Reviews (page 2 of 9)
Rhythmically rich, joyful music that puts me in the mood for a tropical drink with smoke spilling out the top while wearing a sharp seersucker suit. But two-plus hours of this high-energy music more than gets the point across, thank you very much.
Like knowing what a Horatio Alger story is, to be a well rounded 20th Century American, you should know what Tito Puente sounded like. Like Alger, it isnt necessary to consume the whole canon to get the gist immediately.
Yeah I can see this a genre defining
Good
What’s happening to me… my hips won’t stop moving! I love mambo, bossa nova and other groovy Latin genres. This is something I could passively listen to for background noise as I work, do chores or cook. At the same time, I could get up and dance to it. “El Cayuco” and “Llego Mijan” are my favorites so far.
Decent album just not for me lol
Fun album, though not something I'll probably come back to (because it's too passionate and joyful for my wretched ass)
Is there such a thing as a ‘coffee table record’? If there was, this would be one. It’s all a bit John Lewis. The sort of record that's played at dinner parties hosted by people who use words like 'alfresco', and who serve their pasta 'al dente' even though they prefer it boiled to mush. But it doesn't get listened to as everyone’s talking too loudly about house prices and the car they're 'driving these days'. Which is fine, I suppose, if you like that sort of thing.
I thoroughly enjoyed thus but it also highlighted my ignorance. It sounds to me like a more polished (dare I say poppier!?) version of Buena Vista Social Club or Ibrahim Ferrer but that is the full extent (or lack of) my knowledge of this genre of music, to my shame. I must pay more attention.
A bailar !!
Pretty fun but not my idea of an album to have on for myself.
I was doing the samba all over the place today. All the songs kind of bleed together, but the fun is undeniable. I really enjoyed this. 7.5/10 Top song... Cuando Te Vea
Fun little mambo jam.
Outstanding production. For something that was recorded in 1958, it sounds like it was recorded in a studio yesterday with modern equipment. Is it good? Sure. But I can't decipher why this is any different than any other music I've heard at a taco joint before. Happy I listened, respect the talent and the arrangement but don't feel the need to listen to it again. Unless I'm making tacos.
Good playing, good singing. Quality album. Just haven’t been able to get super into it.
Good dance music, feels wrong to listen at home. 3.1/5
Bangers
Neat
The music is rather unusual to modern ears. Back then, it was fashionable to perform with full orchestras. Tito Puente played dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz. The tracks are highly varied and feature performances by various male and female vocalists. There are plenty of trumpets, but also some exquisitely played marimba—which sounds truly fantastic—on "Hong Kong Mambo." A beautiful saxophone also makes recurring appearances. Anyone familiar with the music of Carlos Santana will recognize where he drew his inspiration. It is no coincidence that he covered Tito Puente’s "Oye Cómo Va" on his 1970 album Abraxas. Tito Puente was a star of his era; he was a force to be reckoned with—especially in America—where he and his music were omnipresent. He was hailed as the "King of the Timbales" and the "King of Mambo." He usually played the timbales at the front of his orchestra, often from an elevated position. He put on an incredible show, much like later rock 'n' roll stars did with their instruments—think of Jerry Lee Lewis or Little Richard. I wouldn't listen to this album all the time, as it does sound unusual to modern ears, but it was an enjoyable experience and the recording quality is superb. Listening to it at home on a good stereo system, it sounds stunning. And we are talking about a recording from 1958! You can hear every single instrument—prominent when necessary, and in the background when another instrument takes the lead.
The horns on this sound so good!
Joyful
They understood the assignment, and they nailed it
Sterk 3
Overraskende bra løpe-musikk
A spark and tinder to light the soul, to warm and enliven it, to consume it, a gozar.
What a vibe. Instantly put me in a good mood. Mid 4
Loved this album - felt like I was on vacation in Mexico!
After a while I was sure of a solid 3-star. Bopping my head, shimmying along to the music. Then I found out we were only halfway through, and the second half killed it for me, unfortunately
Amazing surprise. The percussion is addictive. I stood up to move many many times.
If I were rating this as music to sit down and listen to, it wouldn't score that well. In fact, it feels faintly ridiculous to have this on now, on a workday, with English summer rain pelting my windows. But it's not that, is it: it's DANCE MANIA!
Hard for me to make the connection but clearly highly enjoyable!
Yeah this was a good time!
Artiste inconnu. Musique pour danser, je n’ai pas vraiment d’avis sur l’album par rapport à d’autres du même genre (pas du tout mon type de musique). L’accompagnement est plutôt pas mal, avec une section de cuivre qui choruse de temps en temps. Mais comme dit précédemment, je ne suis pas fan du style, donc pas de seconde écoute pour moi. =>2/5
None of this sound bad, but it's definitely not going to stick with me. Kind of a in one ear and out the other album. The opening track was pretty good though. It get's a mid 3
Pretty fun, but not my usual thing so I genuinely have no idea whether this is good or bad in the world of Mambo/Rumba. It did sound a little samey to me, but I would be interested in listening to more like this though.
Warm sounds. I felt like I was in Miami (in Dexter's universe). This album is a delight.
Fine for what it is (not for me).
Classic,
Solid, but nothing that really stuck.
Fun, upbeat tunes for all the family. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve bought the cd.
lol that searching 'Dance Mania' inevitably brings up loads of 90s dance mix CDs. well I feel thoroughly on holiday.
Loved the rhythms on this one and the horns are fantastic. I can't remember which song, but there's an ending that abruptly changes keys and it got to me. I would definitely put this on again.
Wonderful. Takes me to a different time and place. Those horns in the brass section!
