Soogie

Description

1969 salsa gem originally released on Mary Lou Records, "Soogie" (1969) was Willie Rodriguez's first album for Mary Lou Records. Mary Lou Records, at that time, was also one of the labels in the right place at the right time, just before Fania smashed almost all the competition. The album is mostly comprised of guaguancos, boleros, and improvised-space-filling descargas (jam sessions). This is remarkable, as it hardly includes boogaloo, which was still prevalent during those years, yet already on the way out. According to Bobby Marin, its musical director "we didn't call it salsa at the time; it had no name. It was mambo or musica movida, they used to call it on the radio." The first tune, 'My Dog Soogie,' which provides the title for the recording, is a playful guaracha about a dog The following track is the wildly popular 'La Puerta del Dolor.' 'El Chivo' (the goat) is a spicy guaracha, which changes into a son montuno-guajira. 'Grande' is a guaguanco, followed by 'Los Callos de Dolores,' also a delightful guaguanco. Then comes the ballad 'Porque yo te Amo,' a monster hit of the sixties by popular Argentine singer Sandro. Next we have 'Al Compas del Guiro,' a guaguanco, with the delicious chorus that goes "como va, como va, como va, mi guiro como va." 'Paul's Thing' is an instrumental guaguanco, with engrossing sax solos. Finally, we have the smashing, extended descarga 'Salsa con Willie Rodriguez.' We are now happy to reissue this rare and in-demand 1969 salsa gem after decades unavailable! It includes an insert with liner notes.