Sometimes it is difficult to find really good compilations, but some of the suggestions have been very good. It is just as difficult finding a good representative (and danceable) CD of one particular artist. Until one learns about the music, it can be daunting and often disappointing to take a chance if you don't know the songs. For example, all of us have CDs with all tangos but no waltzes or milongas and sometimes you have to buy a CD just to get one or two songs otherwise unavailable. It often depends on the producers choice of selections. There is however an excellent and new Juan D'Arienzo series of his complete recordings available on BMG. The best part is that the very first and second CDs of the series have a very high proportion of very good and famous songs from his early years. There is some debate over the early D'Arienzo compared the later years and I prefer the early recordings. Rodolfo Biagi joined his orchestra in late 1935 (1935-38) and the chemistry was perfect. The sound (although derided as primitive and simple by the music critics of the day) brought new life to tango and it became very popular again after languishing in the evolutionary chamber-music style of De Caro, Filiberto and others. Beautiful to listen to but not so easy to dance to. He literally brought people back out to the dance halls.
D'Arienzo's sound was consistent over the years so there are a lot of later songs equally danceable. Except for not having his later recordings, these are probably the best CDs, especially the first one, if you only could buy one or two, of D'Arienzo. (I have eleven CDs of D'Arienzo but this one has more recognizable, and very danceable, songs than any I own or have heard). For those who recognize the titles, all of these are on the first CD: Hotel Victoria, De Pura Cepa, Silueta Portena, 9 de Julio, El Flete, Ataniche, La Payanca, Rawson, not to mention nine waltzes! Two of the waltzes are newly discovered. You can find the CD at: milonga.co.uk Best of luck, Charles ************************************** See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004) _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
