Reviews (page 4 of 9)
This was a pretty nice album, enjoyed having it in the background while I was doing stuff. It makes you shake a little bit.
Really fun music. I loved it. Always a fan of upbeat horns and Latin rhythms
Not something I’m going to reach for a whole lot, but very good for what it is. 3.5/5
I've heard some Tito Puente before and I remember liking it a bit better than this record. This record is certainly fun and enjoyable to listen to but it just didn't really do it for me today. I can't say I like another album better because I don't really know any other albums he did, but I seem to remember liking what I'd heard prior to this one better. A good album, not a great one. I think I would revisit this again sometime just to see if I was too harsh on it today. 3/5
Good jazz album. Would give it 4 stars but I couldn’t rate it the same or higher then the Duke Ellington album.
I know nothing about latin music, even less about this style so I am going to refrain from giving much thought. NR/10
Classic Puente. Always good.
This is it, I could listen to this all day.
No sé mucho español, pero pienso Tito Puente es muy bueno. Me gusta mucho.
cha cha good, but doesn't particularly interest me in any way
Just a good time all around. The sort of thing you can throw on while doing housework, and it just makes everything that much more bearable and brighter. 4
mamboooo. fun. sehr fun. ersti zwei songs sehr upbeat und sie singed suuper tight. sehr geil. aso s wird so bliibe nimi aah haha. three d mambo seehr geils blöser arrangement. bi llego mijan singt e frau und sehr cool. wart bi cuando te vea ischs glaub die gluch stimm und es isch glaub er?? öh geil. trompete seeeehr geil mann. haha mambo gozon fuuun. mi chiquita quiere bembé was isch bembé? ich check nöd was mambo isch. glaub zerdt das denn salsa? es isch recht cool alles aber scho iiiimmer s glich. d ballade hends nöd würkli ufgmischt. git e 3.
das isch gueti morgemusig! aso wnl s machtmer mega spass aber würkli aktiv uufneh tunis nöd ok es het en teil glöscht iwie aber jo MAMBO NO. 5?? los nomal churz drii, es 3 oder 4i wirds safe ah stimmt hong kong mambo hani en insane banger gfunde jaa isches 4i, tönt weg mim ungüebte ohr mengisch chli alles glich und weiss nöd, öb das album under anderne mambo-albe speziell wür ussesteche aber ignorance is bliss. ich han spass gha
*El Cayuco: this eats hard *Complicacion: man this album sounds INCREDIBLE, all of the sounds are so rich and lovely. it's obviously nothing like anything I ever listen to but it goes absolutely crazy Three D Mambo: second half of this track is cuckoo bananas Llego Mijan (Son Montuno): lee lee lo le low lala le laaaa *Cuando Te Vea (Guaguanco): completely obsessed with the percussion on this track, it has so much depth *Hong Kong Mambo: hardest xylophone(?) solos of all life. Mambo Gozon: this shit opened like boss fight music. energy energy *Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe: not bad but doesn't hit like a lot of the other songs on here. okay I lied a bit, the last minute or so is fantastic. deserves more listens Varsity Drag - Mambo Jazz Instrumental: everybody is doing a good job :) *Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti: really beautiful, love the moodiness of it. reminds me a bit of Arca's older stuff (I'm sure the influence goes the other way around lol). *Agua Limpia Todo: alalalalalalala la la la la la la la la. I really dig this one. Saca Tu Mujer: it's alright enjoyed this way more than I expected to. hell yeah brother __ SCORE: 8/10 ADDED TO PLAYLIST: El Cayuco Complicacion Cuando Te Vea (Guaguanco) Hong Kong Mambo Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti Agua Limpia Todo
I had absolutely no prior exposure to this — neither the artist nor the album. So: Cuban music, salsa. Nice. It’s lovely to listen to. I’ve been into salsa ever since my trip to Cuba in 2016, though I mostly know the more modern recordings that blew up after the success of Buena Vista Social Club in the late ’90s. That’s why it’s great to hear a truly classic recording for once — this album is from 1958, just a year before the Cuban Revolution. The whole thing is super cheerful and full of energy. It puts you in a good mood instantly. Not great for working in the background, though — it’s a bit too lively for that.
I know Tito Puente by name alone because of the movie Stripes. So far I like the first track. This is a super fun album.
If only Señor Burns was on this album. Alas, still enjoyable.
Mambo music not my thing but not a bad album.
Hard to sit still to this. Enjoyable listen and deserves it place on the list. 4/5.
Delightful and timeless
> The Beatles
I like Cuban jazz but I'm way too out of my depth to comment on it meaningfully. That I'll write a whole review of hip-hop and not this should tell you just how little I know. Worth a listen!
Good fun album
Good for this style, not something I’d seek out unless I was having a party
Tito is nice, good dinner making music
nah
really really fun to listen to
Fantastic Latin/mambo dancing music. One of the best brass sections I’ve heard, percussion absolutely locked in, beautiful vocals and catchy melodies.
Easy listening like Stan Gaetz 3
Not for me sure it’s fun but not my style
Mambo! Ok. I mean- it’s really well done, and it’s fun to listen to. But It isn’t touching my soul or anything. It’s fine. THREE STARS
I really liked this. Pleasantly surprised.
Loved it-hip swingingly smooth
Listened to this watching the sunrise over Mexico City. Gives it a bonus star.
Quite enjoyable. Would need to be in the mood to play it again. But if I was in the mood I might just put Santana on...
It was ok. Not an album I would listen to in full usually.
Didn’t listen
Oh cool another album to play on white people taco nights.
V/rv
TITO! It's a fun album. One of those albums that make you want to see them in a dancehall in their prime. I will put this on the next time I'm cleaning because it is imposable to sit still when this is playing. There will be no breaks for two hours. Yeah it's a long one, the songs are short though. Good stuff, fun and light.
Nando's music. Pretty fun but just a novelty really.
