It's A Good, Good Feeling: The Latin Soul Of Fania Records - The Singles 2LP

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A sizzling 2-LP collection showcasing Fania's era-defining output of Latin soul and boogaloo music spanning 1965-1975. The set compiles single versions of 28 tracks from such best-selling artists as Ray Barretto, Joe Bataan, Bobby Valentín, Ralfi Pagan and Larry Harlow, plus rarities and b-sides. The compilation was produced by Joe McEwen and Dean Rudland. Lacquers were cut by Phil Rodriguez and pressed at Memphis Record Pressing.

In the '60s, a unique musical moment was brewing in New York City, as young Latin American artists - many of them second-generation - found themselves split between the traditional music they grew up on and the rising sounds of soul, doo-wop, and R&B. They began experimenting in the clubs, blending Afro-Cuban beats, Latin jazz, and soul with predominantly English lyrics. The result was a delectable new genre with broad appeal that epitomized the cultural melting pot of New York. While boogaloo and Latin soul was a short-lived craze (peaking in the late '60s and early '70s), it popularized Latin music in America and established the careers of many internationally beloved artists.

Fania Records was founded just prior to the rise of boogaloo in 1964 by bandleader Johnny Pacheco and his lawyer, Jerry Masucci. Over the next few years, Fania would sign and nurture a variety of emerging Latin soul artists. As Rudland points out in his notes, "Fania was not the first label to release Latin soul, but they were vital within its rise, releasing important records, and its owners patently understood the opportunity it allowed the young label to expand quickly."

Among their earliest signings were Willie Colon, Joe Bataan, Bobby Valentín, and Ray Barretto: four rising stars who were all eager to experiment with their sounds - and Fania gave them the freedom to do so. Colon, who became one of the label's most celebrated artists, rarely strayed from traditional stylings but offered one foray into Latin soul with his debut single, "Willie Baby" (1967). Valentín, meanwhile, straddled the line stylistically, but scored several boogaloo hits for the label early on, including 1967's joyful "Geronimo".

By the mid-'70s, the popularity of boogaloo had widely given way to salsa - and Fania quickly rose to become a leader in the genre. While salsa ultimately proved to be the more enduring style, the success of boogaloo and Latin soul was instrumental in paving the way for its mainstream appeal. Many of the artists who found early fame with Latin soul records, meanwhile, would go on to enjoy thriving careers, including NEA Jazz Master Award-winner and International Latin Music Hall of Fame Inductee Ray Barretto, Joe Bataan, Bobby Valentín, and Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner, Larry Harlow.

Concord Music's absorption of the catalog of famed Latin music label Fania Records has been a wonderful thing. With their guidance, albums by greats like Willie Colón, Celia Cruz and Héctor Lavoe are back in circulation. And it allows them to undertake fun projects like this collection of singles from Fania's rich history. This double LP release is a surface scratch in comparison to the CD version, which boasts 89 tracks. But even this 28-track sampling feels vital for fans of Latin soul and boogaloo, and those listeners exploring these genres for the first time. Many of the marquee names are represented (Colón, Ray Barretto, Bobby Valentin) but there are just as many rare sides like Larry Harlow's 'Mess Around,' Orchestra Harlow's take on 'Grazin' In The Grass' and Joe Bataan's jaw-dropping version of the theme from Shaft. This is merely a jumping off point. Make a deep listen to all four sides of this collection and then go explore Fania's history. There's much for you to learn.