Craft Latino celebrates the 50th anniversary of a very historic album with a special 180-gram vinyl reissue of Latin-Soul-Rock. Set for release on May 24th, 2024, the long-out-of-print album has been newly remastered from analog sources by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and is housed in a tip-on single-pocket gatefold jacket, replicating its original design—including liner notes from Fania founder/producer Jerry Masucci, plus a review of the concert from the New York Post.

Additionally, Latin-Soul-Rock will also make its debut in 192/24 hi-res digital audio. In addition, a deluxe Fuego vinyl color exclusive, limited to 300 copies, with an exciting bundle option that includes a Fania All Stars Live at Yankee Stadium commemorative baseball T-shirt is available for pre-order on our store.

The Fania All-Stars were a vital force in Latin music, bringing together some of the world’s most important and influential artists, including pioneering bandleaders like Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón, and Ray Barretto; celebrated musicians like Yomo Toro, Orestes Vilató, and Barry Rodgers; plus some of the era’s most beloved singers, including Pete “El Conde” Rodríguez, Celia Cruz, Adalberto Santiago, and Héctor Lavoe. The ever-evolving collective — which also served as a platform for the legendary Latin label, Fania Records — formed in 1968, just as salsa music was exploding in popularity across the US and beyond.

Side A:
1. Viva Tirado (Live at Yankee Stadium/New York, NY/August, 1973/Remastered 2024)
2. Chanchullo (Live at Yankee Stadium/New York, NY/August, 1973/Remastered 2024)
3. Smoke (Live at Yankee Stadium/New York, NY/August, 1973/Remastered 2024) There You Go (Live at Yankee Stadium/New York, NY/August, 1973/Remastered 2024)
4. Mama Guela (Live at Yankee Stadium/New York, NY/August, 1973/Remastered 2024)

Side B:
5. El Ratón (Live at Yankee Stadium/New York, NY/August, 1973/Remastered 2024)
6. Soul Makossa (Live at Robert Clemente Coliseum/San Juan, PR/November, 1973/Remastered 2024)
7. Congo Bongo (Live at Yankee Stadium/New York, NY/August, 1973/Remastered 2024)

On August 24th, 1973, 40,000 salsa fans (a record-breaking crowd at the time for a Latin music event) eagerly piled into New York’s Yankee Stadium to watch some of the world’s most influential artists share the stage. But the Fania All Stars — a collective that included such legends as Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón, Ray Barretto, and Héctor Lavoe — was eager to highlight its versatility by performing not just Latin hits, but also soul and rock hits from the day.

Joined by a variety of special guests, including Mongo Santamaria, Manu Dibango, Jorge “Malo” Santana, plus Billy Cobham and Jan Hammer of the Mahavishnu Orchestra — the All Stars launched into a funky, high-energy set (which was scheduled to include such hits as Dibango’s “Soul Makossa,”Edwin Starr’s “There You Go,” and the Joe Cuba Sextet’s “El Ratón”).

The stand out for me is “El Ratón”, which is sung by Cheo Feliciano and features a simply stellar standout guitar solo by Jorge “Malo” Santana, with a close second being “Congo Bongo”, which features a vibrant congo duel between Ray Barretto and Santamaría.

Furthermore, these two songs comprise the album’s original B-side, along with a live recording of Soul Makossa from the date at Roberto Clemente Coliseum featuring saxophonist Manu Dibango.

An impressive showcase of the band’s ability to fuse rock, soul, and jazz with the style of New York salsa that was the stock-in-trade of Fania, now Craft Latino celebrates the 50th anniversary of this historic album with a special 180-gram vinyl reissue of Latin-Soul-Rock.

Out now, the long-out-of-print album has been newly remastered from analog sources by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and is housed in a tip-on single-pocket gatefold jacket, replicating its original design—including liner notes from Fania founder/producer Jerry Masucci, plus a review of the concert from the New York Post.

Additionally, Latin-Soul-Rock will also make its debut in 192/24 hi-res digital audio. In addition, a deluxe Fuego vinyl color exclusive, limited to 300 copies, with an exciting bundle option that includes a Fania All Stars Live at Yankee Stadium commemorative baseball T-shirt is available for pre-order on the Craft Recordings store.

Official Purchase Link