I don't normally listen to Latin jazz, but when I do, I listen to Tito. Look, this is straight up a good time. If this doesn't make you grin at least a little, I guess you either hate music or life. I won't likely return to it anytime soon, but I've enjoyed the listen!
alright but gets old quick. 6/10
Latin Jazz gets me schmovin Fave track: El Cayuco
Yeah, an album that sounds like this should be included in the list. I agree with that. 3/5
yuuuup.... thats mambo! it's not a genre i've ever really engaged with besides like. hearing it on the soundtracks of tropico and the sims i guess? so i don't really have a reference to compare it to or nothin, but it seems pretty good to me. the performances have a real liveliness to them and its just generally a good vibes type of album all round. it did kinda fade into the background sometimes but even when it did i was still bobbing along to it. kind of an aside but, it sure sounds like a lot more thought went into the recording setup here than for most of the other albums we've had from the 50s. as far as i can tell the version i've been listening to is the 90s remaster but like, there's only so much that can be achieved by a remaster, yknow? so the original recordings must've been pretty damn solid to begin with for it to sound this good. it honestly makes the quality of some of the other 50s albums we've pulled seem outright embarrassing in comparison. damn. i was debating between 3 and 4 but i'm getting more into it with each listen and it was already close after just 1 so, maybe im jumping the gun a little but i think this is a 4. im basically vibing on it.
What fun!
Such a fun mambo album. I added “3-D Mambo” to my playlist.
Listening session: august 12th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: no Thoughts: I like this type of music because it always puts you in a good mood and makes you dance Favourite tracks: Complicación, Mambo Gozon & Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti
Такой хороший дансинг
Really good. And fun. And timeless. I'm a crotchety fat white guy and this entire album made me want to get up and dance. Also recognized a bunch of stuff that was sampled for 90s-2000s pop and hip hop. Solid 4.
Album 282. Dance Mania (https://open.spotify.com/album/1XjabdmwipT62cLSZV45SU?si=AEdti3zCRv6jpD9PzbqYPQ) — Tito Puente (1958) It's fucking awesome and I love it. From the first seconds it immediately teleported me to Zihuatanejo or other place in Mexico or somewhere else😎😎😎 Super fun latin jazz music🎸 Sometimes it feels like I'm listening to the same song throughout the album, but that's okay I can forgive this salsa for that. It's too good 5/5 Liked: — El Cayuco — Complicación — Three D Mambo — Llego Mijan (Son Montuno) — Cuando Te Vea (Guaguanco) — Hong Kong Mambo — Mambo Gozon — Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembé — Varsity Drag - Mambo Jazz Instrumental — Agua Limpia Todo
A very fun and funky album, but it gets a tad repetitive as it goes on. High 4
This was really fun
Went in very sceptical but infectious grooves and inventive instrumentation pulled me in
I don't have much to say about this album besides mentioning how fun and brassy it is. This is most likely my first Mambo album I sat down and fully listened to though it is not my introduction to Mambo. Mambo is one of those BIG-DISTINCTIVE genres that's hard to miss. It doesn't resonate with me as much as I would hope but I do like it. It's hard not to. T3: Saca Tu Mujer, El Cayuco, Hong Kong Mambo
Not my kind of music but okay to listen to
I heard some bad bunny features in there
Perfectly swingy, jazzy, groovy; lwk reminded me of the opening mansion sequence in Babylon
You know that the Latin population is always having fun when they play their music. This was fun to listen to , and i would listen to it again, but not necessarily seek out the record. 3 stars
Very good album, I really enjoyed it and listened several times. The beats are fantastic and not something that I have a lot of exposure to. It makes you want to move and feel energized. I have no idea what the lyrics are about but the singer is very good and compliments the music perfectly. I'm putting this one on my favorites list and plan to listen to it many more times.
I think this was a good album. I just don’t think it was my kind of music. I can enjoy some big band style jazz but this started to sound the same. There were a couple on exceptions. I will say that Tito Puente is a god in his style of music and you can find enjoyment in it. I really am glad I heard it and I listened through twice.
Fun and upbeat, probably need to listen to it again to fully appreciate it.
A fun old school jazzy album. Sadly I probably won’t remember much of it.
Very nice to see Puente on here - he brought so much to a changing musical scene in the USA. Think about Bad Bunny today, one of the largest artists ever, and where it might have all begun. I feel that he has stronger albums and the mix is a bit harsh at times, especially with the brass. But it sounds nearly live, and so many of these songs are great and catchy, introducing his ability on the maramba to the mainstream. Not much to say, other than a fun pick. A great place to start with mambo music... Just need a few cumbia and bachata albums to add to the list!
“Revenge? Of course. But why wound his body with bullets when I can set his soul on fire with a slanderous mambo!”
Great upbeat, fun 50s dance album. Wouldn't normally listen to it, but certainly can't knock it. Lovely to have a mix-up from what I would normally listen to. 7/10
This album gave me a Proustian moment of when in 1960 I was at the age of 14 expelled from dance Cotillion where my mother had enrolled me to learn how to jitterbug. Mambo dance was the craze; when the teacher tried to teach it to us I rebelled; it did not go well.
not my cup of tea
Giving this a 3/5 because even though this isn't a sound I ever find myself craving, it wasn't a boring listen at all and I'd still take this over all the 1s and 2s I've given out so far.
I'm a 40 something year old white dude, so my knowledge of Tito Puente extends to his guest role on The Simpsons. But, yeah, I dig this. It's getting me moving this morning.
What a lovely refreshing change that was. As soon as I started listening to the first track, I was smiling and tapping my foot. A really good working-day listen - enough melody, variety and energy to make it a good soundtrack, meanwhile few enough lyrics (and not comprehending the ones there are) mean it's never distracting. Could definitely see me coming back to listen to this - or some other parts of Tito Puente's vast repertoire - again in future.
