VARIOUS ARTISTS - WE’VE GOT A GROOVY THING GOING: THE LATIN SOUL OF BOBBY MARIN

Those in the know are well aware of Bobby Marin’s work, and the fact that he was behind the scenes for some of the best boogaloo and salsa of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Yet, until now, no one has explicitly put Bobby’s name in the headline and given him his due on the cover of a properly credited Latin soul compilation.

This compilation comprises twenty four essential boogaloo, Latin funk, rock and afro disco gems, each one bearing the mark of quality: “A Bobby Marin Production”, including songs by Ricardo Marrero, the Ghetto Brothers, Ocho, Louie Ramírez… A freshly curated overview of his fascinatingly complex back catalog in these genres.

Since the late 1980s there have been numerous Latin soul and boogaloo compilations, and certainly much has been written about the history of the music too. An excellent documentary (We Like It Like That, by Mathew Ramírez Warren) and a theatrical musical called I Like It Like That, both named after the well-known Pete Rodríguez anthem ‘I Like It Like That’, have brought the music to a broader audience as well. That tune was also the inspiration for a film in 1994 of the same name that featured a contemporary cover version of the song by Tito Nieves, and more recently the original was sampled by Cardi B and has appeared in commercials too. Additionally, there has been a revival of interest in live bands playing boogaloo and even recording new compositions, with notable releases by the likes of Setenta, Spanglish Fly and the Boogaloo Assassins among others.

Generally, when discussing the “first wave” of Latin soul and boogaloo, it’s the bands and their leaders, the singers and the songs that get all the recognition. But what of the producers, composers, and arrangers behind the music? Over the years, one of the best old-school New York Latin music producers, Bobby Marin, has occasionally been given some well-deserved credit and popped up sporadically in articles or liner notes (Wax Poetics, Fania, Gladys Palmera). However, to the casual public, he is not a household name, even among some fans of boogaloo and salsa. Thankfully, those rare few who are in the know are well aware of his work, and the fact that he was behind the scenes for some of the best boogaloo and salsa of the ‘60s and ‘70s. There are even some contemporary Latin soul compilations that contain mostly material licensed, produced and / or written by Bobby (or his brother, Richard), and a tip of the hat must go to Bobby’s friend Dean Rudland for all his work in this area, as well as to Rocafort Records for digging up the long-lost Nitty Gritty Sextet album.

Yet, until now, no one has explicitly put Bobby’s name in the headline and given him his due on the cover of a properly credited Latin soul compilation. This collection aims to change that and give the man his Latin soul “props” for the first time on a freshly curated overview of his fascinatingly complex back catalog in this genre.

Twenty four essential boogaloo, Latin funk, rock and afro disco gems, each one bearing the mark of quality: “A Bobby Marin Production”, including songs by Ricardo Marrero, the Ghetto Brothers, Ocho, Louie Ramírez…

TRACKLIST

Side A

1. MOVIN’ MUCH TOO FAST - Bobby Marin

2. A GROOVY THING GOING - Bobby Marin

3. HEY MR. SKYJACKER - Richie & The PS 54 School Yard

4. WHAT I FEEL - Ricardo Marrero and The Group / The PS 54 School Yard

5. TAKE A RIDE - Bobby Marin & The Latin Chords feat. Sonny Bravo

6. WORK YOUR SHOW - Bobby Marin & The Latin Chords feat. Sonny Bravo

7. ‘NEATH THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER SUN - Bobby Marin & The Latin Chords feat. Sonny Bravo

Side B

1. BARBARA WITH THE KOOKY EYES - 107th Street Stickball Team

2. MOJO SHINGALING - 107th Street Stickball Team

3. RHYTHM AND SOUL - 107th Street Stickball Team

4. LUCY’S SPANISH HARLEM - Louie Ramírez & His Orchestra

5. LOVE IT UP - Louie Ramírez & His Orchestra

6. JUMPIN’ AROUND - Johnny Rodriguez & Angel René Orchestra

7. TAKIN’ OVER - La Cucaracha Brass

Side C

1. HEY, MAMA - La Cucaracha Brass

2. WE BELONG TOGETHER - Herbie Olivieri & The Latin Blues Band

3. COME LIVE WITH ME - Herbie Oliveri & The Latin Blues Band

4. GOT THIS HAPPY FEELING - The Ghetto Brothers

5. DO IT - Los Africanos

Side D

1. PAMOJA WATU (TOGETHER PEOPLE) - Los Africanos

2. IT’S YOUR THING - Los Africanos

3. UNDRESS MY MIND - Ocho

4. CISCO KID - La Crema

5. GIMME, TAKE IT - Louie Ramírez (Bobby Marin edit)

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