Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra - Rumba Rumbero (1937-1943) [1992]

2011-11-25T19:42:01Z

Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra - Rumba Rumbero (1937-1943) [1992]


1.Blen Blen Blen
2.Macurije
3.Rumba Rumbero				play
4.Nueva Conga
5.Tunare
6.Cinco Hijos
7.Guajira
8.Mi Conga
9.Elube Chango
10.Los Hijos de Buda
11.En la plantacion
12.Benabe
13.Adios Africa
14.Bruca Manigua
15.Habanera					play
16.Babalu
17.Chango ta' beni
18.Tabu
19.Para Vigo me voy
20.Negra Leonor
21.Enlloro

Vocals:
- Miguelito Valdés: 1-12 (1940) & 13 (1941)
- Alfredito Valdés: 14 & 15 (1937)
- Del Campo: 16-21 (1942-43)

With a dance band mixture of tangos, rumbas, conga rhythms, and danzons, Xavier Cugat introduced Latin music to many North Americans in the '30s and '40s. And in spite of early charges of selling out Cuban music, Cugat, to his credit, progressively arrived at a mostly Latin repertoire during his famous stint at New York's Waldorf Astoria. Still, Cugat wasn't a champion of Cuban roots music like mambo and salsa pioneer Arsenio Rodriguez was; his classical training in Cuba and early film work in Hollywood had set him on a course to become a popular bandleader in the states, in spite of his admitted frustration at America's ignorance of Latin music. The fine Tumbao collection Rumba Rumbero spotlights Cugat during some of those prime New York years (1937-1943). Including numbers by Chano Pozo, Cugat, and even Rodriguez, the first half of the CD features the incredible Havana-born singer Miguelito Valdes, considered by many to be the best Latin singer of the period (having been the first one to popularize the Cuban classic, he was also donned the original "Mr. Babalu"). His powerful, sultry, and at times crazed vocals (check out the manic "Elube Chango") stand out on the exotica cut "Macurije" (helped along by marimba fills and Cugat's violin commentary), the percussion-riddled "Nueva Conga," and the bolero "En La Plantacion." The remaining selections spotlight the vocal talents of Alfredito Valdes and Del Campo and include a version of "Babalu" among other prime cuts. An excellent Cugat collection that is fit for newcomers and fans alike. ---Stephen Cook, Rovi

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Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra - Cugat in France, Spain & Italy (1960)

2015-07-11T15:41:35Z

Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra - Cugat in France, Spain & Italy (1960)


1.    Ciao Ciao Bambina (Chiow Chiow Bambeena)
2.    Souvenir D'Italie
3.    Under Paris Skies (Sous Le Ciel De Paris)
4.    Symphony
5.    La Boda De Luis Alonso
6.    Valencia
7.    Vola Colomba (FLy Dove)
8.    Comme Facette Mammeta
9.    La Mer (The Sea)
10.    My Man (Mon Homme)
11.    Andalucia
12.    Si Vas A Calatayud

This is one of the most enjoyable cds from the Cugat factory, in my opinion. Xavier is an Excellent interpreter of these key songs from France, Spain and Italy, truly catching the soul of things and laying it all out with great efficacy, fantasy and color. Great! ---Flex, amazon.com

Remembered for his highly commercial approach to pop music, Xavier Cugat (born Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Cru y Deulofeo) made an even greater mark as one of the pioneers of Latin American dance music. During his eight-decade-long career, Cugat helped to popularize the tango, the cha-cha, the mambo, and the rhumba. His hits included "El Manicero" in the 1930s, "Perfidia" in 1940, and the original recording of "Babalu" in 1944. Members of Cugat's band included Desi Arnaz, Miguelito Valdés, Tito Rodriguez, Luis del Campo, Yma Sumac, and his third wife (of four), Abbe Lane. Cugat used the success of his musical career as a springboard for a movie career that included appearances in such films as Gay Madrid (1930), You Were Never Lovelier (1942), Bathing Beauty (1945), Weekend at the Waldorf (1945), Holiday in Mexico (1946), On an Island With You (1948), A Date With Judy (1948), Chicago Syndicate (1955), and Desire Diabolique (1959).

A native of Girona, Spain, Cugat emigrated with his family to Cuba in 1905. Trained as a classical violinist, he played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional in Havana at the age of 12. Emigrating to the United States, sometime between 1915 and 1918, he quickly found work accompanying an opera singer. At the height of the tango craze, in 1918, Cugat joined a popular dance band, the Gigolos. His involvement with the group, however, was brief. As the popularity of the tango faded, he took a job as a cartoonist for The Los Angeles Times. Cugat returned to music in 1920, forming his own group, the Latin American Band. Although they played regularly at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles and supplied the soundtracks for several musical shorts, the group had its greatest success after moving to New York and became the house band for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Despite being criticized for their middle-of-the-road approach, Cugat remained committed to his commercial-minded sound. He later explained, "I would rather play 'Chiquita Banana' and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve." Cugat and his orchestra remained at the hotel for 16 years. Beautiful women were consistently featured in Cugat's band. After helping Rita Hayworth launch her career, he appeared in her film You Were Never Lovelier. Cugat's recordings of the 1950s featured the singing of his third wife, Abbe Lane. In the mid-'60s, he featured his fourth wife, Charo, who he billed as a "folksinger." Upon his retirement in 1970, Cugat returned to Spain. He died in Barcelona on October 27, 1990. His band, which was led by Tito Puente following his retirement, continued to perform under the direction of dancer, musician, and vocalist Ada Cavallo. --- Craig Harris, Rovi

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Latin, French, Italian

Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra - Rumba Rumbero (1937-1943) [1992]

Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra - Cugat in France, Spain & Italy (1960)