BARRABÁS - Bestial (1982) 12" LP Vinyl Album

The Electrifying Spanish Funk-Soul LP That Marked the Band’s Evolution and Legacy

Album cover of Barrabas' 'Bestial' featuring a close-up of a roaring tiger's mouth with a shotgun barrel pointing towards it.

Released in 1982, Bestial is the eighth and penultimate studio album by Spanish funk-rock pioneers Barrabás. Known for their infectious blend of Latin rhythms, funk grooves, and rock energy, the band delivers a powerful and dynamic record that showcases their signature style. Bestial marks a significant chapter in Barrabás’ journey, featuring long-time vocalist José Luis Tejada in his final appearance with the group.

Bestial: Album Description

Barrabas Bestial is a studio album by the Spanish band Barrabás, released in 1982. The band was formed in the early 1970s and was one of the most influential Latin funk bands of the era. The band's sound combined elements of rock, funk, soul, and Latin rhythms, and their music was widely popular across Europe, North America, and Latin America.

Barrabas Bestial consists of nine tracks, each of which showcases the band's unique blend of musical styles.

Barrabas Bestial received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising the band's musicianship and others criticizing the album for being too derivative of the band's earlier work. However, the album was a commercial success, particularly in Spain and Latin America, where the band had a large following.

Barrabas Bestial also had a significant impact on the Latin funk genre, influencing a new generation of bands that would emerge in the 1980s and beyond. The album's fusion of rock, funk, soul, and Latin rhythms was groundbreaking at the time and paved the way for other bands to explore similar musical territories.

Album Production Information

The album: "BARRABAS - Bestial" was produced by: Fernando Arbex , Jose Ma Moll

Sound Engineer: Kristian Schultze, Hans Menzel

Recorded at Musicland, Munich, Germany

Album Cover Illustration: Aboli

Spanish Funk Soul
Barclay 200.418
12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  
1982 Made in France

Band Members and Musicians on: BARRABAS - Bestial
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • José Luis Tejada - vocals, harmonica
  • Jorge Eduardo Maning - guitar, vocals
  • Jesús Gordaliza - bass guitar, vocals
  • Armando Pelayo - keyboards
  • José María Moll - drums, vocals

Complete Track Listing of: "BARRABAS - Bestial"

The Songs/tracks on "BARRABAS - Bestial" are

  1. The Lion (Don't Kill the Lion) (Fernando Arbex) - 6:24
  2. Love of the Night (José Maria Moll, José Luis Tejada) - 4:10
  3. Viva Maria (Arbex) - 5:56
  4. Dolores (Arbex) - 5:08
  5. (Be My) Rebel (Arbex) - 6:30
  6. Love & Hate (Jesús Gordaliza, Tejada) - 4:08
  7. So Long (Moll, Tejada) - 2:55
  8. Leather Queen (Arbex, Armando Pelayo) - 3:57
  9. Big Brother (Jorge Eduardo Maning) - 4:17

Album Cover Photo Gallery of: BARRABAS - Bestial
Front Cover Photo of "BARRABAS - Bestial" Album
Album cover of Barrabas' 'Bestial' featuring a close-up of a roaring tiger's mouth with a shotgun barrel pointing towards it.

The album cover of "Bestial" by Barrabas features an intense and dramatic illustration. The primary visual element is an extreme close-up of a roaring tiger’s mouth, with its sharp fangs prominently displayed. The tiger’s lips are curled back, revealing a set of large, gleaming canines and a pink tongue. The fur is detailed with bold black stripes contrasting against a golden-yellow base. The inside of the mouth is a deep red, with smaller teeth lining the lower jaw.

A notable and striking addition to the composition is a silver shotgun barrel pointed directly into the tiger’s open mouth, positioned at the bottom right. The barrel reflects light and has a faint glow near the muzzle, suggesting a charged or imminent action.

The typography is bold and aggressive, complementing the album’s title and theme. The band’s name, "Barrabas," is written in a stylized cursive script in the top left corner, with sharp strokes and a fiery orange hue. The album title, "Bestial," is positioned at the bottom right in a similar intense, jagged script.

The background is dark, allowing the tiger’s fur and the bright text to stand out. The "Barclay" record label logo appears in the bottom left corner in a small, yellow cursive font. The overall composition exudes power, aggression, and intensity, reflecting the album’s likely energetic and forceful musical style.

Back Cover  Photo of "BARRABAS - Bestial" Album
Back cover of Barrabas' 'Bestial' album with a black background and yellow gothic-style text displaying the tracklist and credits.