How critical can you be of a 70 year old album? I'm going with not very critical. It's fine, it's not my jam though. Was it ground breaking? Probably? Does it all sound pretty tired now? Yes.
I like Latin music, but you can’t tell me that it’s not all so similar. That said I still danced in my chair.
fav songs: el cayuco mambo gozon estoy siempre junto a ti latin, playful, crafty 65/100
It did hold up the promise of being great dance music, I just wish every song wasn't really similar
Album was fine, just not my preferred stylings.
Ihan kiva alkuun, mutta alkoi kyllä toistaa itseään taas ihan huolella.
Kuunteli mielellään ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Correcto
Buenardo este. Obviamente un género que no escucho para nada, además es latino pero más bien caribeño. Pero con cosas como esta se entiende que bad bunny haya hecho lo que hice con dtmf y está perfecto. Suena un poco a cumpleaños de una tía, pero no puedo relate más porque suena muy centroamericano. De todas formas, es latino. 7 son los puntos.
An easy five starts. Great album!
Very nice Latin dance album. I understood ‘bailar’ and ‘cerveza’. What more do you need? 3.4/5.0
good tropica album, bosh
Groove after groove! An unrelenting barrage of exotic beats
Great background or dance music
Not for me, cheers.
Restaurant music
Bueno para amenizar la mañana. Tracks con mucho ritmo y llenos de sabor. Igual y el género no es mi hit, pero imposible no pasársela bien con este disco.
I didn’t really care for this one.
Mamba has never sounded so good, it's insanely catchy and I defy anyone to not feel the need to get up and dance when this comes on.
oo la dance dance yeah yea! dance yeah dance!! unlikely to ever listen to this again
Mambo overload, meant for dancing rather than listening.
legal
Jovisst!
Kul energi men verkligen något som jag så mycket hellre skulle lyssna på live än någon inspelning.
Generiskt.
This was great to do dishes to
When in the mood… good groove
Just not my thing. It sounds like every 1950s pastiche I’ve ever seen. You can’t fault the playing and the arrangements, but it’s ultimately a very dated style.
*1958. Latin jazz. *This feels like being in Cuba and is a fun listen, but it's also restrained and jazzy. So more like the background music you'd find at an upscale jazz bar in Cuba, as opposed to loud party music. Although the trumpet gets a bit aggressive at times. *I dig it. RATING - 7/10
I mean, it's all the Tito one man could ever ask for
Not something I’d put on unless it were background. A very fun album and listing of familiar tracks
“and than you play those stupid Tito Puente albums until 2 in the morning.” Tito Puente’s gonna be dead and you’re gonna say “Oh I’ve been listening to him for years and I think he’s fabulous.” Great Album
Very enjoyable to listen to. Not my style of music, but love the culture
No offence but can't be doing Latin music right now
You can't not dance to this it's brilliant
💃 🕺 🪇
Genuinely good fun and the time flew by with this on. I don't know if it's the heatwave which will never end, but it went down like a cold beer in the sun.
Just a good time, really. Even when it felt a little like elevator music, it was very pleasant.
El Rey de Los Timbales! Viva Tito! Latin Jazz had a moment and apparently the editors of this book were there for it. This is not as good as either Sinatra/Jobim or Santa covering Oye Como Va. This all sounds like the soundtrack to a Rat Pack movie. It's not unpleasant but it's not really getting to me either. Every song sounds more or less the same, I am clearly not a mambo afficionado.
Fun and good!
- I felt like I was in Dexter - I mean yea cha cha cha loved it
!Bailar bailar! Irresistible, infectious Latin American dance music. Let Tito Puento set your soul on fire with a slanderous mambo.
Det er så langt utenfor min musikk-horisont at jeg ikke vet om dette er bra eller dårlig. Men blir ikke uvel av å høre på, så bedre en tidlig Rolling Stones.
ziemlich funny zu hören & actually will man tanzen (in lab3). 3.14 sterne
Fun stuff, wouldn't listen often but would absolutely listen again!
뭔가 탱고? 라틴? 뭐 그런 느낌이 났다(배움이 짧아서 잘 몰라요 ㅠㅠ)(화양연화에 나온 캐사스 같은 느낌이었어요). 분위기가 꽤 좋았다. It had a bit of a tango or Latin vibe—something like that (I’m not an expert, so I’m not entirely sure). It reminded me of the song "Cucurrucucú Paloma" from the movie *In the Mood for Love*. The atmosphere was really nice.
Impossible to hate but not for me to love.
Pretty standard fair for the genre. Not unpleasant but not exceptional
Danceable and fun
What an album! I'm a Tito Puente fan, I've heard a few records, and I figured this one would probably just work as an introduction to the artist. I've no idea why this wasn't on my radar, it puts some of my best Cal Tjader experiences through a lot of perspective. It starts off with an obvious bang, and it doesn't let up, it varies. Ray Barretto on the conga? This is the oldschool Latin swing my ancestors flirted with, or a depiction under a wonderfully produced light. It's got soul, a bit of a finesse to it, a lot of jazz experience, non verbal communication and sound creating palpable energies. 4.4/5
Bardzo fajne. Lubię takie mambo. 4
Relisten
Can't say I succumbed to the title mania but I can say it will definitely get your hips moving.
Really fun to listen to! Great for background to do anything, be it relaxing or doing a little dance.
A classic for me. I suddenly have 10 years old. Me recuerda a clases de danza que odiaba y donde lo único que apreciaba era la música. Un grande. Es la primera vez q lo escucho completo
Pretty fun to listen to. Yeah, it's good.
Different, but highly enjoyable. No clue what was being said, but to hell with it, I was all in.
What a lively album fo dancing!