Very cool, added a bunch of songs off here.
mambo gozón is a banger, and the album is great but it also makes me want to listen to juan garcia esquivel (I hope we get one of his albums later)
Dont be a hater. Tito Puente was the Mambo King! Top flight musicians playing phenomenal Latin Jazz. Just have fun with it.
meh
A bit of Latin joy here, and great to listen to while you're pottering around doing the housework or preparing your evening meal, as it's impossible to listen to without swinging your hips and imagining that you're out there on the Strictly dance floor. If your only exposure to mambo, salsa and cha cha cha was stuff like Lou Bega's Mambo Number 5, this album shows you how it was done properly. A solid 3 stars.
I like it as period music for mafia movies set in Miami in the 50's. 3 stars or C.
Fun, upbeat album. Pretty enjoyable for an occasional listen.
Gøy, om enn litt heseblesanes. Morsomst va det dog at æ fant et album av Tito Puente som va latin-cover av sanger fra My Fair Lady.
Why did I ever stop listening to salsa?? This album is so good, you can’t help but move and dance listening to Tito Puente. Reminds me of Grace teaching me to dance salsa the summer before senior year. I’m no good at it, but I did have a cute lead :)
This was a joy. It was fun and exciting!
A guy I know from an epic Simpsons episode! Yes please! But, I wondered, what does this guy actually do?! In the epic Mr Burns song, someone else sung. Someone else turned the condom machine back and forth (loved that gag!). So, he just plays the timbarelo? Oh! Thanks Wikipedia, he's the band leader. This was a really pleasant listen from start to finish! I really loved the mood it put me in. And, a highlight was the percussion. It was laced between awesome Latin melodies. These are sort of albums I want to get while doing this project. I hope there's an even better follow up. ... Peter Gabriel....again?! Boo! Hiss! 5 Stars! And a big smile on my face!
You’re a woman in her early thirties, fresh off a messy divorce. Your three closest girlfriends have booked you in for a holiday in a nice sunny resort town. Your days consist of sunbathing, daiquiris, and not much else. Maybe a swim in your two-piece bikini to make sure the younger guys at the resort still sneak a perve at you. They do. One of the staff members is an outrageously confident man, always talking up your beauty and suggesting that you and your friends should join him at a local nightclub so you can get a real feel for the local culture. He speaks to women with such confidence that you are sure he is either gay or a legendary lothario. You try to get a bit of an idea of his background but he doesn’t give much away, aside from mentioning a very short stint he had as a school music teacher. Turns out it fell through pretty quickly because of some rich old man, but you get the idea that there is a lot of burning hatred there.
A great moving album, if lacking some variance.
This is a very fun album, and a very of-its-time album. An enjoyable listen, but not an everyday listen. Accompanied by the right food and atmosphere, this would be a 5/5 album. Favorite track: "Hong Kong Mambo"
Love it. Grew up with this and my dad blasting it every morning cleaning the house.
The most fun I’ve had listening to an album on this list so far. Played it while climbing and immediately went back to listen again. Type of music that makes you feel happier no matter what.
Really enjoyed this. Latin vibes, pretty well-recorded, high energy, not annoying in its use of percussion, instant mood booster - makes me want to throw a cocktail party or eat guacamole!
Loved this. Anticipate having this on a lot.
Agree with everyone on this. Lotta fun and great vibes. Gonna make margs and tacos tonight and bop around the kitchen to this while my wife looks on nonplussed.
What a fun album 🕺 This succeeded in getting me to do an idiots attempt at a salsa dance around 8AM this morning. Dance Mania? I truly think so This music is so damn fun and really feels like swing & bebop’s cooler cousin. I personally love the vocal lines and extremely well timed hits. I wish I had more of an “In” to this kind of music in my life
I was grooving to this album. How can you not be in a good mood listening to this. Fuck me up Tito!
Really fun stuff. The whole album has just a great vibe. Llego Mijan was the first song that really cut through and made me realize this album is a little more dynamic than some of the other Latin stuff we've gotten. Hong Kong Mambo too. I know these are totally different things, but can't help but compare to Buena Vista Social Club - I remember that being a ton of vamping. This feels like it has a little more variety and structure, which I like. I can't really point to a subset of songs, but this album is definitely bookmarked for a Friday night kitchen happy hour in the future. Was pretty surprised to hear Tito actually went to Juilliard - had no idea.
Let the bodies hit the floor
I am not a great fan of Salsa and other "tropical rhytms" but I liked this album.
Will this album ever end? I'm not sure anymore. I recognized a few of these songs as often used in movies to be like "this is mariachi music!" It's a little too repetitive for me and I think I need to accept I just don't like trumpet that much. Cool mallet work in a few songs though!
A fan is born
It's... fine?
Any album with a marimba and timbales is for me.
I love me some Tito Puente! It's super iconic music that basically defined Latin dance. Unfortunately it's really hard to listen to this record as it was released. It seems like the only version available on streaming services is one with hours more music than was originally released, basically a full catalog of all the standards Puente and his band were playing through the '60s. It's fun music but hard to imagine what it would have been like to buy this record and throw it on the turntable. Still, so many great tracks, and Puente is on a regular rotation for me anyway! The cover is a perfect representation of what this music wants to be: fun, sexy, exciting - a 4/5.
great
Good stuff
Lovely mambo/dance percussion focused album. Fun. 3.5/5 Probably would listen again
Sure
Fun album, won’t likely listen to it again.
This was just an enjoyable album to listen to. Got me moving, high energy, a real nice quick one!
C'était rigolo 3 chansons.
Classic Latin music for late night gatherings. I like that the first part is very happy and uplifting while the rest is more relaxing.
I loved it
A lot of fun. I keep getting these Latin jazz and dance records and giving them basically the same score and not really distinguishing them from one another. So I guess I better start doing my research and listening more closely and increasing my knowledge, because it's all good and fun and I like it. Must-listen #226.
Really enjoyed this
This is the kinda stuff 1001 is all about. Perfect background music for working or setting a vibe around the house. Upbeat, classic Latin sound. Big horns, xylophone, the works.
Great album. Lots of fun!
