JOE BATAAN: FANIA (GOLD) '68 - "SPECIAL GIRL" RARE HEAR

$

43

LABELS CONDITIONS: VG+++

REMARKS: CLASSIC!!!!!!!!......BOOGALOO IN GOLD!!!!

In addition to containing some truly great Latin music, Fania gold label 45s have a brilliant look that never fails to catch the eye. Fania used the glowing gold design on their first thirty or so LPs, and on their first fifty or so 45s, before switching over (in 1968) to the familiar multicolor cloud label design that was used on hundreds of releases throughout the 1970s along with the palm tree label, which came into use sometime in the later half of the 70s. In the late 1960s, Fania also updated their logo design, changing from the simple Caslon Open Face font logo to one that better matched the new and more modern-looking multicolor labels. In the end, though, it is really about the music, so here is a brief rundown of my top ten gold label 45s

FROM THE COLLECTOR'S ITEM "SUBWAY JOE" REVIEW....GREAT!

Joe Bataan is rightfully esteemed as the King of Latin Soul. Born in New York's Spanish Harlem in 1942 of Philippine and African-American parentage, his masterful songs about everyday ghetto life are forever embedded in the hearts of generations of Latinos. Growing-up in the tenements of El Barrio, Joe was exposed to a cocktail of pop, Latin, doo-wop and R&B. His adolescent and early adult years were marked by gang membership, delinquency and time in prison. Music proved to be the salvation of this Afro-Filipino with a Latino heart and soul when he rounded-up a group of young Latin musicians to form the Latin Swingers in October 1966.

“Subway Joe” was the 1968 follow-up to his successful Fania debut album Gypsy Woman. As with its predecessor, the album features a rich mixture of styles. Although it was Joe's bittersweet soulful voice and song writing skills that made the greatest impact (all the tracks are credited to him), his prowess as a pianist and arranger should not be overlooked.

In the opening track "Subway Joe," the master storyteller relates the tale of a NYC subway encounter set to a rousing boogaloo beat. Renowned Latin radio deejay Polito Vega helped the song become a major hit at the time of its original release. Joe and the Latin Swingers give the guaguancó rhythm a tough and jazzy makeover in "Juanito". The trombones veritably ignite!

"Mujer Mía" is described as a bolero-cha cha, a hybrid of the smoochy bolero and shuffling cha cha chá styles. After its mellow intro the tune deceptively slips into a funky groove with Joe, a shameless imitator of Eddie Palmieri, taking a tasty piano solo. "Nuevo Jala Jala" acts as a showcase for a fiery trombone solo by Joe Chickie Fuentes followed by another delicious piano solo from the main man. During Joe's solo vocalist Tito Ramos dubs him La Perla del Barrio (The Pearl of the Spanish Harlem). Listen out for the descarga explosion after the false ending.

Joe eulogises his "Special Girl" in boogaloo style while the chorus exhorts us to ‘Do the Push, Do the Pushy Pushy’. "Ponte En Algo" is a rumbustious descarga blowout with boogaloo embellishments, featuring a brief conga solo by Lorenzo Chino Galán and an extended piano solo by Joe. The mood apparently cools down again with "Triste," another bolero-cha cha, but there is a sting in the tail! It's back to boogaloo for "Magic Rose". Here Joe tells the story of a woman with occult powers. It's magic, It's witchcraft, It's voodoo, She's got a hold on me, sing the chorus.

Virtually the same personnel performed on Gypsy Woman and “Subway Joe”. They may not have been the greatest players, but their youthful enthusiasm more than compensated to create a raw, rugged and funky street-real sound. Latin lead vocalist Joe Pagan died shortly after Gypsy Woman was made. Tito Ramos substituted on “Subway Joe”, which was dedicated to Pagan's memory. Previously Ramos had provided lead vocals to Johnny Colón's landmark boogaloo albums Boogaloo Blues (1966) and Boogaloo '67 on Cotique Records, and went on to co-found the TnT Band with another ex-Colón vocalist, Tony Rojas. (my note: WOW!!! DID NOT KNOW THIS!!!)