The Good: We’re gonna dance! The Bad: We don’t know how to dance salsa… The Ugly: Dancing like a chimp amongst gyrating hips… My ex liked salsa… which means I don’t… Can I appreciate what Tito did on this record? Yes, for a couple of songs. However, an entire album starts to feel too repetitive… and makes me want to dance even less! Still, this music beats having to listen to some of the other assorted crap I’ve had the displeasure of listening to… Oh, and hurrah for Wikipedia, as I always thought Tito Puente was Cuban… but he be a NYC homeboy. 3*
Possibly my first experience with Latin Jazz; this initial track, "El Cayuco" has good energy and a swagger to it; great brass sections and a bassline that I can only describe as 'fruity' or 'juicy'. It's potentially what gives the music it's latin feel, distinguishing it from typical Jazz. "Complcación" reminded me how much I love the sound of the Spanish language. The brass yet again was on point here. I feel in love with the bassline on "3-D Mambo", those opening 30 seconds I listened to again and again; it was just pure ear candy, with the bass giving the track a tropical feel to it. The female vocals on "Llego Mijan" was a welcome surprised, her more sultry tones were a perfect match for the bass and brass around her too. This is all pretty wonderful music, though I suspect that it's going to be very light on variation, which is a bit of a shame here. My suspicions sort of confirmed with "Cuando Te Vea", but I know it's the more subtle variations and the impressiveness of consistent play in Jazz; it feels like a genre from a different time period all together. Other favourite tracks: "Hong Kong Mambo" (this song, with it's title in mind, just made me envision gangsters moving through a Chinese casino looking for a spy in a movie. Loved the xylophone), "Estoy Siempre Junto A Tí" and "Saca Tu Mujer". There wasn't a single song I wouldn't want to revisit, but the variation is lacking for me.
Such an amazing sound throughout the album. Was a little worried about two world music albums so close together but it definitely had an original sound to it. El Cayuco and Cuando Te Vea were my faves.
Can't say I was blown away but I wasn't bored either
Ball, skön musik. Sparat.
Perfect blend of recognizable and ambiguously familiar hits. Just gets the mood going. 4/5
Just a nice listen. 3.5/5
hell yessss, viva tito!
Okay
Best of the mamba
instant mood lifter. amazing. rhythmic, fun to dance to, high energy, timeless, rich, gorgeous sound.
Not my thing but it's fun! A good example of something where musical tastes have changed since it was made. Oh god, are people going to be saying that about nu metal in 50 years?
Oh yeah, give me some salsa! Okay I guess this is actually mambo (as cuts 3, 6, and 7 tell us), but I'm not really clear on how it all plays out, nor do I really care. I just generally really enjoy the Latin style, and feel better listening. My rudimentary spanish may help, but not important.
I love the rhythms in this music. Mambo? Latin? Whatever it is, I can't keep still. I am drawn to the hand drums and percussion and the eighth-note accents. Where I tire of the reggae beat rather quickly, this keeps me bouncing. Dance mania consumed me, even in my stupid office chair.
It's cool. Nothing really grabbed me, melody-wise, but i dug the overall vibe and grooves. great arrangements.
Generic, but pleasant enough south american samba bossa aiyi yi fodder.
No.
I absolutely the luscious horns in this. I have been looking for jazz or jazz-leaning music that has horns kind of like The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady and this scratch a itch. I'm not too familiar with latin genre names, so I don't know what to really look for if I want to find similar albums. Anyways, I also find the vocals are top-notch, they totally match the instrumentation. Just an overall good album, I definitely see myself returning to this one in the future. Highlight Song/s: "El Cayuco" and "Cuando Te Vea (Guaguanco)
me encanta escuchar jazz latino pero no diferenciaba las canciones entre ellas lol 7,5/10
5/10
If I could dance to this my wife would marry me again.
Banger
It's a name I've heard but never knowingly heard any music by. I totally get why this would be here, I imagine it was very influential in Latin Jazz worlds and in bringing that to a bigger audience, much like Buena Vista would do many years later. Musically it still holds up... It's a fun time, with infectious grooves and rhythms that keep the toes tapping and I'd definitely return to it in certain circumstances.
This was a nice leisure suit album
Great album! It likely helped that I got this on the first actual summer day of the year, but this was a nice way to spend some time.
Enjoyable enough and would be great at a part or wedding. Hard to imagine this is 1991 as it sounds more like a 1961 soundtrack to a film
So much fun! Why would anyone give this a 1?!
This was a fabulous way to start my day. Probably wouldn’t listen everyday, but when I need the energy boost it really does the job!
Will have you dancing in the grocery store (if you are me)
I listened to this album as my overtime shift continued, having overcome my hour of nausea and feeling like myself again. In the same way that Kind of Blue felt like the platonic ideal of a blues album, Dance Mania feels like the platonic ideal of mamba, full of danceable Spanish jazz with a generally upbeat and energetic tone dotted with infectious horn sections. The vocals provide a sense of energy to the album, charismatic and captivating in their delivery even through the language barrier. Listening to Dance Mania feels like I'm remembering something from my childhood that I forgot. Unfortunately, when an album commits so hard to delivering variations on a consistent sound, I tend to experience diminishing returns on the individual songs. Dance Mania is not immune to this phenomenon, and it means some later songs, which are just as technically proficient and energetic as the rest, start to lose my attention. Despite this, Dance Mania is still an impeccably fun time that's perfect for dancing along with. Highlights: El Cayuco, Complicación, Three D Mambo, Llego Mijan (Son Montuno), Cuando Te Vea (Guaguanco), Hong Kong Mambo, Varsity Drag (Mambo Jazz Instrumental), Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti
As someone who has performed drums/percussion in the jazz world I always heard and respected the name Tito Puente but never listened to any of his music, let alone a full album, until now. This album is fantastic! We start grooving immediately from the first track and don't stop until the album ends. As someone who doesn't listen to a whole lot of Latin music this was a great place to start. Gotta remember this one the next time I want to liven up a dinner party. 4.5 rounded up to a 5/5 P.S. I will be singing "Cuando Te Vea" the rest of the day. P.P.S. I don't know what I did to please the generator but all my albums this week have been bangers!
