Christmas Latin Music Favorites – Part 1
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I was browsing through my Christmas music genre and noticed I have collected a relatively long list of recordings in this Latin music category.
At the beginning of the decade, all I had was a handful of albums, most had been with me for several years. So when a fellow “boricua” at work asked me which recordings are my favorites, I had to think a bit once I passed about 3 or 4 albums. Maybe you’ll find this helpful as you consider Christmas Latin Music for the holidays.
My Top Latin Music Christmas Favorites:
The reason I subtitled this “Part 1” was that I will mention some of my classic favorites, but there is also more recent Christmas music that is very good and makes my favorite list as well. But first things first, so let us go with the favorites that have endured time and are still on the top of the list.
Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe “Asalto Navideño Vol. 1 & Vol. 2” – on a recent post, I said how for me it seems empty if I don’t start the Christmas holiday season playing the Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe Salsa classic “Asalto Navideño, Vol. 1 (1971) and Vol. 2 (1972)”. These albums put Christmas Salsa on the map. There are several good predecessors to these.
The main grandfather of Christmas Salsa is probably El Gran Combo’s “Esta Navidad” with Andy Montañez and Pellín Rodriguez. That was a classic and was very popular. But the “Asalto Navideño” albums became household fixtures in all of Puerto Rico and El Barrio in New York. Not only radio, but people in their houses would not stop playing these to the point that for my generation they became synonymous with Christmas Salsa music.
Cheo Feliciano “Felicidades” – A close 2nd (or 3rd) is Cheo Feliciano’s “Felicidades” (1973). Cheo again got a little help from his friends, as he put together a group of “caballos” (excellent musicians) who made this recording shake the ground. The title song “Felicidades”, “Mapeye”, and “Aleluya de los Campos” are Christmas classics.
Ismael Rivera “Esta Navidad” – El Sonero Mayor, Ismael Rivera, did his thing with his Cachimbos in “Esta Navidad”. This album only has 3 or 4 songs that I like, but I like them so much, and they are so popular in Puerto Rico during the holidays, that it deserves to make the top list. “Mi Tia Maria” and “Bomba de Navidad” are songs I can’t miss in the season.
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico “Nuestra Música” – Los Mulatos del Sabor released a classic in 1985 with “Nuestra Música” which was anchored by the mega-hits “No Hay Cama Pa’s Tanta Gente” and “La Fiesta de Pilito”. This is a very robust album with most songs being very good. I think they actually overplayed “No Hay Cama Pa’ Tanta Gente”, as they hit this song pretty hard 2-3 years after its release.
Puerto Rico is a very interesting, and perhaps unique Christmas market, as several artists can actually make a living just by their Christmas releases. I’m going to talk about a couple of them, which happen to play music that steps outside of salsa.
Vicente Caratini & Cantores de San Juan “20 Aniversario” – Vicente Caratini and his “Cantores de San Juan” were an institution in Puerto Rico during the Christmas holidays. This guy started making hits somewhere in the late ’60s or early ’70s (remember “Eh ma’ bueno“) and never stopped. Every year he would manage to produce new hits.
His “20 Aniversario” album grabs a collection of these hits and includes classics like “La Botellita”, “El ña”, and “Caminan las Nubes” to mention a few. Boricuas sang these songs in “parrandas” for years, and they are still going strong.
José Nogueras “Pueblo Unido” – the artist that took over the crown of the king of the “Navidades” in Puerto Rico from Vicente Caratini, was signer/songwriter Jose Nogueras. This guy is pure talent, and I still can’t understand how come he didn’t become a huge Salsa star.
José Nogueras was not a typical salsero, as he started singing romantic ballads, but always had a romance with Salsa. He liked the rhythm but also loved the original rhythms from Puerto Rico in the Seis, Bomba, and Plena.
José Nogueras came to the public light after writing some mega hits for Cheo Feliciano (“Amada Mia”, “Asi Soy”) and Willie Colón (“No Me Digan Que es Muy Tarde”). He tried to put together a salsa band (Salsa Estival) but for some reason did not stick.
He then decided to record a Christmas album, and Boom, it start making huge hits! So…he became a “Christmas specialist” releasing an album in almost every Christmas, and most, if not all, became hits.
Nogueras’ album “Pueblo Unido” (1989) one of his 1st efforts in the Christmas genre, was a hit, but to me, it is one of the most complete Christmas albums I have. It has beautiful songs that make you reflect on what the season is really all about (love for family and friends) without falling into the cheesy. He mixes that with funny songs and some bombas and plenas. I love this recording!
All these recordings are worth having, regardless of what country you may be from. If you like salsa and you like some folk music (Vicenty Caratini) you will love these recordings.
Next Blog: Other Favorites: More recent Christmas favorites
Share with us which are your favorite Christmas recordings. I’m curious to know how people from other countries take music that is targeted mostly to the special Christmas market of Puerto Rico. By “special Christmas market” I mean that I don’t know of any other country that produces so much music specifically for Christmas. The U.S. does, but a lot of them are recycled classics (in my opinion). What’s your opinion?