Following “Subway Joe,” Joe recorded a further six albums for Fania between 1968 and 1972, and featured in the second volume of the Fania All Stars' debut Live At The Red Garter (1968). While still with Fania, in the early '70s he managed the cult Ghetto Records label for a while. Thereafter he made his mark on the '70s disco and '80s rap movements with the US and UK disco hit The Bottle (from Afrofilipino '75 on Salsoul) and the international dance hit Rap-O Clap-O (included in Mestizo '80, aka Rap-O Clap-O, on Salsoul). After a 20-year plus hiatus, he returned to performing in 1994 and released a brand new album in 2005.

Credits:

Joe Bataan - Leader, Piano
Joe "Chickie" Fuentes - First Trombone
Rubén Hernández - Second Trombone
Eddie Nater - Timbales
Louie Devies - Bass
Richie Cortes - Bell
Lorenzo "Chino" Galán - Conga
Milton Albino - Bongos
Latin Vocals – Tito Ramos
English Vocals – Joe Bataan
Chorus – Richie Cortes, Louie González, Michael Padilla

Producer – Jerry Masucci
Recording Director - Johnny Pacheco
Recorded at - Impact Sound Studio
Recording Engineer - Richard Alderson
Original Album Cover Photo - Marty Topp
Original Album Art Director - Izzy Sanabria

WEB REMARKS: FANIA 1ST RPMS!!:

322 Johnny Pacheco "Ocurrencia / Bomba-Lede"
423 Johnny Pacheco "Guachinango / Soy Del Monte"
424
425 Johnny Pacheco "Ven y Ven / El Diablo"
426
427 Johnny Pacheco "Guajira Y Camara / Mayari"
428 Johnny Pacheco "Latin Gravy / Asi Son Bonco"
429
430 Louie Ramirez "Yo No Se Nada / Tres Palabras"
431
432 Orchestra Harlow "Orchestra Harlow / Mi Guaguananco"
433 Johnny Pacheco "El Mundo / Oye Canuto"
434
435
436 Orchestra Harlow "Tu Tu Ratan / La Juventud"
437 Johnny Pacheco "Dos Gardenias / Bilongo"
438 Orchestra Harlow "Winchester Cathedral / Almas Olvidadas"
439 Babby Quesada "Mas Feo Que Yo / El Guiro Sabroso"
440 Johnny Pacheco "A Moron / Guararey Na'ma"
441
442
443 Harvey Averne Plus 9 "Make Out / The Think Drink - Spiked"
444 Willie Colon "Willie Baby / Jazzy"
445 Bobby Valentin "Love Me So / Bad Breath"
446 Johnny Pacheco "Convergencia / Soy Hijo Del Siboney"
447 Joe Bataan "Gypsy Woman / So Fine"
448 Harvey Averne and Group Therapy "The Micro Mini / The Think Drink 'Spiked'"
449 Harvey Averne and Group Therapy "Make Out / Monday Monday"
450
451 Joe Bataan "Ordinary Guy / Too Much Lovin"
452 Monguito Santamaria "Juicy / Soiron Cano"
453 Monguito "Esto Si Se Llama Querer / Quitate El Chaceton"
454 Ray Barretto "Mercy, Mercy Baby / Soul Drummers"
455 Joe Bataan "Subway Joe / Nuevo Jala Jala"
456 Raul Marrero "Mi Carino Por Ti / Cuando Estoy Contigo"
457 Joe Bataan "Special Girl / Magic Rose"
458 Bobby Valentin "Use It Before You Lose It / Funky Big Feet"
459 Orchestra Harlow "El Exigente / Las Luzes"
460 Larry Harlow "Mess Around / That Groovy Shingaling"
461 Willie Colon "Eso Se Baila Asi / Montero Jala Jala"
462 The Latinaires "Camel Walk / Ya Llegaron"
463 Raul Marrero "Todavia / Amor Azul (Love Is Blue)"
464 Bobby Quesada "El Pregon Del Pupilo / Bataola Boogaloo"
465 Joe Bataan "It's A Good Feeling (Riot) Part 1 / It's A Good Feeling (Riot) Part 2"
 

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If Buying More Than 3 Records We Will Inform You The Shipping & Handling....We do combine shipping for multiple purchases.
Insurance Available - Domestic Only:
$1.75 ................ $0.01 to $50
$2.25 ................ $50.01 to $100
$2.75 ................ $100.01 to $200

* We offer a money back + shipping costs guarantee on our records (unless otherwise noted) if you feel the LP was not graded properly (If Grading is the reason the return shipping cost will not be included in the refund). In other claims we will issue a full refund upon its return, once our mistake has been verified. We have available the insurance option.