Latin jazz en Mambo met een hint van Wii-muziek. Voelt als de muziek die je zou horen als je de paddenstoelencup wint in Peach Beach, maar daar heb jij natuurlijk geen ervaring mee. Tuurlijk kon het weer wel wat zonneschijn gebruiken, voordat we ons helemaal onderdompelen in de treurnis van de herfst. Maar dit is wel bij uitstek de muziek waar ik best naar kan luisteren, maar dat ik vervolgens echt nul interesse heb in die hele Tito Puente en zijn muziekwereldje. Ik beschouw mezelf wel als een actieve luisteraar waarbij de drang naar verder onderzoek bijna net zoveel zegt over hoe goed ik een album vind als dat ik het lekker vind om naar te luisteren. Dus wat dat betreft kan ik het niet echt hoger geven dan een 5,5. 5,5/10
Tito heeft mij positief verrast. Ik vind het jammer dat hij Amerikaan is en dat dit niet echt van de straten van Havana komt. Maar daar waan je je wel als je deze plaat luistert. Vaak is bij zo'n album één nummertje leuk, en dan heb je het wel gezien. Maar niet bij Dance Mania moet ik zeggen. Wellicht ook door het wisselen van zangers blijft het album best interessant tot het einde aan toe. Heb genoten van de sfeer die de plaat neerzet en toch ook weer een bevestiging dat van de non-pop stijlen ik toch echt wel lekker ga in het Mambo/Son/Bossanova hoekje. Meer van dit!? 7,5/10
Just ok
Been having a rough couple of days, so this REALLY hits the spot. This is a party in musical form. Feel-good from start to finish. If I knew how to dance I'd be shaking my ass!
This is super chill and maybe the perfect thing to listen to while catching up on emails after just getting back from the Dominican Republic.
I was shocked to learn that i knew as many tracks as I did on the album. woulda gone even more crazy when i was doing salsa dance lessons (maybe that's why it's so familiar). latin hasn't failed me yet.
It was a nice Latin dance album with nice jazz elements. It was a refreshing listen, and something that paired well with my mother listening along too. Felt that the album got a bit repetitive over time and didn’t add much more, but still enjoyed it.
Make it stop. I'm sure this works great live, at a party with amazing food and drinks and atmosphere. Streamed off Spotify it was a punish to finish.
meglio ma comunque basta
Un classico che ha ispirato palesemente tutta la musica successiva latin-jazz. I suoni qui presentati hanno acquisito un tono familiare e quasi quotidiano per quanta influenza hanno riversato nella musica latina
simpatico, è stato piacevole ascoltarlo ma 3 non me la sento
Simile all’album precedente però mi da un pochino le vibes alla renato carosone. Non lo riascolterei ma non è brutto
mi piace troppo questa vibe
Not as good as Señor Burns
I started calling everyone toots and it made me want to go on the sesh in a weird way
nice background music
Loved this one. Big band is so timeless.
Oh what a fun album! Perfect for parties! Very well played as well. Great time!
Fun and didn't sound like 1958 at all. Only did the original tracklist and not the enormous extended edition. Favorite Song: Complicación
1958. Gosh I'm a sucker for mambo music. So easy to fall into and groove with. Big bands also have such a sweet spot in my heart. Tito was a driving force for the genre.
La salsa trasciende lenguajes y fronteras. Voy a escuchar esto en Navidad a todo volumen mientras hago los tamales y la pierna de cerdo al horno. 4.5/5
It's not one I'll listen to often, but it gets you smiling and moving... Can't not give it a 4 for making you feel something other than rage, for a change!
This album is not on Apple Music so I can’t listen to it, the one song of the same name is a Latin American instrumental? 3/5 - quick to listen to but not about to add this to my playlist Update: Okay turns out you can get it in Apple Music, I’m still not a fan of it though :/
Fun album, guy was on the Simpsons once that was cool ig
This is a great bit of fun, if mambo is up your alley this is a must listen. This had me dancing around my apartment (and I can't dance). Great times
8.5/10 Favs: Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti; Hong Kong Mambo; Varsity Drag; Cuando Te Vea
Like all 90s kids, I first learned of Tito Puente from the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" episode of The Simpsons. The only thing that's disappointing about this album is it lacks a diss track telling C. Montgomery Burns to burn in hell. I've dipped in and out of mambo music and Tito specifically over the years. It's really great listening for a get-together, outside time, or when you're just looking for something joyous and fun. This is of a piece with that. There's no particular bits that jumped out or sagged for me, just an overall, consistent bop front-to-back.
Moro moro :D Olen nyt valmis tanssimaan tumman kaunottaren kanssa tämän tahtiin! Tosi hyvä levy!
Välillä olin Pina Colada tai Rommikola kädessä rannalla palmujen alla,älillä välisoitanta oli kuin Ennio Morriconen länkkäreistä ja välillä olin pelaamassa korttia kasinolla. En odottanut levyltä yhtään mitään, mutta yllättävän paljon pystyi antamaan. Spotifyssä levyä etsiessä piti Tito Puenten Albumeita rullata aika kauan alaspäin ja vielä 2min rullaillun jälkeen oltiin vuodessa 2002 :D Kertoo ehkä herran tuotannon määrästä. Levyn loppuvaiheilla myönnän katsoneeni onko vielä monta biisiä jäljellä.
Tutustumismatka mambon ihmeelliseen maailmaan suoraan 50- ja 60-lukujen taitteeseen. Tätä kuunnellessa kyllä rupesi haluamaan ulkomaille jonnekin lämpimään maahan, nautiskelemaan cuba libreä tai vastaavaa. Mieleeni piirtyi hämyinen, pienillä neonvaloilla varustettu pubi jossain Kuuban sydämessä. Musiikkina levy tarjoaa hyvää soitantaa ja tunnelma välittyy tänne koto-Suomeen asti. Ennakko-odotuksia ei juurikaan ollut, mutta tämä oli kevyesti positiivinen yllätys. Hong Kong Mambo katkaisi mukavasti marimbasoitollaan torvien juhlaa, ja kokonaisuutena albumi säilyttää energiansa alusta loppuun. Ei ehkä päivittäiseen kuunteluun, mutta täydellinen silloin, kun kaipaa elämäänsä ripauksen trooppista ja historiallista hehkua.
