Los TITANES De La Salsa - Tentacion 12" Vinyl LP Album

The Sensual Rhythms and Passionate Melodies of Salsa

Los Titanes de la Salsa - Tentación 12'' Vinyl LP Album front cover. The cover features a group photo with a man reclining on the floor, surrounded by five women dressed in glamorous, Middle Eastern-inspired attire. The man, wearing a white shirt and a blue vest with black and white patterns, has a confident smile as he is embraced by one of the women. The women wear bejeweled headpieces, sparkling gowns, and red veils, with accessories that include necklaces, bangles, and earrings. The background consists of white drapery, enhancing the opulent atmosphere. The album title 'tentación' is in bold red italics at the bottom, while 'LOS TITANES' appears in large purple letters at the top with a shadow effect. Above the title, the phrase 'salsa... salsa... salsa' is in red italics, reinforcing the musical theme. A yellow price sticker is on the top right corner. The 'Discos Fuentes' logo is in the top right corner, printed in green and yellow, signifying the label of the release. https://vinyl-records.nl

Los Titanes de la Salsa (also Los Titanes ) is a salsa group from the Colombian city of Barranquilla. This group was established in 1982 founded by trombonist Alberto Barros. The debut of the band was on the Carnival of Barranquilla, where they immediately Golden Conga won. Since then they have recorded 14 albums, often with the cooperation of famous Colombian artist. The band did tours in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, France, England, Switzerland, Belgium and France.

This album "Tentacion" was the sixth full length album by the Colombian Salsa band: Los Titanes De La Salsa. This web-page has hi-res photos of the album covers, record label and a detailed description.

Album Description:

Los Titanes De La Salsa - Tentación: A Deep Dive
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Historical Context

In the early 90s, salsa music was undergoing a transformation. While some artists maintained the traditional sound, others experimented with fusion and modernization. Los Titanes de la Salsa, a group founded in 1982 by trombonist Alberto Barros, found themselves in a unique position, balancing the essence of classic salsa with polished arrangements and lyrics that resonated with younger audiences. Their album Tentación (1991) emerged during this pivotal moment, becoming a key piece in the genre’s evolution.

Musical Exploration

This album is a perfect example of salsa-balada, a subgenre that blends the passion of salsa with the structure and melody of romantic ballads. Songs like “Tu Juego” and “Tu Decisión” offer upbeat rhythms perfect for dancing, while tracks like “Miedo de Ti” and “Cultivo de Amor” stand out for their emotional depth and vocal-driven arrangements.

Music Genre and Style

Tentación is fundamentally salsa, but with clear influences from other genres such as bolero, pop ballads, and romantic Latin music. This fusion gives the album an international appeal, making it enjoyable both for dancers and those seeking a more introspective musical experience. Alberto Barros’ powerful brass sections add intensity to the arrangements, while Luisito Quintero’s percussion keeps the groove strong and steady.

Controversies

One of the most common criticisms faced by Los Titanes at this time was that their sound was too polished and commercial. Some traditional salsa fans felt they were “softening” the genre too much. However, this very approach allowed them to break into international markets where hardcore salsa wasn’t as widely accepted.

Production Team and Recording Studio

The album was recorded at Estudio Digital “Toño Fuentes” in Medellín, Colombia, an iconic studio in the history of Latin music. Alberto Barros, in addition to leading the band, also served as the producer, ensuring a meticulously crafted and polished sound. Recording engineers Juan Jairo Betancur and Luis B. Rincón handled the recording process, while Pedro Muriel G. was responsible for the digital mix.

Differences with Other Releases

Depending on the country of release, Tentación featured variations in its track listing and mixing. Some international versions, especially those released in Mexico and the United States, had a stronger bass presence in the mix to enhance club and radio play. Additionally, certain vinyl editions included extended versions of specific tracks, while CD editions prioritized vocal clarity.

The Liner Notes in English
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LOS TITANES keep honoring their mythological name, ‘cause history tells that those titans wanted to climb up to the sky looking for the gods. And this Colombian group has really gone up, proof of that is the amount of travels they do around the world, making them the band with the most international commitments. This year alone, they’ve signed contracts in Venezuela, México, Perú y Ecuador, and in October, they’ll be hitting the United States.

With this new material titled Tentación, Los Titanes climb one more step, ‘cause every new production is the conscious result of an experience that over time has allowed this band to consolidate itself. In such a competitive market, these artists, supported by Discos Fuentes, have reached an important and outstanding place, something they prove with every record.

LOS TITANES have created a very unique style: salsa-balada. A style that embraces all those emotions, dreams, desires, frustrations, and life experiences, things we all go through. And they transmit them with mastery, through a group of outstanding musicians that know exactly how to connect with the audience through every note and lyric.