I wanted a little more mania from dance mania but it was nice 3.5
there's lots of life and joy in this music!
people really didn't have a lot going on back then huh
Fun!
Ok
J’écoute la version de 38min et non celle de 2h Alors là c’est vraiment pas ma tribu. Jazz latin salsa ?? Je trouve ça répétitif au bout de 1 chanson Bon au moins c’est plutôt gai, il faut se laisser prendre au jeu. 3-D mambo est OK 5/10 ?
A really fun listen. I know practically nothing about mambo, but I nevertheless felt really moved by this album, which is a testament to its power.
Joyous is the only word that can accurately describe this.
I didn't understand a lot of the words, but it sure was fun to listen to 4/5.
I presume this was seminal at the time but it does sound like Cuban stock music now. I do like that every third word is either bailar or cha-cha, really adds to the cruise ship dance floor feeling. Bossa nova still wins the Latino music style for me.
Enjoy this genre - transports me to dirty dancing land - however never reach for it
Did the impossible task of putting me in a good mood before I had my morning coffee ☕️ maybe I'll become a Mambo Guy now?? Was reminded of Who Shot Mr Burns? throughout
It's a good self-development exercise to take the allegedly artificial, hollowed-out genres like marimba-heavy Latin jazz and try to hear them like they were when they were fresh. Tito Puente's orquesta is inventive and committed and makes the task easy, while simultaneously making you move your meat suit.
Príjemné počúvanie, latino v prijateľnej podobe. Veľa naraz by mi asi uškodilo...
In all honesty, I probably would have never listened to this album had it not been a 1001 album selection. What a delight, just a feel good musical experience. Really liked it.
This must have been one of the first four mambos before the form was perfected on the fifth attempt.
Chachacha!
Just an infectiously fun record.
Mambo is fun! You won't be reflecting the next day about its lyrics (unlike salsa), but you will have a blast.
Pleasant, but not my beat or pace. ★★★
Happy to have a fun one today. 3 1/2 stars
It's definitely dance mania!
I LOVE this style. This album is slightly weaker than Buena Vista, still very good. 4/5
Fun album. I didn’t expect it to be this good. 4 stars.
I respect anyone who mail goal is get everyone up and shake their ass.
It’s interesting, moving and joyful to listen
Oh! I bet this will be a fun listen even if my Spanish -- despite years of it in primary school -- isn't as good as a three-year old's. I know and like quite a few popular Puente songs, and recognize "Mambo Gazon" from this record. ****** Salsa/Mambo is just so unapologetically joyous and fun music. It's designed to dance and smile to, and that buys it a lot of goodwill with me. The brass shines and the rhythm section holds court with fantastic beats and an upbeat tempo. I got exactly what I came for on this album. It's a great showcase of this music from a legend in that world. I'm in agreement with this album's inclusion on the list. All that said, however, this has a ceiling for me. It goes no higher than (4/5) because it occupies the same space in my mind as Reggae. It's a **very narrow** type of music. I either don't understand/appreciate the nuance between all the songs or it really just sort of sounds the same. The ingredients and the way they're cooked simply don't vary a lot. Sure, you can rearrange them on the plate, but you know exactly what it is on first glance. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but you can bet I'm not eating it all the time. Similarly, if I were constantly bombarded by this all the time, I'd tire of it quickly. Small, metered doses is how I like my Salsa/Mambo. Let's have some fun for a while, and then put it up till next time. I'd absolutely recommend this record for that exact purpose.
How can you listen to this and NOT want a mojito, a Cuban sandwich (heavy on the pickle), a few olives, and a side of smoky black beans? The pavlovian response to Cuban music is REAL. Culinary delectibility aside, this one hit me on just the right day, and was a very good time. Sassy horns, jazzy drums, and well delivered vocals you don't need to know the meaning of to appreciate. A bit thrown by the inclusion of a compilation on this list, but whether meant as a greatest hits or simply a collection of Tito's more danceable tunes, it struck a solid 4/5 and gave me a powerful yearning to visit La Bodeguita De Mima.