Pakko oli skippailla biisejä, koska toi torvien töräyttely alko tuntumaan jo kidutukselta. En kyllä vapaaehtoisesti kuuntelis, mutta en pistäis yhtään vastaan, jos jossain San Juanin, Havannan tai Miamin kaduilla tätä kuuluis joka terassilta. Vois sanoo että menevää fiilismusaa oikeisiin tilanteisiin, mutta tälleen Suomessa, kolkossa kaksiossa, keskellä syksyä ei kyllä toiminut yhtään.
Tito Puenten klassikko Dance Mania on yksi mambo-buumin kulmakivistä, täynnä tarttuvia rytmejä ja energisiä sovituksia. Kappaleet kuten El Cayuco ja Complicación osoittavat Puenten orkesterinjohdon ja lyömäsoittimien hallinnan parhaimmillaan. Historiallinen merkitys on kiistaton, mutta kokonaisuus voi tuntua nykypäivän kuuntelussa kaavamaiselta ja yksipuoliselta. Toimii parhaiten tanssilattialla kuin kotikuuntelussa.
Hankala antaa näille kyllä arvosanaa, kun hommahan toimii niin kuin pitääkin ja lanne lähtee vatkaamaan, mutta ei tällaista vapaa-ajalla muuten vaan kuuntele. Mutta arvotaan nyt sitten välimallin jätkä eli kolmonen.
Moneen hetkeen sopivaa musiikkia. Lyriikoista en ymmärtänyt mitään, mutta sellaista svengiä, jota toivoisi omaan mieleen kesken hektisen työpäivän.
Nonii nyt lähti semmoset mambot jauhamaan, että syksyinen sadekelikään ei saa hillittyä ajatuksia cuba librejen ja mojitojen tinaamisesta jossain maailman kolkassa, jonka nimen lausumiseen ei tankerokieli taitu. Samalla tässä näytetään närhen munat kitaravetoiselle musiikille. Koko musiikkiluokan varaston perkussioarsenaali on valjastettu mukaan ja jokainen kilkuttaa menemään sillä meiningillä, että kankeinkin kaveri yleisössä alkaa etsimään katsellaan kumppania venyttelyyn ja vanutteluun. Levyn biisit soivat upeasti ja tuotannosta voisi ottaa useampikin nykyajan tietokonepaskiainen mallia. 1958 julkaistuksi levyksi tämä kestää upeasti aikaa ja kaikki eri soitinten sävyt saadaan välitettyä kuulijalle. Sinänsähän tällaisesta musiikista ei jämsäläinen jöröjukka mahdottomasti tiedä saati ymmärrä, mutta tunnelma imaisee mukaansa kuin filtteripuhdistuksen läpikäynyt Dysoni. Ehdottomasti plusmerkkistä tavaraa ja vain oma sivistyksen puute vie tältä täysien pisteiden mahikset.
Siinähän tuo meni taustamusiikkina, ei isompia kehuja muttei kritisoitavaakaan
Ei ole asiantuntijuutta mambossa(kaan), mutta voisin kuvitella tämän olevan vieläkin aika kuumaa kamaa tanssilattialla. Olen antanut nyt pirusti kolmosia. Tälle tulee nyt nelonen, ihan vaan koska tämän levyn soidessa on varmasti saatu enemmän pesää kuin Van Halenillä. Mmm.. olisikohan siinä ainesta uudelle arvosteluasteikolle?
Miellyttävää, taitavasti soitettua ja ajoituksiltaan monimutkaista.
Jeps. Hämmentävää kuinka tuttuja osa biiseistä oli, vaikka ei oo koskaan tietoisesti niitä kuunnellu. Kaiketi syystä tällä listalla, ammattitaitoista musisointia, mutta ei säväyttänyt ihan hirveesti. En tiiä voiko tommonen musiikki säväyttää :D mutta silti kaks koska yks ois tyly
Oikein kovaa ajoa. Olen aina ollut torvisektioiden ystävä, ja kylläpä vaan ne kuulosti tässäkin hyvältä. Entuudestaan ihan tuttu nimi kyllä Tito Puente, mutta yksikään kappale levyltä ei kyllä ollut itselleni tuttu ainakaan siinä määrin että muistaisin niitä kuulleeni. Kivaa letkeää musiikkia aamuaskareiden taustalle kotona. Ei oikeastaan mitään moitittavaa. Sanoista toki en tässäkään ymmärrä mitään, mutta vähän semmonen aavistus on että tässä ei ihan yhtä merkittävien asioiden äärellä olla kun vaikkapa siinä afrikkablues-levyllä, niin ehkä se tässä on toisarvoinen asia muutenkin. Seassa myös muutama instrumentaali. Kyllä minä ihan tästä tykkäsin, enkä näe mitään syytä sille miksi en kuuntelisi joskus muulloinkin Tito Puentea.
not something I normally listen to but enjoyed it
I'm sure this is once again a me problem, but I mostly had a very hard time telling one song from the next. One is fun, 12 is a long time (almost) completely at one tempo.
Not my thing, but can't deny the talent and it does have some bounce to it.
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."
It's OK as background music but Buena Vista Social Club is so much better 3.2
It's fine I guess
Good to hear more international music. Snappy and great for dancing.
I liked it but don’t have any critical insights. It was a good time.
# Playlist Track - El Cayuco # Notes - This is crazy fun! Never heard of the guy before, but he's good! - `Graças a Diòs nasci en latinoamérica!` - The entire thing is super fun, groovy and light at the same time. An incredible time-travelling experience that leaves you better than you were when you started.
Not my fave
Unfamiliar. Enjoyed. Favs are Llego Mijan (Son Montuno) & Hong Kong Mambo.
Super!
Not a bad album but Latino jazz is not really my thing.
Immaculate upbeat vibes for a cloudy work day.
Pleasant, fun and lively enough that you can enjoy it completely without irony, but also so specific and foreign that I would never put it on again. 3.5/5
This kind of music is difficult for me to listen to. I occasionally like it when the musicians of Buena Vista Social Club are playing, but in general those high frequency instruments just make my ears hurt. Also, I cannot differentiate this album from literally any other in this genre, so I don't know based on what the author picked it to be on the list.