Record Grading: Standard guidelines for grading records comes down to a subjective judgment that may vary from person to person. We grade records and LP covers visually AND (when possible) play-tested. We make every effort to give full disclosure (remember that the LP has at least 12 tracks and the grading may vary between each other)  and your satisfaction is guaranteed. Don't assume that our vinyl determination of "Very Good+" is the same as yours!

RECORD OR COVER GRADED VG or LESS WILL BE "SOLD AS IS"

MINT: Unplayed, still sealed.
 

NM RECORDS: are shiny, with no visible defects, they might have one or 2 minor superficial scuff and they should play without any noise. Writing, stickers or other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any “spindle marks” from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable. Major factory defects also must not be present; a record and label obviously pressed off center is not Near Mint. If played, it will do so with no surface noise. (NM records don’t have to be “never played”; a record used on an excellent turntable can remain NM after many plays if the disc is properly cared for.)

NM COVERS: have no creases, ring wear or seam splits of any kind.

picture sleeves should look as if they never housed a record. This is a great reason to remove your 45s from their picture sleeves and keep them separate. Just keeping the 45 inside the sleeve will cause damage than can reduce the grade of the sleeve. 

VG++ (Excellent) RECORDS: Barely noticeable play wear and background noise. May have surface scuffs and/or superficial marks, which will be inaudible or indiscernible from the background, no scratches. Very nice, flaws noted.

VG++ COVERS: Artwork is still as close to perfect as can be. Some impression to the cover (minor outer ring wear) but no ink wear! Some slight creases to the corners, but not wrinkled and obtrusive to the eye. The corners can show white (where the artwork pasted slick was) meaning, slight wear. No seam splits or writing on the cover or taped repairs can make this grade.  

VG+ RECORDS: may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Minor signs of handling are OK, too, such as telltale marks around the center hole, but repeated playing has not misshapen the hole. There may be some very light ring wear or discoloration,

but it should be barely noticeable.

VG+ COVERS: should have only minor wear. A VG+ cover might have some very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the most vulnerable location. Also, a VG+ cover may have some defacing, such as a cut-out marking. Covers with cut-out markings can never be considered Near Mint.

VG+ PICTURE SLEEVES: might show some very light creasing where it is obvious that a record once resided (or still does reside). A VG+ picture sleeve might have some very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the sleeve’s most vulnerable location. 

VG RECORDS:  have more obvious flaws than their counterparts in better shape. They lack most of the original gloss found on factory-fresh records. Groove wear is evident on sight, as are light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail. When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches  may be audible, especially in soft passages and during a song’s intro and ending. But the noise will not overpower the music otherwise. Minor writing, tape, or a sticker can detract from the label. Many collectors who have jukeboxes   will use VG records in them and not think twice. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it were in better shape.

VG COVERS and PICTURE SLEEVES: will have many signs of human handling. Ring wear  in the middle or along the edges of the cover where the edge of a record would  reside, is obvious, though not overwhelming. Some more creases might be  visible. Seam splitting will be more obvious; it may appear on all three sides,  though it won’t be obvious upon looking. Someone might have written or stamped  a price tag on it, too.

RECORDS GRADED VG OR BELOW WILL BE "SOLD AS IS"

Items are to be paid within 5 days (if not paid by that time it will be subject for relisting) of auction close and will be shipped within 48 hours of receipt of payment. Paypal is the preferred method of payment.  
Carlos A. Flores 25830 Crippen Dr. Land O' Lakes, FL  34639

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