101. Dance Mania - Tito Puente (1958) 6.3.26 Variety: 2 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 3 Emotionality: 4 = 3.8 rounded up to 4 INTRO I don't know much at all about Tito Puente other than he was famously in the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" episodes of The Simpsons, but I've heard and enjoyed plenty of his stuff before. While I enjoy this sort of things, it's not a genre I'm steeped in, and any non-rock stuff ( especially in a language I don't speak) is always going to be a tougher nut to crack for me. It's always harder for me to come up with anything much more than impressions as I listen, but let's get to it. THE TRACKS "El Cayuco" - This one is pretty damned iconic. I'm not sure how many tv shows and movies have used this as shorthand for "we're going someplace tropical" but that seems to be attached to how I recall it. This is full of such an energy and joyousness that it's very easy to see why it became so well known, and at maybe Puente's next most known song after ""Oye Cómo Va"? How could anyone not want to get up and start moving to this stuff? "Complicación" - Nowhere near as catchy as the previous track ( but how many can be?), this was still a lovely midtempo little umber that had me tapping my toes pretty quickly. There's much more of a focus on the vocals here it seems, which is fine, but I much prefer the more judicious use of them in the first track. "3-D Mambo" - Another track I've heard many times before, and is much more my speed with no vocals to distract from the lovely rhythms. "Llegó Miján" - When the vocals do come to the forefront, I like them in this mode with the sort of call and response backing vocals found here. "Cuando Te Vea" - Things don't sound so happy on this one. While it's got to be very hard to get emotion across in any music, it must be especially so when the listener does not speak your language. The intonation in the vocals and the downbeat instrumentation tells a story of yearning and sadness to me though. I could totally be wrong, but this one has relationship troubles written all over it. "Hong Kong Mambo" - Holy shit. This was amazing. I was thinking it was going to be hard to top that first track, but within the first 20 seconds this shot ahead by a clear margin. Darker in tone, and full of some very different sounds, with Puente just going crazy on the vibraphone. Going to assume this was his showcase track, as he seems content on the rest of the album to be the good bandleader who supports and guides. God tier stuff. "Mambo Gozón" - As lively and driving as any track on here, this one has that constant back and forth between lead and backing vocals that, when combined with the similarly arranged trumpets, drives it forward so that it constantly feels like it's going to fall all over itself, but never does. The most danceable track on an album full of danceable tracks. "Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembé" - The tempo drops back down a step for this one, and we get more solid stuff, with the horn section pulling out some of the most dynamic playing on the album. The more cliched romantic bits did not work so well for me. "Varsity Drag" - This one felt like the most generic track yet. Still fine, just nothing here to grab me. If anything on this album could be called filler, this might be it. Vanilla and unadventurous comparatively speaking. The piano puts me in mind of Vince Guaraldi. "Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti" - Romantic vibes right from the get go here, even before the vocals come in. This is your slow dance, folks. A fine enough specimen of the type, but just not my thing. I did enjoy the lovely, simple percussion here, as it added some variety. "Agua Limpia Todo" - Loved the choral vocals on this one. Not exactly sad vibes but I got some vibes of frustration and maybe determination here. Again, pure speculation on my part. "Saca Tu Mujer" - Ending things well on an upbeat number that performs the trick of seeming to climb and climb while never really getting off the plateau. My favorite piano playing on the album by a good margin, and it's been damn fine so far. HIGHLIGHTS - "El Cayuco" - "3-D Mambo" - "Llegó Miján" - "Cuando Te Vea" - "Hong Kong Mambo" - "Mambo Gozón" - "Agua Limpia Todo" - "Saca Tu Mujer" MIDLIGHTS - "Complicación" - "Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembé" - "Varsity Drag" - "Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS This is the kind of thing that I can see myself throwing on as background music for sure, but as with most jazz, or music where I don't understand the lyrics, it's not something that I can see myself focusing on or reading anything too deep into. Not to say this music is lesser in quality or even in feeling or meaning. This would be perfect unwinding music and there are several tracks that will definitely be going into some 5-star playlists. But with music that's so exuberant, dynamic, well played and arranged, it would be difficult to rate this any less than enjoyable in my book. It was enjoyable the whole way through, so much so that I listened to may tracks more a few times each. That's always a sign of quality for me. The biggest downside is the level of intellectual engagement I had with it had that barrier of language and genre that I mentioned earlier. It'll never be a 5-star for me, but I can easily imagine it might be so for a TON of people. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Nope FURTHER LISTENING - Kenya by Machito - Havana, 3 a.m. by Perez Prado - Mambo! by Yma Sumac - Acid by Ray Barreto - Soul Sauce by Cal Tjader
In the year 1958 I can only imagine how cool it would've seemed to bring a big band performing Latin dance music into your home. Through the magic of sound recording any living room could be transformed into a dance hall. I don’t think we stop and appreciate that enough. As I was listening to this album I felt guilty confining it to my simple earbuds. This is music that yearns to escape, expand, and fill up any unused space. This album was a vivid listening experience. The horns on this production are a blast of warm air and the percussion will sweep you away. Seriously, the steel drum on "Hong Kong Mambo" heals like Jesus. This is forty minutes of some of the richest sounds I've heard yet from this experience. A little reading shows this album had a tremendous influence beyond its day. It is a wonderful album that deserves a listen and put it on loud in the living room at home and dance the day away. 4/5
I don’t dance but it does not matter. This is a fun record.
GOD
The shit!
Not for me
An interesting curveball, but one that didn't end up thrilling me. Not something I see myself coming back to, but not a waste of time to see it in the first place.
Still sounds great today. Lots of fun.
this album is such a vibe
When an album like this comes on you know you're in for a party. Even as someone who cannot dance this music makes me want to shake my money maker.
Really good sound to work to.
Surprisingly i loved this
Overall: 4.29 (rounded to 4) Consistency: 4.167 Originality: 3.5 Enjoyment: 5 Virtuosity: 4.5 1. El Cayuco - 4 2. Complicacion - 5 3. 3-D Mambo - 4 4. Llego Mijan - 4 5. Cuando Te Vea - 4 6. Hong Kong Mambo - 4 7. Mambo Gazon - 4 8. Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe - 4 9. Varisty Drag - 4 10. Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti - 4 11. Agua Limpia Todo - 5 12. Saca Tu Mujer - 4
El cayuco - 4 Complicacion - 3 3-d mambo - 3 Llego mijan - 3 Cuando te vea - 4 Hong kong mambo - 3 Mambo gozon - 3 Mi chicita quiere bembe - 3 Varsity drag - 3 Estoy siempre junto a ti - 3 Agua limpia todo - 3 Saca tu mujer - 3
So I had sort of mixed reactions to this album, despite really loving it. The mixed feelings boils down to two main things, the positive feeling being I adore Latin music, it just has a real life and personality to it outside of being infectiously dancy. But the negative feeling is that the album is poorly balanced. Which I think is a symptom of either being a compilation album or just a symptom of it being a product of its time. It’s just ALOT of the same sound and energy. Which I think is ideal if your buying this album when it came out in 1958, where a lot of people probably didn’t even know who Tito Puente was they just wanted something “exotic” to put on during a luau party. And honestly this shouldn’t even need to be said, but instrumentally this is one of the most stacked albums on this list. It has Tito Puente! What more do you need? But if you are still not satisfied than you have Ray Barretto on the congas!! Seriously this is like an all time great album, it’s the type of album where if you were going to share the human experience with intergalactic aliens, this would be essential.