I really enjoyed this, although it could have been a few tracks shorter. (3.5)
Very danceable and fun!
Now this was something I needed to listen to.
Tried listening, wasn’t for me, it didn’t sound bad or anything but didn’t really capture me like other albums have
So awesome and groovy. Will probs not come back to it but enjoyed it so
Unfortunately sort of background music to my driving. Nothing particularly struck me.
4/10 How do I grade this? It means nothing to me and doesn't move me, but it isn't bad either. It's just not in my spectrum of music that I have reference for. I find it largely repetitive and unremarkable, but I expect that is because I'm a philistine when it comes to this type of music. I wonder what Tito Puente would grade the Strokes?
One long but fun song
I did not expect to have so much fun with a Tito Puente album but here I am, absolutely jamming. Listened to it twice then listened to a mambo mix for hours.
Pre-listening thoughts: Who is this fabulous woman on the cover if Tito Puente is a MAN?????? Post/during listening thoughts: this, at the very least, is a shake up from the normal classic rock bullshit on this list. Some really great harmonies on here, and the whole thing is smooth as hell. I liked the singing and then it was just instrumentals for the latter half which I was disappointed by and made me bump the rating down to a 3. It's good, but browsing the wikipedia page didn't actually lead me anywhere. I am curious how such an album ended up on this list. Maybe that's what the book is for. Anyone wanna get me the book some day? Hopefully a new edition will be out soon though so maybe wait for that lol. 6/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: i don't think so Fav tracks: Complicacion, Cuando Te Vea Least fav tracks: Hong Kong Mambo
This was joyful. The marimba solo on Hong Kong Mambo is fantastic. I listened to the original 1958 track listing, which at less than 40 minutes didn't outstay its welcome. A strong four - pretty close to a five.
A fun AF album from the best music teacher Springfield Elementary has ever had.
Well...not really into this stuff
bit weird
Ne slušam ovo inače, pa mi je teško reći po čemu je ovaj album poseban u žanru. Slatko je, zasitiš se nakon dvije pjesme. Ovo mi je više za igrati Tropico ili neku drugu igricu pa roka u pozadini 😁 2/5, 3/10
My experience of mambo prior to this was courtesy of Lou Bega's Mambo No.5!! This album contains all the other mambos!! Not for me.
great mambo
Fantastic! 4/5
It is what it is and I’m in no way qualified to judge it really
4/5
Decent!
Wonderful dance music, IF I DANCED THE MAMBA. Just not going to work listening to a full album, particularly when I don't understand the words.
Listening to this, I can imagine Don Draper and the execs from SCDP heading down to a Manhattan club, for some socialising and drinking. Very evocative of its era. It's a shame that it's now almost background music. Enjoyable, but not challenging.
not a big Mambo expert so nothing to compare this to. sounded good in places if a little repetitive
Bangs. A nice surprise. Every song is masterly played by every musician. It got my actual foot actually tapping. There is nothing out of place here.
Dance to the music.
yes, this is so fun.
Exceptional album that was at the forefront of the Latin scene before rock and roll was really a thing. It made me want to quit my job, head to the Copa and dance the night away. Easy to see how Santana was heavily influenced by the beats on this outstanding album that should be in the Smithsonian.
This makes me want a taco real bad
Great start to the work week
AIYIYIYIYIYI
This was a bop to listen to on a Sunday morning cleaning sesh
This doesn't have to be your favorite music, but something may be wrong with you if you don't find it irresistible.
I first discovered Tito Puente in the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" episode of the Simpsons, and never shall Tito Puente and The Simpsons tear asunder in my mind. That being said, I like this, though probably in smaller doses than an entire album.
Puhun lyhyesti: Tito ja hänen newyorkilaiset kaverinsa panostavat 1950-luvun lopulla julkaistakseen viimein latinalaisamerikkalaisen jazz-albumin espanjaksi ja siten laskivat ensimmäisen kiven latinalaisamerikkalaisen musiikin Pohjois-Amerikan valloitukseen. ja suomi myös! Yhdistämällä latinalaisamerikkalaista jazzia, mamboa, cha cha chaa ja bembéä Tito Puente muovasi uraauurtavan albumin, joka on tanssittava ja hauska, hienostunut rytmissään ja yhtä tyyni kuin lauantai-iltapäivä. Hänelle se oli yksinkertaisesti afrokuubalaisen musiikin parissa työskentelyn jatkamista, mutta hän kylvi siemenen, joka lopulta synnytti esimerkiksi salsan ja latinalaisamerikkalaisen hegemonian, jota J Balvin ja Bad Bunny nykyään ajavat. New Yorkissa. Vuonna 1958. Hullu lyömäsoittaja ja hänen kaverinsa. complicacion
Sorry not for me
This was not the right soundtrack to my morning, which was already laced with pre-dentist jitters. I didn't dislike this, but I couldn't get all the way through and don't see myself ever coming back to it.
Latin jazz, agradable pero el mambo no es tanto lo mío
Like an Austin Powers soundtrack.
It was quite challenging to find translated lyrics for the tracks, so my thoughts will be largely based on the music alone --which is fine. I do think the music somewhat struggles to keep itself inventive as the album goes on. As a collection of presumably dance/mambo tracks? Perfectly serviceable. But I hoped for more as an entire album.
this album has probably soundtracked countless beach parties where everyone's dancing while somewhat tipsy. as music, it's pleasant, but blends together.
Like it's fun, but I'm not exactly itching to listen to it. Nor am I going to go back. Hong Kong Mambo is pretty good, a little heavy on the marimbas but interesting. 2/5 stars.
solid. can't say much more than that
Fav: Three D Mambo Least Fav: Hong Kong Mambo Impossible to be in a bad mood after listening
Rating: 2.3 Music for a bygone era where people went out and danced for fun instead of doing exercises like the one I’m doing right now. I mean it’s fine but if you listen to this in your free time you’re probably pretty weird.
A perfectly serviceable collection of Latin songs, although I’m not sure that it reaches the level of mania
Good fun
ok but nothing spectacular.
