Willie ColA³n & RubA©n Blades - Willie ColA³n Presents RubA©n Blades. Metiendo Mano!

Blades and Colon at their peak

This album is every bit as comparable in quality as Siembra, but with a different vibe. Willie's band is as hot as always, and the songs are socially and politically observant, but where Siembra is a very focused statement with a polished, elegant (not overproduced) sound, Metiendo Mano, for all the urgency of its messages, is warm, loose and upbeat - evocative of a street party in the barrio. The production and arrangements were 10 miles above whatever else was being marketed at the time. Metiendo Mano became for many the turning point in socio-economic awareness. Pablo Pueblo is one of Ruben's most politically poetic pieces, but is highly danceable as well. Plantacion Adentro has an addictive, swinging rhythm groove with Willie Colon providing the topnotch musical arrangements. There is musical spontaneity all over the place. Me Recordaras, is a beautiful bolero that ranks with the classics and has a Yomo Toro solo that drips with seduction. Maleta provides a dark comedy statement on a very real issue of today... immigration. The other tunes i leave for you to discover. This recording became a favorite of mine from the very first time I played it in 1977 and is still a fav. today. Chhhheck it out!!!

1. Pablo Pueblo
2. Segun el Color
3. Maleta
4. Me Recordaras
5. Plantación Adentro
6. Mora
7. Lluvia de Tu Cielo
8. Fue Varon
9. Pueblo

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Sal Cuevas Bass
Milton Cardona Conga, Drums, Claves, Coro, Quinto, Talking Drum
Yomo Toro Guitar (Acoustic), Choir, Chorus, Cuatro
Rubén Blades Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, Performer, Coro
Jose Mangual Jr. Percussion, Bongos, Maracas, Choir, Chorus, Coro
Sonny Bravo Piano
Jose Torres Piano
Tom "Bones" Malone Synthesizer, Tuba, Harp
Nicky Marrero Timbales
Lewis Kahn Trombone
Leopoldo Pineda Trombone
Papo Vasquez Trombone
Willie Colón Percussion, Trombone, Arranger,
Louie Cruz Arranger
Louie Ortiz Arranger
Louie Ramirez Arranger


March 22, 2007

Willie Colon/Ruben Blades "Metiendo Mano" 1977

The Poet, Ruben Blades join Willie Colon, the man who revolutionized salsa music to make the first of three albums that you most have in your collection: "Metiendo Mano", "Siembra" and "Canciones Del Solar De Los Aburridos".

Ruben Blades have a participation on Willie Colon's 1975's "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly", but this is the first album he made whit Willie Colon in which he sing all the themes.

This is an original album, not a compilation of "hits".

1. PABLO PUEBLO (Paul Town) This song take you inside of a poor working man`s mind. A five stars hit.
2. SEGUN EL COLOR (According With The Color) This song is about the relativity of life. A five stars hit.
3. MALETA (Suitcase) This song is and anthem for all those spanish emigrants that never get to fell quite right in the U.S. "Make my suitcase that I'm leaving". A five stars hit.
4. ME RECORDARAS (You Will Remember Me) Ruben Blades is one of the best composers in salsa history and a great singer. But when it comes to boleros I think he is messing something. This song is not that good.
5. PLATACION ADENTRO (Inward The Plantation) This song is from the great composer Tite Curet. It is about the exploitation of native americans in Center and South America. A five stars hit.
6. MORA (Arabian Woman ) This is a funny love song. A five stars hit.
7. LLUVIA DE TU CIELO (Rain From Your Sky) This song is about farmers in time of drought. A five stars hit.
8. FUE VARON (Is A Boy) This song is not that good.
9. PUEBLO (People) Is a pretty good song, but not that good. April 18, 2005

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