20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection

Among the most influential Latin-rock fusion groups, Los Angeles' El Chicano emerged in 1970 from the ashes of a group called The V.I.P.s with an across-the-board hit version of jazzman Gerald Wilson's "Viva Tirado." This remarkable instrumental was #1 for almost three months in L.A. & nationally scored #20 R&B, #28 Pop & #10 Adult Contemporary. This was the beginning of a seven album relationship by the group with Kapp, then MCA, from which this new Millennium set was drawn. The new collection reflects the group's bilingual, musically diverse approach. They give a gentle R&B twist to Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl," while pumping up the rhythm on Tito Puente's "El Cayuco" & their own Latin burner "The Latin One." Their rendition of the ballad "Sabor A Mi" is simply gorgeous, while they cook up a simmering jazzy rock brew with Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island." Their second biggest hit (#40 R&B, #22 A/C) "Tell Her She's Lovely" is a marvelous meld of Pop & Latin musics & was later covered by War. El Chicano is still a legend on the streets of Southern California, & the Millennium collection shows why.