I like this
Very groovy and rhythmic for the 1950s! Sounds groundbreaking and holds up today for a mood boost
This was fun and different! Made me wish I could dance. 3.5
Listened to this at work and it was a nice time.
this list turning people into fans of bossa nova and mambo is like evolutionary carcinisation. platonic ideal of an album i love to see on this list. never would have found it, loved pretty much all of it
this was the standout enjoyable album from my "catch up on all the jazz albums you've skipped" effort, and i assume that's because it's only tangentially jazz
Decent run-of-the-mill Latin tunes
Tenho um sentimento dividido sobre este disco: não gosto das faixas que soam exóticas e caricatas, que são os temas com vocais e dançantes; no entanto as faixas instrumentais, que se aproximam do jazz, trazem os melhores momentos do álbum, com destaques para os arranjos e as performances dos sopros e do próprio Puente ao vibrafone em "Honk Kong Mambo", e o piano em "Varsity Drag".
Cool album, good vibes. A little messy
Love love Tito
Mambo is enjoyable in small doses. It's groovy, swingy, and easily "dancable". I certainly enjoyed this album to some extent, but no track in particular stood out after listening. I can recognize Tito Puente's influence and efforts in popularizing mambo and Latin jazz in the 50's though, so I'm sure this album holds some weight in that regard.
Uhh... I liked it I guess. It's not a genre I listen to unless it's similar music in the background of a movie or TV show nor have I never even tried to get into, but it's good, but can't help to not smile and dance a little when it's on. You gotta be a lil racist to not like this.
I spent too much time thinking about what to say about this album when all I have to say is the following: I find the middle part to be repetitive and boring and the rest are just decent mambo tracks. Maybe a great album for mambo lovers, but not for me. I wish I could say more, but being an album of just mambo, I don't really have anything to say.
Sorti en 1958, "Dance Mania" de Tito Puente, sorti en 1958, est un monument du mambo, pierre angulaire de la musique latine et véritable machine à faire danser, cet album est une capsule temporelle qui nous plonge au cœur des nuits fiévreuses du Palladium Ballroom de New York. À son écoute, une chose est indéniable : le talent est colossal, l'énergie est volcanique et l'objectif est atteint avec une précision redoutable. Pourtant, et c'est là que le bât blesse pour l'auditeur qui ne chausse pas ses souliers de danse, l'expérience peut laisser sur sa faim. D'où cette note de 3 sur 5 : une reconnaissance objective de la virtuosité, tempérée par une connexion subjective qui peine à s'établir. Soyons clairs d'emblée : les musiciens qui accompagnent "El Rey del Timbal" sur cet enregistrement sont d'un calibre exceptionnel. Dès les premières mesures de "El Cayuco", on est saisi par la puissance et la cohésion de l'orchestre. La section de cuivres, menée par des trompettes stridentes et des trombones chaleureux, déploie des lignes mélodiques explosives, d'une précision chirurgicale. Chaque note est à sa place, chaque arrangement est pensé pour maximiser l'impact rythmique. C'est une véritable déferlante sonore, un mur d'énergie cuivrée qui vous submerge et vous commande, littéralement, de bouger. Au cœur de cette tempête organisée, il y a la section rythmique, véritable moteur de l'album. Et quel moteur ! Les congas, les bongos et, bien sûr, les timbales de Tito Puente lui-même, s'entremêlent dans une polyrythmie complexe et pourtant si limpide. On ressent la conversation permanente entre les percussionnistes, un dialogue frénétique qui constitue l'âme de chaque morceau. Tito Puente n'est pas seulement un percussionniste ; c'est un chef d'orchestre qui dirige depuis ses fûts, lançant des solos fulgurants ("Mambo Gozón"), marquant les transitions avec une autorité naturelle et insufflant une tension palpable à l'ensemble. Son jeu est à la fois démonstratif et fonctionnel, un spectacle en soi qui ne perd jamais de vue sa mission première : servir la danse. Le titre de l'album, "Dance Mania", n'est pas une simple suggestion, c'est une promesse, un contrat passé avec l'auditeur. Sur des classiques comme "Agua Limpia Todo" ou le célèbre "Hong Kong Mambo", il est physiquement impossible de rester immobile. Le tempo est rapide, le "groove" est implacable. L'album est une leçon magistrale sur l'art de construire une transe collective. On imagine sans peine les salles de bal bondées, les couples tournoyant, les corps en sueur se laissant porter par cette vague de son. En cela, "Dance Mania" est une réussite totale, un chef-d'œuvre fonctionnel dont l'efficacité n'a pas pris une ride en plus de soixante ans. Alors, pourquoi cette note de trois étoiles seulement ? Parce que la plus grande force de l'album est aussi, paradoxalement, sa principale faiblesse pour une écoute plus posée, plus introspective. "Dance Mania" est une machine de guerre conçue pour un usage spécifique. En dehors de son habitat naturel – la piste de danse – l'expérience peut se révéler étonnamment unidimensionnelle. L'énergie, si exaltante au premier abord, devient presque écrasante sur la durée. Les morceaux, bien que brillamment exécutés, suivent une structure souvent similaire, privilégiant l'efficacité rythmique au détriment d'une plus grande variété mélodique ou harmonique. Pour l'auditeur installé dans son fauteuil, casque sur les oreilles, la frénésie constante peut finir par lasser. On cherche en vain un moment de répit, une ballade, une pièce plus lente qui permettrait de reprendre son souffle et d'apprécier la musicalité sous un autre angle. L'album est un sprint du début à la fin, une démonstration de force qui laisse peu de place à la nuance ou à l'émotion subtile. C'est une musique extravertie, tournée vers l'extérieur, vers la célébration physique, et qui peine à toucher une corde plus intime. En définitive, "Dance Mania" est un album que je respecte énormément et il est impossible de nier son génie rythmique, la virtuosité de ses interprètes et son importance capitale dans l'histoire de la musique. Pour tout amateur de mambo, de salsa ou de Latin Jazz, c'est une pièce de collection indispensable. C'est la bande-son parfaite pour une soirée animée, une source d'énergie pure et contagieuse. Cependant, il lui manque cette versatilité, cette profondeur émotionnelle qui transforme un très bon album en un compagnon de tous les instants. C'est un outil de danse extraordinaire, mais un objet d'écoute qui, une fois l'admiration technique passée, peine à captiver sur le long terme. Un 3/5 pour un monument qui donne furieusement envie de bouger, mais pas nécessairement de tendre l'oreille à répétition.