I honestly don't know how likely I am to listen again, but it was a delight nonetheless.
Gøy mambo!!
What a wonderful reset. Over the past 3 weeks I've been given a LOT of garbage. This is just good, energetic, well crafted music that's easy to get into and enjoy. Yesterday's album was a 5 star on that I was already familiar with. Couple that with this 5 star album today, I hope it starts a new upwards trend
tyckte väldigt mycket om det här! känns som sommar, men däremot så stack det inte ut så mycket
Not my music to go to but bc im latina i love the connection i have with that music
Tito Puente, the Latin equivalent of legends like Glenn Miller or Duke Ellington, showcases his wonderful Puerto Rican heritage and flair throughout Dance Mania. Listening to this album makes me want to salsa out on the dance floor, even though I’m not much of a dancer myself. It’s vibrant, energetic, and overflowing with joy. This was an absolute pleasure to listen to, and I’d gladly throw on this—or any of Puente’s albums—again without hesitation.
Man, imagine what this was like for any white people that got a hold of it..... Starting this on the quadrophonic stereo system, having a seat on the plush green couch, taking that first sip from the two fingers of bourbon just poured into a glass, and being enveloped in a soundscape that was so foreign, yet felt so right. Maybe you'd stand the Mrs. up and take her by the hand to dance during the slower numbers. Maybe you'd just continue to sit and enjoy the sounds while flicking the ashes of your Chesterfield in the nearby ashtray. Even though this is 12 songs with the same basic structure and rhythms, it's damned infectious and a good time to listen to. Latin music is just so much fun and it always succeeds in it's purpose - Make you move your body, tap your toes, and bop your head. I think I'll listen again to keep the good vibes flowing.
Just another Latin American album.
Loved that. Great happy energy.
This was really enjoyable, it almost made me want to learn how to do the mamba, samba or whatever it was. It made me feel happy and that's always a more healthier emotion to be evoked. When's the second LP coming out Tito?
Love that one day you're listening to a punk rock album album, next thing Latina samba album. Enjoyed but also I had had enough of it by the time it finished
Comfy, fun and wholesome. Mostly enjoyable songs. For it's time it's 5 but with everything today Ill comfortably put it at a 4.
I love the rhythms of the percussion section and the horn harmonies. Romantic lyrics and a great variety of tunes.
Big Salsa Energy. Really fun listen, makes you want to go for a dance.
Mambo Gozón
Llego Mijan // Hong Kong Mambo //
Great album from a legendary performer. 5 stars
I guess this is good for people who like this type of music.
Would rate higher if this was in my taste profile, but alas it isn't.
Fun dance music with actual songs. Dreary electric duos from the 90's never learned.
Every time latin music is on this list, it's a good time, but kind of falls into the same type of latin music. I wish we had more diverse albums from other countries, but still glad to be exposed to this. 4*
Each song was a joy to listen to.
Nandos
I love the energy in this album. It was so much fun listening to the percussion and how it was presented front and centre in the mix. Tito Puente is a legend! Liked Songs Added: Varsity Drag
Found myself dancing by myself, doing some salsa moves that I didn’t know I had.
thank you latin america
Some of the songs are mostly instrumental, and even the songs with words, I just couldn't really get into. It was just ok. Best song: Complicacion
sunny day
Fun
I love this. This is the kind of latin music that it seems impossible not to dance along with. So good.
Revenge? Of course! But why wound his body with bullets, when I can set his soul on fire with a slanderous mambo?
Spent the entire album dancing like Frank Costanza and Kramer during the manssiere try-on scene.
Good for what it is, not my cup of tea.
Well, it’s really good at what it does but it’s not anything that I find is variable or listen to able
I encountered the perfect circumstance to listen to this. Ate an edible, hopped on a flight to Jamaica for my wife's birthday, ordered a Modelo and sat back and fucking grooved.
I can always get behind some brass
I’ve heard this before. I love Tito Puente, both as a musician and as a special guest star. It’s hard for me to listen to him without thinking of “slanderous mambo” from the Simpsons or getting Oscar the Grouch to dance on Sesame Street. This is a fun party album and it’s great when a jazz record can be a fun party album.
omatsuri mambo
Awesome but it'd be nice to have more Spanish-language music that's actually from Latin America
idc about salsa it was inoffensive but definitely not mania
Percussive and fun! But the fun gets overwhelming about half way in.
This album made me dance subtly at work. Great Stuff.
This is the kind of music that throws my stats off and makes it look like the 50's was my favorite era. I can't help that mambo and jazz were both really good back then. I particularly loved Cuando Te Vea and Hong Kong Mambo. While I can understand complaints that everything sounded the same, I thoroughly enjoyed each track and would gladly listen to them again.
interesting songs really. I preferred tracks number 6, 10, and 11. all other songs are fine though it felt repetitive, at least to me. I liked it regardless.
I’m questioning life right now. How is this so good?
Music from Strictly Come Dancing. But foot tappingly great. I couldn't keep still. 3½
Two 1950's albums in a row. I guess i liked the swing more than the bossa nova/samba rhythms. Would have been interesting if I got them in a different order would I have given Louis Prima a lower score? This was not memorable for me
Fun but samey
Pretty boring. Music was not good enough to overcome not understanding lyrics.
