Buena Vista Social Club

This album stands up to many listenings, and never seems to get tiresome. The material is a compilation of the traditional and contemporary songs popular during Cuba's musical heyday in the 1920's and 1930's, though it's just as listenable today.

Tropical, sultry, romantic -- a listen can transport you to an island paradise, or provide background for a relaxing evening. If you like this CD, especially the romantic ballads, I'd recommend Ibrahim Ferrer's solo album. Too bad these masters were rediscovered so late in life that may have precious little time left to further enrich us with their talents.

This CD is so mesmerizing that you cannot stop listening to it even after you've stopped the CD. The more you listen to it, the more you realize what really music is all about. Comparing this CD with other genre of music is not a smart thing to do. If you don't like it, you don't like it. But that doesn't mean it is bad music.

You know what,get over it,if a dedicated cubafile like me is sick of seeing this album since it's concept still here,you need a life,Cuban music has nothing to do with these,be it as it may good preforms,live life Go on ex4plore,grow,if you realy try life outside,even if Castro falls down in national papers ,a list is much more refreashing!!!!

Let me start of by saying that once we take away Ry Cooder's guitar playing on this, we have very authentic Cuban music. Ibrahim Ferrer, Campay Segundo, Eliades Ochoa (El Carretero is by far my favorite song), and especially Rueben Gonzalez are all fantastic musicians who make this CD. Ry Cooder on the other hand, with his twangy 'slide' guitar is awful. As musicians, especially ones who play in music with room for improvisation, we are taught that there is no worse crime than being insensitive to what the people you are playing with are doing. You have to fit in with what their doing, and they have to fit with what your doing. Cooder does not fit with the people he is playing with. He would be well-advised to merely produce this record and lay out on ALL the tracks. But looking past him, you find a CD that is a great intro to authentic Cuban that is a must for all CD collectors.

I saw the video on PBS a couple of years ago. I was instantly hooked. I don't speak Spanish but like other reviewers have said, music is a universal language, and the beauty of this music proves that. I highly recommend this cd as a must own.