Dámaso Pérez Prado (1916-1989) was a Cuban (born in Matanzas) and naturalized Mexican musician known as the “king of mambo” thanks to the power that his compositions and arrangements imprinted to this rhythm, a syncopated uptempo form of the Cuban danzón. He was also known as “cara de foca” (“seal face”). Late 40s, 50s and early 60s were his golden age, and in 1981 he recorded a double LP called “El Rey Del Mambo Pérez Prado Hoy” featuring re-recordings of his classic hits with a modern sound for the time. I’m usually not fond of re-recordings, but this album is an exception to me. Sure, the versions in this album sound less “Latin” and more “international” than the originals, but the arrangements’ power and excitement are still there. Here you can hear three cuts from the album from an original Mexican pressing on the Helix label.

(00:00) Video intro

(00:14) 01. Mambo No. 5
(02:34) 02. Qué Rico Mambo
(06:31) 03. Lupita

Numark TTXUSB turntable – Nagaoka MP-500 phono cartridge – ART DJPRE II phono stage preamp – Vinyl record vinilo LP