Eddie Palmieri - Vamonos Pa`l Monte. Remastered from the original analog master tapes. 12-page booklet + bonus pictures. 2010 Codigo Music - 2016 Wagram Music

A milestone in Eddie Palmieri`s recording career, 1971`s Vamonos Pa`l Monte, his last studio album for Tico, adds the baritone saxophone of Ronnie Cuber to his trombone / trumpet frontline. Older brother Charlie guests on organ. The arrangements are adventurous with jazz components very much to the fore. Conscious lyrics reflect the mood of the civil rights era. Speaking about the album and his preceding Tico projects Justicia (1969) and Superimposition (1970), Eddie said to David Carp and Bruce Polin of Descarga.com in 1998: "Then that becomes a whole other ballgame and that gives me all the variations to the bands that I have now."

Recorded in 1971, this album featured Eddie experimenting with the Fender Rhodes piano and his brother Charlie on organ, a young Nicky Marrero on drums, timbales and bongo along with guest Chocolate Armenteros on trumpet. It`s hard to pick just one E.P. album, but I like this one because of its combination trad/rad approach and the classic `Revolt/La Libertad` Logico which was an anthem at the time for Puerto Rican youth like myself in N.Y.C. (review by Descarga)

Eddie Palmieri`s 1971 LP Vamonos Pa`l Monte moves easily from the nearly avant-garde trumpet-battle opener "Revolt/La Libertad Logico" into the new-era-meets-old "Caminando," complete with an excellent electric-piano solo by Palmieri himself. He also takes the lead on the seven-minute title-track jam, this time with organ (backed by brother Charlie), backed by a strong vocal chorus (Justo Betancourt, Santos Colon, Yayo el Indio) and the rugged timbales playing of Nick Marrero. Above and beyond the irresistible arrangements and intricate playing, Vamonos Pa`l Monte benefits from one of the best recording jobs of any early-`70s salsa record, each section -- and practically each musician -- vigorously separated with clear stereo. Though many fans consider it a transition record toward the compositional brilliance of The Sun of Latin Music, it`s actually a much better record for fans of traditional salsa. (All Music Guide)

1. Revolt/La Libertdad Logico (5:23)

2. Caminando (3:53)

3. Vamonos Pa`L Monte (7:08)

4. Viejo Socarron (6:09)

5. Yo No Se (4:12)

6. Comparsa De Los Locos (7:23)