VA - El Ritmo Latino - 18 Classic Latin Grooves (1991)

This compilation is culled from the Fania/Tico/Vaya/Alegre catalogue whose personnel and artist rosta was perhaps the single most significant focus of popular Latin American culture anywhere in the world throughout the 70's and early eighties.
Afficionados of the Now York ‘Salsa’ sound (it acquired its soubriquet from the title of a 1968 LP by VenezuelansFedericoySuCombo'Llegola Salsa’ (I Play Salsa) regard this period as its most fertile. The jazz influence is strong enough to encourage thrilling improvisation, but not so dominant as to swamp the ‘clave’ (the distinctive "toc-toca-toca" Latin rhythm) or the swinging, set piece horn arrangements; and outstanding singers were legion....
But from the viewpoint of the CD listener, the most important feature is the extraordinary recording quality. This music was recorded simply (usually on 4 or 8 track machines instead of 18, 32 or 48 track as is customary nowadays) with the result that every instrument and voice has equal prominence. The sound is sharp, clear and live, with none of the rubbery soundwash quality that over-sophisticated recording techniques sometimes induce. There are no gimmicks, no echo chambers, no sampling or scratching. Just a bunch of highly talented people, in your living room playing salsa from the heart and soul. I challenge you to stay seated during even one of these blinding dance tunes! (From Liner Notes)