. It’s maybe a little long at an hour, but given that I was up and moving when the time called for it, as well as sitting & vibing when the mood called for it, I’d say they did a great job of keeping me along for the ride, and capturing the emotions they wanted to on each track. I really enjoyed it, and I think it’s an easy 5. Thank goodness it’s on the list.
Outstanding! How have I not been exposed to this music? Love it.
The guy who gave this a 1 for not being in English and everyone that upvoted it should be sentenced to listening to this for the rest of their lives.
Weltklasse.
Un 4.5 redondeado
The old timers showing how it's done. A mix of love and pain that only can be played with love.
What an amazing album. It's many years since I listened to it start to finish. I was waiting for the tracks I didn't like - but I didn't hear them! My tastes must have changed over the intervening years. An easy five here.
10/10
yes, Cuba!
Amazing
Lovely
just makes me so happy
Faszinierende Platte, die mich schon sehr lange begleitet. Auch krass, dass die damals einfach Platz 1 der deutschen Album-Charts war. Also definitiv kein Geheimtipp mehr. Ändert aber nix an der unglaublichen Qualität dieses Albums. Kann auch sehr die gleichnamige Doku von Wim Wenders zur Entstehung dieser Platte empfehlen.
Richtiger Banger
Love this.
Ach wie schön
Tuurlijk, je kunt je afvragen waarom er een Amerikaan nodig was om deze muziek mainstream populair te maken. Maar ik vind het wel gewoon een prachtplaat. Naast dat deze vroeger vaak bij ons thuis werd gedraaid waan je je door de muziek echt in de straten van Havana. Niet veel genres slagen er zo goed in om een cultuur/straatleven zo goed te vangen. Naast de klassiekers vind ik het rustige gitaarspel echt heerlijk. Prima om in een ochtendzonnetje bij op te starten. 8,5/10 Highlights Chan Chan El Cuarta de Tula Amor de Loca Juventud
Smooth, relaxed, technically impressive. 5
An utter classic cuban music album. Style and soul, beautiful and chill. My Dad's favorite album of the 1990's, and I get why.
Love this album. Feels like little Havana in Miami.
Fantastic music.
I wanna live in a place where its warm and people play this music every evening in a bar
This was great.
my fav mood maker album!! I love the voice of ibrahim ferrer and the unity that you feel in the sound, as if some close friends jam
An old fave. You could never make me hate this album.
Becoming more of a fan of Latin jazz/bossa nova every listen! Excited to hear more stuff like this 🙌
It’s music made by people who’ve lived entire lifetimes, and you can hear every heartbreak and dance step in the cracks of their voices. Rating: 5/5 Short Review: History, melody, and soul all smoking the same cigar. Favorite Track: “Chan Chan” — it doesn’t play; it sways.
super
One of the greatest collections of music.
Smooth summer vibes, spanish vocals and good feels. Easy 5/5
Yihaaaaaaaaaaas
An all-star album, every time
Such pure joy to hear these guys make music.
This album has gotten many, many people in to Cuban and Latin music more broadly. Thanks to the Brit and American who went out to record this and bring it to a wider audience. Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez and co are incredible. Could listen to at any moment and feel great!
Ah remember this album (and the documentary) from being a kid. Curious to see how it lands with my adult ear! Instantly transported back with ‘Chan Chan’ such a great sound and enjoyable listen. Can’t help but move my body to it. So wholesome and joyful and warming. Was just getting ready for a change up and 4th track came at just the right time. A wonderful change in timbre and feel that adds a wonderful variety of flow throughout this great album. After the strong start, and being ready for a comedown, now ready for it to pick up again and begins perfectly with ‘Candela.’ We are in synch! It is such a pleasant and beautifully constructed album. Maybe could have done with a little touch more of opening 2 tracks energy or a few less tracks, but, let’s not get carried away. ¡Estupendo!
A stunning document and a bountiful assemblage of Afro-Cuban traditions, Buena Vista Social Club has become a standard - perhaps the classic - of world music. This ought to make any consumer hesitate since white-only determinations of what's essential to other cultures seldom hit. But w/ this particular recording, it feels wrong to politicize: the songs and the musicianship are simply too good to take up what may or may not be valid ethical points. And while no one should consider themselves some sort of expert in the danzón having heard it, they can still be moved by its luxurious rhythms, the clarity and vigor of the piano parts, the way the trumpet punctuates the scene, and just how haunting the whole thing is.
I'm no expert, bit this seems like a perfect example of Latin jazz. I enjoyed the listen, it sounded great, I'll probably listen again.
I loveee this album, these chill, vibey beats and I love the way he sings
Fun listen!
Que álbum maravilhoso!! QoA Vesper.
Excellent album!
Yeah so I already had every single one of these saved. We had to watch a documentary about this group in high school spanish and I’ve LOVED this album since then.
Vive Cuba
Although the album was in Spanish and I only understood some of it, I enjoyed it a lot. It was different than what I normally listen to and I’m glad I gave it a try.
Very authentic feeling album. I don’t know if it actually is, I’ve never been to Cuba. But I feel like I’ve been there.
I love the horns and intricate guitar sounds. Melodic and complex but relaxing, good work music
Just as It was when I first heard it.
As my first exposure to Cuban music in my teens, this record blew me away. It’s still incredible. Instantly transported to a club in a Havana, with a cigar and some whiskey, lounging, hat over eyes, without a care in the world.
Great album. I had already listened to this when it was sent to me. Great cooking music!
Classic vintage-style Cuban / Latin American music - a good one!
10/10 Dos Gardenias has always been a fave of mine. What a treat to listen to this album. Lol I listen to it a lot already, but it’s still the vibe.
Beautiful album.
This is the two hundred first album I’m rating. I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I heard Soukora by Ali Farka Touré and Ry Cooder. Adding to my Playlist - Chan Chan, De Camino a la Vereda, El Cuarto de Tula, Pueblo Nuevo, Dos Gardenias, ¿Y Tú qué Has Hecho?, Veinte años, El Carreterro, Candela, Amor de Loca Juventud, Orgullecida, Murmullo, Buena Vista Social Club, and La Bayamesa. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. All in all I liked 14/14 songs. Generally I don’t like Spanish music but this is amazing.
An easy 5 as my good friend has said. There is something beckoning in the rhythms, to live better with soul
La cabra
love this album
Cigar Smoking Simulator
I loooove the vibe! Would totally listen again. I have been searching artists for this type of genre, but I still don't know what it's called. Chill latina in a resto type shit
Sometimes, this thing I’m doing seems like a pain in the arse, but if I didn’t embark on this journey, I’d probably have never heard incredible albums like this one. It’s just so brilliant. Ry Cooder and others were going to Cuba to record 2 high-profile African musicians with Cuban musicians. The 2 Africans couldn’t get into the country, Cooder & others decided to record an album of Cuban music, which is a mix of African & Spanish music. The album is beautiful & will get you wiggling in your chair. Lots of flamenco-style guitars and syncopated beats. The songs are old standards of sones, guajiras & boleros, which means nothing to me. All I know is it’s incredible stuff. Highlights are Chan Chan, Veinte Anos, Candela and Orgullecida, which sounds like it could have been a Bob Wills country song from the 1930s. I think everyone should check this out, if for nothing else than to broaden their mind.
Beautiful