Willie Bobo's Finest Hour
June 2009 Week 5
There are compilations and there are compilations. Verve's Finest Hour series has, generally speaking, been consistent in producing collections with artists' best performances from the label -- with the possible exception of the Ramsey Lewis volume, which sucks. This set by Nuyorican percussion and arranging ace Willie Bobo is arguably the best collection of his work on the market. Virtually everything a fan would want on a single disc is here and, even more crucial, this is flawless as an introduction to Bobo's amazing contribution to Latin, popular, and jazz musics. Obvious cuts like "Grazing in the Grass" and "Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries" are here in their steamy glory, as are his incomparable versions of "Knock on Wood" and "Walk Away Renee." Bobo's "It's Not Unusual" is a complete reinvention of the Mills/Reed classic commonly associated with Tom Jones. What comes across so forcefully on the Bobo collection is that his ideas about music were progressive to the point of being oversimplified by others; Bobo saw all music as pop music and treated it as such on his records. His wish to make corner-bending sides for his friends in Harlem actually translates to the entire American populace very well, so well in their directness and emotional honesty -- as well sweet-grooving simplicity -- that sophisticated statements on race and class are played out in his pop music. For those who don't give a damn about this kind of analysis, it's safe to say that this set -- all 18 tracks of it -- constitutes one hell of a driving, partying, dancing, or goofing record straight from the heart to the street corner. This is amazing stuff. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
June 2009 Week 5
There are compilations and there are compilations. Verve's Finest Hour series has, generally speaking, been consistent in producing collections with artists' best performances from the label -- with the possible exception of the Ramsey Lewis volume, which sucks. This set by Nuyorican percussion and arranging ace Willie Bobo is arguably the best collection of his work on the market. Virtually everything a fan would want on a single disc is here and, even more crucial, this is flawless as an introduction to Bobo's amazing contribution to Latin, popular, and jazz musics. Obvious cuts like "Grazing in the Grass" and "Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries" are here in their steamy glory, as are his incomparable versions of "Knock on Wood" and "Walk Away Renee." Bobo's "It's Not Unusual" is a complete reinvention of the Mills/Reed classic commonly associated with Tom Jones. What comes across so forcefully on the Bobo collection is that his ideas about music were progressive to the point of being oversimplified by others; Bobo saw all music as pop music and treated it as such on his records. His wish to make corner-bending sides for his friends in Harlem actually translates to the entire American populace very well, so well in their directness and emotional honesty -- as well sweet-grooving simplicity -- that sophisticated statements on race and class are played out in his pop music. For those who don't give a damn about this kind of analysis, it's safe to say that this set -- all 18 tracks of it -- constitutes one hell of a driving, partying, dancing, or goofing record straight from the heart to the street corner. This is amazing stuff. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
Willie Bobo
Audio CD (August 19, 2003)
Original Release Date: August 12, 2003
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Verve
Buy the CD here
Listen to the CD here
Audio CD (August 19, 2003)
Original Release Date: August 12, 2003
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Verve
Buy the CD here
Listen to the CD here
TRACK LISTING
1. Grazing In The Grass
2. It's Not Unusual
3. Evil Ways
4. Sham Time
5. Sunny
6. Quieres Volver
7. Fried Neck Bones And Some Homefries
8. La Bamba
9. One, Two, Three (1-2-3) (Uno, Dos, Tres)
10. Psychedelic Blues
11. Walk Away Renee
12. Juicy
13. Cute
14. Dichoso
15. Spanish Grease
16. Come A Little Bit Closer
17. Knock On Wood
18. La Descarga Del Bobo
1. Grazing In The Grass
2. It's Not Unusual
3. Evil Ways
4. Sham Time
5. Sunny
6. Quieres Volver
7. Fried Neck Bones And Some Homefries
8. La Bamba
9. One, Two, Three (1-2-3) (Uno, Dos, Tres)
10. Psychedelic Blues
11. Walk Away Renee
12. Juicy
13. Cute
14. Dichoso
15. Spanish Grease
16. Come A Little Bit Closer
17. Knock On Wood
18. La Descarga Del Bobo
