"Los Merengazos Del Ano El Africano, Oye ..." Album Description:
I can tell what kind of record this is before I even finish reading the sleeve: a no-nonsense merengue sampler that doesn’t sit still. This one’s a 12" Spanish pressing from 1984 on Hispavox Kubaney (160 318), and it behaves like it. Loud. Direct. Built for movement, not for polite “listening sessions.”
Side One kicks the door open with "El Africano" (Anibal Bravo) and immediately sets the rule: keep up, or get out of the way. Merengue Caliente turns up more than once, because of course they do — they’re the engine in the middle of this thing, pushing "Platano Maduro" and "Lo Que Quieras (Te Lo Doy)" like they’re trying to shake dust out of the curtains. Then you’ve got Jorge Solano y su Orquesta sliding in with "La Mentira" — brass snapping, rhythm tight, that little wink of drama that keeps it from feeling like one long sprint.
Flip it over and the record doesn’t suddenly become “Side Two: the calm part.” Not happening. "Oye" comes on like somebody just cranked the volume on a kitchen radio, and Eddy Quiroz shows up with "La Doncella" (with Jorge Solano y su Orquesta) to remind you merengue can flirt and punch at the same time. By the time you hit "La Revancha" (Anibal Bravo y su Tipico Dominicana) and the closer "Mentirosa", the vibe is clear: this compilation isn’t trying to teach you history — it’s trying to get your feet involved.
And yes, vinyl matters here, but not in the cheesy “warmth” sermon way. It’s the physicality: the quick cue, the snap of the needle drop, the fact that you actually have to stand up and flip the thing like a grown-up. If you want merengue as background wallpaper, stream something algorithmic. This LP is more like a friendly shove in the ribs.