8/4/25. Really liked this. Not a genre of music I'm familiar with, but this is an album that encourages me to dive deeper and immerse myself. Loved the arrangements, the instrumentation, and fun nature of this.
Love the horns and the rhythm. I may request that this be played at my funeral because I'm sure it would make me get up and dance. Drums, mix of instruments is interesting. Such vibrancy for an album from the 50s!
I liked this. It was good to have in the background while I was baking. It was overall a soundscape I enjoyed I liked the horns it was fun. Though at the same time I don’t see myself returning to this one really.
It’s great - I picture a room full of people smoking cigars, having exotic drinks or dancing - while in the middle, at a round table, a group of gangsters are plotting their next move.
Hell yeah. Get some boat drinks and cigars and let this transport you to the streets of Havana. Makes even my stiff ass wanna shuffle my feet. Contagious sound, brilliantly composed and masterfully captured here
Just not my type of music. I doubt i have any Latino blood 😅. But it's got good rhythm and flow
Enjoyable - although it gives me strong movie montage / 1970's tv comedians vibes.
Dance Mania Papa loves Mambo! Hard not to sway a little bit to the rhythms and exuberance of the songs and music. Like a lot of latin music I’m not really very familiar with the ins and outs of the varying genres and rhythmic styles. And it’s easy to associate it too closely with salsa classes and people from Buckinghamshire who make salsa dancing their entire personalities, but throwing that out the window and just concentrating on the music makes for a much more enjoyable experience. Very glad to have listened, may not come back that often, but it’s an undeniably charming 40 odd minutes of the type of music I don’t normally listen to, so very happy to give a high 3. 🪇🪇🪇 Playlist submission: Hong Kong Mambo
I fear the bastardisation and dilution of Latin jazz music, via a myriad network of beach bars, has permanently impacted by ability to impartially critique exemplars of the genre. Of which I guess this is one. But because salsa music (not unlike samba), to my admittedly untrained ear(s) is built round the narrowest of musical variation, it's near impossible to discern the supposedly good from the banal. Of the ones that stood out, 'Hong Kong Mambo' took my attention immediately with its prominent marimba sound that sounded different and also nostalgic (Monkey Island soundtrack). Despite its dogged adherence to type, Tito brings a real infectious energy and crispness to the rhythms and instrumentation. I'm not a salsa historian, unless you're talking sauce, but I understand this album to be the first studio quality recording of salsa and mambo. But if you want my advice lose at least two trumpets. I appreciated some of it, but it's difficult to love.
This for sure is a quintessential "album to hear before you die" and probably one that not most people have. I went through my latin jazz/mambo phase and don't see myself putting this type of album on anymore unless it was a very specific circumstance, so happy to have had the excuse to listen.
Sadly didn't find myself dancing a lot to "Dance Mania", partially because I find this genre of music very vexing. Probably need a few more margs to get into it.
Absolutely fantastic - exemplary Latin dance tunes by masters of the craft.
Love it
Fun album which had me bopping around. It wouldn't be something that I would go out of my way to listen to but it does put me in a positive upbeat mood.
That was fun. It's not every day that you see a 50s album on this list, so my curiosity was somewhat piqued by this album's generation. After listening to it, I can now say that this album's good! There's not much to say here. The album's called Dance Mania and it's from a guy called Tito Puente. The album is exactly what you'd expect from that; a fun samba album that you can dance to. It does that and it does it pretty well. It's not super complex or anything, but does it have to be? The writing seems simple but effective. The sound is good. It definitely does its job at being dance music. It's a little repetitive, but given the album's relatively short length, it serves its time and purpose well. It's not like those 70+ minute rave albums at least. Not huge on this personally, but I respect it a lot. Solid 3/5.
very fun! good snazzy background music.
I liked this one, I had heard the artist name but hadn't listened to him much.
Was it fun and upbeat? Sure. Did it hold my interest after the first few minutes? Not really.
It’s very well done, and the orchestration is great … but it’s very boring after the first two tracks. You could have it on shuffle and you’d be none the wiser.
Un po' troppo cha cha cha e le parti cantate non mi dicono nulla, ma musicalmente molto valido e divertente
Can't be in a bad mood listening to this.
A mostly instrumental album with some Spanish lyrics here and there. Had me bobbin' my head side to side at my desk. To me, a lot of the tracks blended together. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it makes it hard to pick out favorite tracks if I'm not looking at the track listing as I'm listening. So much that I didn't notice that the album was over and it had switched to suggested songs. Easy listening and fun. No complaints!
This was a fun lil mambo album. It was nice to enjoy in the background, but I don’t see myself going back to it unless it’s playing while I’m at a Cuban restaurant. No favorite track this time, as they all kind of blended together for me. But it was still a nice change of pace!
The music you hear in a Breaking Bad montage when someone is cooking or selling Blue Sky
very pleasant
Banger after banger… doesn’t even have his biggest hit on the album which says a lot! No album has made me want to dance more
Fun stuff!!! If this one doesn't put a smile on your face you're doing it wrong
So lively and invigorating. Just love Tito's vibe ❤️
Fun music, but I don't need more of it.
Big Band Latin Sound, what’s not to like. But it does get a bit repetitive.
2.4 1x decent but not my genre
Awesome
Extra star for being in the Simpsons
solid
Groovy, aged very well with a great band and excellent voice
good
I cannot dispute the quality of the musicians and I do enjoy an odd bit of mambo but I never want to listen to a full album hence my score reflects my taste
One or two Salsa Songs are fine for me, but a whole album is too repetitive for me
Fun times, talented, not my thing really.
My first thought was that I'd better not read the reviews, because some people would hate this music and I would be sad for their tiny little hearts.
Got this album on a pretty depressing day, and while it didn't cure my sadness it definitely made me feel better. Hard to mope around when your body just wants to move. 4/5
felt like i was in casa del mar (positive connotations)
you can never go wrong with mambo.