Fun album, feels like i am sat in a restaurant on holiday. It's all a bit the same but at least its all fun.
3
# Album Name: Dance Mania # Artist: Tito Puente # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: A fun enjoyable album. # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Enjoyable and energetic album, excited for more tracks that I recognize
Fun
When I read the title Dance M..... I thought for a split second that I might have to listen to Tones & I. Thankfully I didn't and this was a cool mambo record instead. Lady on the cover seems to be enjoying herself and I did too.
Enjoyed listening to this music! The rhythms had some many textures…relaxing to inspired movements. Great find!
Latin music. Lots of fun.
Tito Puente was an accomplished musician and band leader of Puerto Rican-American descent, and this record is a good example of the kind of music that he helped make popular in the mainstream of the time. Fusing traditional Chachachá, Mambo, and various other Hispanic styles with a contemporary jazz flair made for an accessible and exciting combination. The music within is about what you would expect to be honest. Flavorful and excitingly rhythmic dance music with plenty of horns, pianos, and various other instruments (A marimba makes an appearance on Hong Kong Mambo), supplemented by gorgeous vocals all sung in Spanish. Several of the tracks are instrumental though, "3-D Mambo" and "Hong Kong Mambo" more specifically. These ones are great of course, I especially love the marimba on HKM because of the unique texture it provides the already spicy track. It's also not an instrument I hear too much of in modern music either. The latter half of the record wanes in excitement just a tad, but the finale "Saca Tu Mujer" is brilliant and ends with a bang. I wouldn't say this record is mindblowing or even exceptionally novel, but it does posses a certain timelessness and it's youthful vigor makes for a rather fun and brisk listen. So yeah I would say if someone is looking for something just a bit different, this album is worth checking out for sure! Certainly a great album to put on whilst working.
Pretty good
This was awesome! Cant wait to drink a cocktail in the backyard to this. Favorites included estoy Siempre junto a ti and Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe
Now this is an album to dance to! Tito does it again.
fun
A pleasure to listen to.
Ta bueno, pero la falta un poco de manera
Albern
Pleasant surprise! Good to the last note.
Very impressive what was done here especially for me what stood out is when it was made too.
Good album, very chill. Not necessarily for me but easy listen. 7.3/10
Fun and energetic! The Bad Bunny of his time
It's Tito Puente, of course it's good!
A fun Latin album I enjoyed most of these songs but I can't see myself listening to this again it's just not something I would usually listen to. 6/10 Favourite: El Cayuco Least Favourite: Mambo Gozón
I had the dance mania. 10/10
Sure! But why this over all the identical sounding things that auto played right after?
very cha cha cha (chachasabrina mentioned..? beatles fans yk who im talkin abt.. maybe.. (if u dont know.. idk man i cant xplain it))
Nice, but like a great beer, any more than enough is enough. 1 album from Bosa heyday is enough.
Love the feel of it. Not a normal listen, but still a good one
good rithm, maybe not my thing, but I like a few songs
This isn't something I would have thought to listen to on my own, but I'm glad I did. I enjoyed it!
Confusing looking at this album on Apple Music as it shows that the artist is a classical artist, but then you play the album and it's Mambo.
Por si no lo sabéis todavía, voy a repetirme: no soporto los ritmos latinos. Pero hoy voy a hacer una excepción. El mambo y su traslación a la música de big bands que tanto influyó en las orquestas de los años 50 y 60 en EEUU es un tipo de música accesible, alegre, bailable, cercana y perfectamente fusionable con el jazz (de ahí el latin jazz) y otros estilos. ¿Me puede cansar? Efectivamente, pero a nivel orquestal es tan potente que no se puede pasar por alto su descomunal importancia en la música del siglo XX. Por cierto, Tito Puente era norteamericano, de padres portorriqueños, como no podía ser de otra manera, y coetáneo de Henri Mancini. Ahí lo dejo.
Fun! Weird and old haha but a ton of fun. Dance Mania is right!
This was actually a lot of fun!
Made me hungry and put me in the mood for a Margarita. Honestly probably the first time I have listened to Latin Music outwith a restaurant or bar setting, I must say, in the car driving to work it feels out of place. I can appreciate that if you dig this genre it’s a banger , even I recognise some of the songs but it’s just not in my register, I would never put this on so it has limited value for me. 2
2.5/5.
Would be fine as background music in a central American restaurant or market. But that's about it for me. He gets 2 stars just for a good cameo in the simpsons. And it's well played and well recorded. But musically I'm not bothered about this genre at all.
This is #day620 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… hey mambo, mambo italiano, oh wait, wrong one. Anyway, how about some mambo on a rainy April Monday afternoon? I'm not really sure about that. I mean, the record is fun and all that ("El Cayuco" even rang a bell from hell knows where), but I'd never choose to put it on if it weren't for the challenge. Let it be a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day621.
Fun album that I wouldn’t have heard before this.
Fun music. Just not my vibe.
Bastante bueno y fácil de escuchar para lo poco habituado que estoy. Eso sí, vaya lista más anglo, que hasta los discos de "music of the world" (vaya etiqueta de mierda), tienen que pasar por coordenadas yanquis... Este es un sitio tan bueno como cualquier otro para mencionarlo.
Makes me want to throw on the old banana hammock mix up a daquiri and start a Congo line in the sand! This album screams summer to me. Great horns, bass and drums to go along with some cool Latin singing. I can dig it
Lovely!
Never put him on before. Familiar and fun. I probably couldn't tell any of his albums apart. Its all just smiling feel good music that makes you move. Tito will get in rotation at my house now.
Tito Fockin Puente ❤️
MAMBO I’m kinda just glad I rolled something that wasn’t another old rock record. Don’t really have much to say about this, it was refreshing, I enjoyed. Probably won’t ever come back to it.