| This Week's Highlights |
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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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“It was never going to happen. Except that it did.” Now this is what I call a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant album – THE best of 2008. It’s the sound of old-timers having a final fling with fame, which they never had in their early years. Rediscovered (by default) by Ry Cooder for The Buena Vista Social Club (a members-only club) project back in 1996, with a Grammy in 1997, the old boys who were long forgotten from the Havana music scene in the 1950s, reunited for one of the most fascinating albums and accompanying DVD ever. Cooder was supposed to record an album with two African musicians and local Havana musicians, but the Africans failed to get their visas, so Cooder and Nick Gold of World Circuit Records decided to record an album of Cuban son music instead. It would eventually make Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time list (2003) at number 260. Their first and only intended gig was at Carré Theatre in Amsterdam Holland. Things were about to change though, for ever. Back stage after the show, David Bither of Nonesuch Records suggested to Cooder that it should also happen in America. He agreed, and that it should take place at Carnegie Hall.
Captured on July 1 1998, they reintroduced to the world the golden age of Cuban music between the 1930s and 1950s before principal members Compay Segundo, Ruben Gonzalez, Ibrahim Ferrer died in the 2000s. Thank goodness it was recorded, an it‘s baffling its taken a decade to surface. Nevertheless, what you hear is a group of maestros on top of their game, loving every minute, and a highly appreciative crowd. It wasn’t all plain sailing during rehearsals according to the CD liner notes, but it all came together on the night. There are many wonderful quotes in the notes, but my favourite is by Cooder himself: "It was like all the genies were out of the bottle." From the original album there are 10 tracks and 6 non-album classics, all of which seamlessly melt into each other. Choosing a favourite is literally impossible, and there’s little point in rambling on about the songs (sung entirely in Spanish) and translations, so just go and get it, and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about! File under: Total total magic.
Weblink: buenavistasocialclub.com
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