Классная латина сальса джаз. Кайф
Cover 7 Fun album but I probably wouldn't listen to it again.
Pretty great latin jazz. Not a student of the genre by any means but certainly recognised a few tunes. Nice
++: El Cayuco, Complicación, 3-D Mambo, Llegó Miján, Cuando Te Vea, Hong Kong Mambo, Mambo Gozón, Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembé, Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti, Saca Tu Mujer +: Varsity Drag, Agua Limpia Todo 9,4/10
Fun, won’t listen on my own time but I liked it
An album only known for being in the book, its quite a random listen. It's a pretty clean mambo album that is rated low solely for its little known significance.
Actually very nice morning music
BEST SONGS: - Complicación - Hong Kong Mambo
I really like Spanish music and this was a good listen on the hottest day of the year!!
Very good dance music that makes your subconscious move your hips
I need this in my veins
Me ha gustado bastante. Es un álbum que de siente fresco y animado. Good soup!
Pretty enjoyable stuff. Threatened to get a bit samey at times but the Marimba-fuelled Hong Kong Mambo was a delightful tonal shift.
This is a fun album to listen to, another style of music I haven't really listened to before...love the energy.
Honestly, I wish I could be friends with this guy. That's what the music sounds like. Just a damn good friend who likes setting a really nice mood with some latin dance music.
I confess that my only real knowledge of Tito Puente was from his excellent appearance on the Simpsons. Imagine my disappointment today to learn that he didn't actually write or perform the song "Senior Burns", as teenage me believed. Despite this, this is a very fun, upbeat and danceable mambo record. I can't say I'm very well versed in the genre at all, but it definitely can lift your mood.
Best Song: Hong Kong Mambo. Rarely do you get a song where the xylophone is the star, so this was a treat. Worst Song: Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti. Just far too "big band" for me. Overall: It's fine, although I do find it funny what constituted "Dance Mania" in this era. Ultimately, not my style of music, but music I might enjoy listening to in the sun nonetheless.
Fun listen, no skips. Felt slightly samey but decent overall.
People from the 80's think they invented "World Music", but this 1957 release would like a word about that. (I know, I know, he was born in NY!) Great music, the time flew by listening to it. Perfect for getting your body moving and putting a little zip in your step.
It's good, just feels like I'm in a Mexican restaurant
Cha Cha real smooth!
Familiar sounds. Good "easy summer listening", could picture listening to this sitting outside at a restaurant. Not very passionate, didn't make me feel anything. Very similar feel between all of the songs. I like it for a few songs then get sick of the same beat.
I actually enjoyed this album. Did sound a bit repetitive but the overall vibe was fun and electric + .5 of a star for enjoying with my mrs Fav song el cayucco
This is fun music. It’s music for action rather than sitting and listening. It makes emptying the dishwasher a better experience.
Great album. I love the rhythm and brass. 4/5
Mood-lifting.
Running late and hit a traffic jam, but this music kept me in a positive frame of mind. Some of this felt like improvisation.
Good stuff. Fun music
I could definitely see having an episode of dance mania from this. I’m much too self conscious to dance. But I could see someone doing it
Great
Bouncing, tight, sounds like the music Scorsese would use to place a scene in 1957 Manhattan
Overall score: 3,4/10
Would drink mojitos to this
I've heard a lot better Latin stuff but this is still pretty enjoyable
I mean, it's salsa. Depends if you like salsa. I think salsa is fine.
This was pretty dope, really classic Cubano music. Excellently performed. I enjoyed it so much that it made me want to rewatch one of my favorite feel good movies, Chef.
ehhh, not really my kind of thing. wouldn't listen to again
This album sets out to do one thing, and does it very well. Very fun.
A lot of fun. I woke up cranky and after a few seconds I was up and dancing.
Great, fun music, however all the songs sound very similar, so the album gets repetitive quickly.
Lwk fire salsa
Typa shit u here in a Mexican restaurant. Good background music but quite hard to enjoy when most songs use the same instruments and vocals and you can’t understand the language. Overall: 4/10 if I was Spanish speaking 5/10
Because of my age I only know Tito Puente because of his involvement in the two part classic “Who Shot Mr. Burns” episode from The Simpsons. This album was groovy and fun. But I hadn’t noticed that Apple Music began playing similar songs after the album was finished. It took three tracks for me to clue in. So I feel that if this sounds so similar to other artists can it be one of the best? I’m probably overthinking it. 4/5
Muy bueno
As one half of UK Salsa Super Group, Houmous & Chutney I know a thing or two about what Tito was trying to achieve! 2.4 3/15 Three D Mambo
Very fun although I probably won't listen again.
This was a lot of fun, not my usual type of music at all, but got me moving a bit. Makes me want to take a salsa class or something! A few of the songs faded into background for me, but I can definitely see myself listening to this again.
Not bad, as far as ethnic albums go.
very very good
Latino, Good 4/5
El Cayuco 4 Complicacion 3.6 3-D Mambo 3.8 Llego Mijan 4 Cuando Te Vea 4.1 Hong Kong Mambo 4.3 Mambo Gozon 4.2 Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembe 4.2 Varsity Drag 4 Estoy Siempre Junto a Ti 3.8 Aqua Limpia Todo 4 Saca Tu Mujer 4 Score: 4
one of my favorites to see live, Tito was the best!! He and Celia Cruz I looooovve them and this music - this album is great, but there are better ones... so fun to clean the house to
Exuberant and joyful. -1 star as an album because all the songs sound alike. But for 38 minutes pure body moving rhythm. Love the percussions & horns.
This throws fun, vacation vibes. The layers of stacked rhythms with explosions of brass make me want to dance. I guess it’s true, the rhythm is gonna get you.
Grooves galore to get the body movin and how can you not have a smile on your face while listening. Some songs feel a little pedestrian now because of all that came in the wake of this album but anything this album settles in something like Mi Chiquita Quiere Bembéi enters the picture. An absolute wonder of a track. A great time for musician and listener alike.
Rating: 2 Mexican elevator music.