Five voices bring the sabor del ritmo to life: Oscar Quezada, an invaluable estrella of the team; Marta Castro y Alberto Barros, a family with music running in their veins; Julián Marino, the revelation of the orquesta; and Orlando Quezada, bringing a fresh and new vibe to Los Titanes’ latest release.

On this LP, the salsera group has included tracks like: Tu juego, Tu decisión, Miedo de ti, Mi harén, Tentación, Noche a noche, Quiéreme sin condiciones y Cultivo de amor—all of them with that characteristic interpretative style that wraps you up and moves the crowd to the rhythm of Los Titanes.

Get ready to listen to an amazing mix of instruments, lyrics, and voices that this production brings together. And be sure that this is salsa that gets into your soul, ‘cause it represents what they call: “la música viva”.

JUAN FERNANDO ÁLVAREZ P.

Original Liner Notes in English
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LOS TITANES continúan haciendo honor a su nombre mitológico, pues cuenta la historia que aquéllos pretendían escalar el cielo en busca de los dioses. Y es que este grupo colombiano ha tenido un gran ascenso, muestra de ello es la cantidad de viajes que realizan por todo el mundo, constituyéndose en la agrupación que más compromisos cumple en el exterior. En el presente año han cumplido contratos en Venezuela, México, Perú y Ecuador, y en el mes de octubre estarán en los Estados Unidos.

Con este nuevo material titulado Tentación, Los Titanes escalan otro peldaño, porque cada nueva producción es el resultado consciente de una experiencia que a lo largo del tiempo ha permitido a esta agrupación consolidarse. En un mercado tan competido, estos artistas, apoyados por Discos Fuentes, han logrado un sitial importante y destacado, el cual sustentan con cada acetato.

LOS TITANES han configurado un estilo particular de salsa-balada. Un término que recoge todas esas emociones, deseos, anhelos, aspiraciones, frustraciones y vivencias en general, que hacen parte de la vida de cada cual, y que son transmitidas con maestría por una agrupación de músicos sobresalientes, que saben cómo llegar al público con las notas y letras de cada canción.

Cinco voces acompañarán su encuentro con el sabor del ritmo: Oscar Quezada, invaluable estrella del elenco; Marta Castro y Alberto Barros, una familia con música en las venas; Julián Marino, la revelación de la orquesta, y Orlando Quezada que le da un tono refrescante y novedoso al nuevo producto de Los Titanes.

En este acetato la agrupación salsera ha incluido temas como: Tu juego, Tu decisión, Miedo de ti, Mi harén, Tentación, Noche a noche, Quiéreme sin condiciones y Cultivo de amor, todos con el característico estilo interpretativo que envuelve y que transforma multitudes en torno al ritmo de Los Titanes.

Escuche la espectacular combinación de instrumentos, letra y voces que esta producción musical reúne y tenga la certeza de escuchar una salsa que se mete en las entrañas, porque representa lo que ellos llaman ‘la música viva’.

JUAN FERNANDO ALVAREZ P.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

Salsa Music

Label & Catalognr:

Discos Fuentes SOF-6022

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

1991 Made in USA

Producers:

Produced by: Alberto Barros

Contracts: Claudia Velásquez - Alberto Barros

Phone: 341 36 79 Fax: (574) 265 27 72

Medellín, Colombia, South America

Sound & Recording Engineers:

Recording Engineers: Juan Jairo Betancur - Luis B. Rincón

Digital Mix: Pedro Muriel G.

Recording Location:

Recorded At: Estudio Digital "TOÑO FUENTES", Medellín, Colombia

Album Cover Design & Artwork:

Artistic Direction & Coordination: Oscar Valencia M. - Isaac Villanueva

Design: Guillermo L. Eusse A.

Photography:

Photography: Estudios Alejandro Velásquez

Band-members/Musicians:

Band-members, Musicians:
  • Nicolás Cristancho - Alberto Barros C.: Piano - Synthesizers
  • Luisito Quintero: Percussion
  • Alberto Barros C.: Trombones - Bass
  • Oscar Abueta: Maracas
  • Julián Marino López - Martha Castro - Alberto Barros - Orlando & Oscar Quezada: Vocals
  • Adolfo Barros - Willy Calderón - Alberto Barros: Chorus
  • Gisela Restrepo - Rafi Montes - Juan Solano - Iván Sierra - Robin Núñez: Guest Musicians

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  • Tu Juego
  • Tu Decision
  • Miedo de Ti
  • Mi Haren
Tracklisting Side Two:
  • Tentacion
  • Noche a Noche
  • Quiereme Sin Condiciones
  • Cultivo de Amor