Bachelor's Den 3: Latin Rhythms in Hi-Fi

Somehow I got the bug in my bonnet that I had to fill my CD collection with inordinate amounts of lounge music. So as I was flipping through the disks at my local used CD store, I ran across an entry in the Ultra-Lounge series as well as this accidental goodie tucked away like a dirty little secret. At first I was going to pass it by, but I caved and threw it in with the stack of other lounge goodies I found. I wasn't dissappointed. I can't wait for the weather to heat up so I can crank this in the car and cruise. The title says it all, Latin Rhythmns in Hi-Fi indeed. If this music doesn't get to you, then I'm afraid you have no soul. Don't be a square, if you run across this collection, pick it up. If you don't I'm afraid there's no hope for you daddy-o.

Not the strongest title in this series, the music on this CD is a bit too frenetic for background music, too obscure for casual fans of Latin exotica. This CD is certainly enjoyable in measured doses, but 14 straight tracks of ping-ponging stereo bongos and timbales can be a bit wearing. Since Amazon hasn't listed the performers, here they are (by track numbers) : 1. Augie Colon, 2. Miguelito Valdez and His Orch. with Machito and His Afro-Cubans, 3. Xavier Cugat featuring Lina Romay, 4. Yma Sumac, 5. Hugo Montenegro, 6. Perez Prado, 7. John Buzon Trio, 8. Lenny Dee, 9. Orizaba and His Orch., 10. Richard Hayman, 11. Sir Julian, 12. Hugo Montenegro, 13. Belmonte and His Afro-American Music, 14. Duke Ellington. Spectacular cover, by the way.