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Osvaldo Pugliese - Instrumentales Inolvidables

EMI 859023

My research project for 2015 is a book on Osvaldo Pugliese in the "Tango Masters" series. Passionate and intense, Pugliese's unique flavour presents challenges to many dancers, and for these in particular the best place to start is with the earliest tracks. Here the music, although already showing its special qualities, is less differentiated from the other orchestras than it would become. In particular, there is much less use of rubato - the stretching of musical time, that creates problems for the dancer who is used to the steady beat.

There is no CD with all the early instrumentals in perfect fidelity, and baring a miracle there never will be. This CD on Reliquias gives you the first 20 instrumentals in chronological order. The transfers are unprocessed, although unfortunately there is a bit of filtering - be prepared to turn up the treble on your player to get the best from these tracks. The music is simply wonderful - there isn't a poor track.

In the earlier compositions ( El rodeo El remate, Adiós, Bardi ), Pugliese exudes a strong DeCarean flavour, as well as displaying his affection for the composer Agustín Bardi. These are great tracks to play for people who struggle with Pugliese, or think they don't like him. Even experienced dancers often come to ask who the orchestra was when this music is played at the milonga.

Quite rapidly though the music takes on its unique character, with first bandoneón Osvaldo Ruggerio coming to the forefront. Tangos such as Mala pinta and Tiny make me want to scream. I can't understand why they aren't more popular.

Seventy years on, it seems the music still displays more passion that we can cope with.

Track list

1. El rodeo
2. Mala junta
3. Recuerdo
4. El remate
5. Tierra querida
6. El arranque
7. Adiós, Bardi
8. Amurado
9. Mala estampa (Mala pinta)
10. Raza criolla (El taita)
11. El paladín
12. Derecho viejo
13. Pelele
14. El monito
15. Flor de tango
16. Las marionetas
17. Tiny
18. El tábano
19. Mal de amores
20. La yumba

Orquestas Olvidadas Vol.1

Reliquias 473893

Orquestas olvidadas means forgotten orchestras and when something has been forgotten, you always have to ask yourselves why. On this CD of 50s recordings the answer is mostly because the orchestra arrived on the scene just a little bit late and didn't make that many recordings. In particular, Ricardo Pedevilla, who sounds a bit like a cross between D'Arienzo and Di Sarli, is eye-poppingly good - but unfortunately he only made 24 recordings, and these on the now forgotten Pampa label. On this evidence, he should have a CD of his own. Antonio Rodio is another find but he made even fewer recordings. Jorge Caldara's Lorenzo is a work of genius - soft and strong at the same time.

This CD is a reminder of the strength in depth that existed in Buenos Aires back in those golden years and will have you hungry for more from these artists.

Track list

1. La cumparsita - Antonio Rodio
2. Chiqué - Eduardo Del Piano
3. El caburé - Ricardo Pedevilla
4. Mal dea amores - Mario Demarco
5. Sábado inglés - Edgardo Donato
6. Siete palabras - Ricardo Pedevilla
7. Lorenzo - Jorge Caldara
8. El entrerriano - Carlos Demaria
9. El amanecer - Ricardo Pedevilla
10. Fuegos artificiales - Edgardo Donato
11. La rayuela - Eduardo Del Piano
12. Organito de la tarde - Ricardo Pedevilla
13. El negro pintos - Alfredo Attadia
14. Bienvenida - Mario Demarco
15. El pollo Ricardo - Ricardo Pedevilla
16. El chupete - Edgardo Donato
17. El irresistible - Jorge Caldara
18. El incendio - Ricardo Pedevilla
19. Retintin - Lorenzo Barbero
20. La cumparsita - Jorge Fernandez

Tango Collection - Orquesta Típica Victor

RGS 1642

This great CD of the Orquesta Típica Victor is now the only one available. The album is generous at 23 tracks and there is lots of material that wasn't issued on EURO, including their rare version of El amanecer. Fabulous! If you like the old style music, this is for you.

Track list

1. Retintín
2. La cumparsita
3. Viejo rincón
4. La payanca
5. Flor de tango
6. Re fa si
7. De mi barrio
8. Adiós muchachos
9. Tradición
10. La sonámbula
11. Fumando espero
12. Puente Alsina
13. Chorra
14. Dominio
15. El porteñito
16. Niño bien
17. Coqueta
18. El choclo
19. La rosarina
20. El chamuyo
21. Bailarías
22. El amanecer
23. Libertad

D'Agostino/Vargas - Tango de los Angeles vol.4

BMG 63338

The fourth and final album of BMG's 4 disc set of the understated music of the two angels, Angel D'Agostino and his vocalist Angel Vargas. D'Agostino pulled off a trick what was impossible for everyone else in the 1940s: making music that was subtle and spacious, yet still full of rhythmic interest for the dancers.

Exploring a four album set can be much like listening to the end of a 20 track CD. The attention starts to wander before the end and we end up missing some great tracks. It's the same with this fourth disc.

As if to purposefully put us off, the album opens with a transfer of 1955's Café Dominguez that will disappoint anyone who has heard the version on Euro Records taken from the original tape master. After this though the album is packed with little-known tracks of five star quality, focussing on the years 1942-1945. Let's hope that tracks such as Caricias, Gorriones and many other fine tracks will soon be heard much more frequently than they are now

Track list

1. Café Dominguez
2. Caricias
3. Cuando se ha querido mucho
4. Cantando olvidaré
5. Dice un refrán
6. Menta y cedrón
7. De salto y carta
8. Mi viejo barrio
9. Guitarra que llora
10. Gorriones
11. La nueva vecina
12. Me llaman tango
13. Rosita la santiagueña
14. Poncho del olvido
15. Camino del Tucumán
16. Con sabor a tango
17. La carreta
18. El cornetín del tranvía
19. Cardo azul
20. No aflojés