The back cover of "Bestial" by Barrabas features a minimalistic yet striking design. The background is entirely black, creating a stark contrast with the bright yellow text. At the top center, the band's name, "Barrabas," is displayed in a bold, gothic-style font with intricate, sharp details, giving it an aggressive and mysterious appearance.

Below the band name, the album's tracklist is divided into two sections, "Face A" on the left and "Face B" on the right. Each track is listed with its duration and songwriting credits. The text is arranged in a clean, structured manner using a formal serif font, ensuring readability against the dark background.

Further down, the lower portion of the cover contains detailed production credits, including the album’s producer, assistant producer, recording location, and engineering team. The names of contributing musicians and special acknowledgments are also included.

At the very bottom, the copyright notice states that the album was released in 1982 under Fernando Arbex Inc., with a licensing note mentioning Scorpio Music. The layout maintains a classic, no-frills aesthetic, allowing the emphasis to remain on the essential information while keeping the design visually striking through its high-contrast black and yellow theme.

Close-up Photo of "BARRABAS - Bestial" Record Label 
Close-up of Barrabas' 'Bestial' vinyl record label, featuring the Barclay logo, tracklist, and production details in white text on a black disc.

This close-up image of the vinyl record label from "Bestial" by Barrabas features a simple yet classic design. The label is circular with a dark gray background, contrasting with the bright white text. At the top, the "Barclay" logo is prominently displayed in an elegant cursive font, slightly slanted, giving it a vintage appeal.

Just below the logo, the band's name, "Barrabas," is printed in bold, capitalized letters, followed by the album title, "Bestial," enclosed in quotation marks. The tracklist for Side 1 is clearly printed, listing four songs: "The Lion (Don’t Kill the Lion)," "Lover of the Night," "Viva Maria," and "Dolores," along with the respective songwriters and durations.

Additional technical details are present on the label, including the catalog number ("N° 200.418"), the format ("33 Tours," indicating 33 RPM speed), and the "SACEM SDRM" rights organization logo. The copyright date, "1982," is positioned towards the right side along with the mention of "Fernando Arbex Inc." as the production entity.

Surrounding the label, a thin white circular border encloses the information, enhancing readability. A block of small French text at the left warns against unauthorized reproduction, public performance, and broadcasting of the record. The center hole of the record is visible, slightly reflecting light, emphasizing the texture of the vinyl material.

The overall design is minimalistic, prioritizing clarity and functionality, while maintaining a classic aesthetic that aligns with the album’s era.

Index of BARRABAS Featured Vinyl Album Discography and Album Cover Gallery
BARRABÁS - Bestial 12" Vinyl LP
BARRABÁS - Bestial album front cover vinyl record

Barrabas Bestial is a studio album by the Spanish band Barrabás, released in 1982. The band was formed in the early 1970s and was one of the most influential Latin funk bands of the era. The band's sound combined elements of rock, funk, soul, and Latin rhythms, and their music was widely popular across Europe

Learn more
BARRABÁS - Piel de Barrabás 12" Vinyl LP
BARRABÁS - Piel de Barrabás album front cover vinyl record

"Piel de Barrabás" is a notable album in the history of Latin funk music. While it may not have had the same raw energy and innovation as the band's earlier work, its commercial success and catchy hooks helped

Learn more
BARRABÁS - Power 12" Vinyl LP
BARRABÁS - Power album front cover vinyl record

"Power" is Barrabás' 1972 studio album. The album showcases the band's unique fusion of Latin, funk, and rock music and features iconic tracks such as "Wild Safari" and "Woman." It was a commercial success and helped establish the band as a major force in the Latin funk genre.

Learn more
BARRABÁS - Soltad a Barrabas 12" Vinyl LP
BARRABÁS - Soltad a Barrabas album front cover vinyl record

Soltad a Barrabás is a seminal album in the history of Latin funk music. Its fusion of different musical styles and its socially conscious lyrics continue to inspire musicians and fans around the world. Barrabás proved that music can be both entertaining

Learn more
BARRABÁS - Wild Safari 12" Vinyl LP
BARRABÁS - Wild Safari album front cover vinyl record

"Wild Safari" is a classic of funk, soul, and rock music. The album's concept, themes, and innovative sound continue to resonate with music lovers today. The album's success established Barrabas as one of the most important bands of the Spanish music scene and paved the way for their continued success

Learn more