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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Cha Cha Anyone?/One Two Cha Cha Cha Time - Paquitin Lara/Ramon

Charlie Fantazy (Lara)

Piel Canela (Ramon)

Cha Cha Anyone?
RKO Records SLP-1004

One Two Cha Cha Cha Time
Paquitin Lara and His Latin-American Orchestra/Ramon and His Orchestra
TOPS L1708

This is a split record featuring and credited on the label as, side one, "Paquitin Lara and his Latin American Orchestra and side two, "Ramon and his Cha Cha Orchestra".

Both sides feature distinctive approaches, side one plays through as piano driven lounge or big band space age and side two, more traditional. Both sides play well against one another and feature nice stylistic twists that help keep you engaged while you sit and enjoy the fab cover.

From the back cover (RKO): Paquitin Lara organized his first group of musicians some eleven years ago and today is one of the most outstanding Latin-American musicians in the country. Paquitin and his orchestra have appeared in practically every state of the Union and Canada, where they captivated the patrons at the Moulin Rouge. New York soon cast its discerning eye on Paquitin and he and his orchestra played many club engagements in and around the big city as well as on television. S.R.O. (standing room only) is the sign they put out when Lara is appearing. At New York's Club Hideaway Paquitin Lara and His Orchestra can claim the distinction of having had the longest engagement in the annuals of the club's existence.

From the back cover (TOPS): Your guide to rapture is Paquitin Lara, one of the finest Latin-American musicians on the continent. Paquitin organized his first group eleven years ago, and has since delighted dancers across the nation. New Yorkers in particular responded to the excitement his orchestra generated, and Paquitin cast the spell of his tropical tempos in many clubs in and around the big city as well as through television work. It was "standing room only" at New York's Club Hideaway, where Paquitin Lara and his orchestra broke all records with the longest engagement in the club's history!

Among his many "firsts," Paquitin is responsible for the first setting of English lyrics to the Cha Cha rhythm of "Cha Cha Cha In Blue," included for your pleasure in this album are three Lara originals – "Cha Cha Me Baby," "Stormy Session Guapacha," and "El Viandero."

Cha Cha Me Baby
Stormy Session Guapacha
Charlie Fantazy
El Viandero
Merengue Madness
Cha Cha Cha Con Melodia
Piel Canela
La Polla
Cuidado Con La Mano
El Chalatan
Quien Sera

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