Willie Colón/Héctor Lavoe: Cosa Nuestra [CRAFT RECORDINGS]

Why you'll love it

Craft Recordings cut this 180g reissue from an all-analog remaster, with lacquers by Dave Polster and Chris Holley. Cosa Nuestra became the duo's first gold record, and in 2024 Rolling Stone named it one of the 50 greatest salsa albums of all time.

This edition

• 180g vinyl
• Remastered
• All-analog (AAA) lacquers cut by Dave Polster and Chris Holley
• Pressed in the USA
• Stereo mix

About the album

When Rauw Alejandro wanted a title for his 2024 album, he borrowed this one, which says plenty about how long Cosa Nuestra has cast its shadow over Latin music. The original came out on Fania in 1969, with Jerry Masucci producing and Johnny Pacheco directing the sessions, and it caught Willie Colón's trombone-heavy New York salsa band at full strength.

Colón and fellow trombonist Eric Matos give the band its brassy snarl, José Torres plays piano, and the rhythm section of Milton Cardona, Louie Romero, José Mangual Jr. and Santi González keeps the dance floor busy. Héctor Lavoe sings everything, writing "Te Conozco" on his own and sharing credits with Colón on "Ausencia," "Juana Peña" and "Tu No Puedes Conmigo." "Ché Ché Colé" opens the record with a bounce that hasn't faded, and "Sonero Mayor" lets Lavoe show off his improvising.

Gold records for La Gran Fuga, El Juicio and Lo Mato followed in the next few years, which makes this the start of one of salsa's great winning streaks. Lavoe's voice still sounds like the most confident man in any room, and we've long since stopped trying to sing along.

Also at Kops: more Willie Colón on vinyl · browse World

Tracklist

Listen

On Fania / Craft Recordings (cat# CR01056), a reissue of the 1969 album.