Siembra [30th Anniversary Edition]

• Artist: Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1978
• Genre: Latin

Review

The high point of Willie Colón's ongoing collaboration with Rubén Blades (and close to a career peak for both artists), Siembra exploded on the salsa scene in 1978 and has never been forgotten by fans. Beginning with a minute of playfully deceptive quasi-disco arrangements, Colón and his band slip into a devastating salsa groove for the opener, "Plástico," on which Blades first criticizes America's throwaway society and then brings all of Latin America together with a call to unity. Blades wrote all but one of the songs on Siembra, and shines on all of them; his extended high-tenor salsa scatting lifts "Buscando Guayaba," his tender side comes across on the love song "Dime," and he outlines a devastating life-in-el-Barrio exposé with "Pedro Navaja" (Peter the Knife). For the latter, Colón and Luis Ortiz's tight arrangement adds immeasurably to the song, using street noise and sirens, breaking into an ironic "I like to live in America!," and punching the statement home with a four-trombone line. Reflecting the tough times but optimistic attitude of el Barrio during the late '70s, Siembra joined Cosa Nuestra as one of Willie Colón's career landmarks. [Fania's 2008, 30th Anniversary Edition included five previously unreleased bonus tracks.] ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Plástico	Rubén Blades	Willie Colón, Rubén Blades	(6:39)
Buscando Guayaba	Rubén Blades	Willie Colón, Rubén Blades	(5:45)
Pedro Navaja (Lyrics)	Rubén Blades	Rubén Blades, Willie Colón	(7:22)
Maria Lionza	Rubén Blades	Willie Colón, Rubén Blades	(5:33)
Ojos	Johnny Ortiz	Willie Colón, Rubén Blades	(4:52)
Dime	Rubén Blades	Willie Colón, Rubén Blades	(7:01)
Siembra	Rubén Blades	Rubén Blades, Willie Colón	(5:23)
Dime [Take 2][#][*]	Rubén Blades	Rubén Blades, Willie Colón	(2:36)
Pedro Navaja [Take 2][#][*]	Rubén Blades	Rubén Blades, Willie Colón	(6:25)
Ligia Elena [#][*]	Rubén Blades	Willie Colón, Rubén Blades	(5:59)
Plástico [Edit][#][*][Instrumental]	Rubén Blades	Willie Colón, Rubén Blades	(6:36)
Dime [Single Version][#][*]	Rubén Blades	Rubén Blades, Willie Colón	(4:23)

Credits

Jerry Masucci (Executive Producer), Willie Colón (Soloist), Rubén Blades (Choir, Chorus), Jose Mangual Jr. (Maracas), Leopoldo Pineda (Soloist), Sam Burtis (Soloist), Jose Mangual Jr. (Bongos), Willie Colón (Arranger), Sal Cuevas (Bass), Irene Perlicz (Illustrations), Louie Cruz (Arranger), Willie Colón (Choir, Chorus), Leopoldo Pineda (Trombone), Adalberto Santiago (Choir, Chorus), José Luis Rodríguez (Trombone), Carlos Franzetti (Arranger), Irene Perlicz (Artwork), Willie Colón (Musical Direction), Jimmy Delgado (Timbales), José Luis Rodríguez (Soloist), Eddy Montalvo (Tumbadora), Adalberto Santiago (Maracas), Richie Vasquez (Illustrations), Eddie Rivera (Bass), Luis Ortiz (Arranger), Sam Burtis (Trombone), Jon Fausty (Engineer), Willie Colón (Producer), Willie Colón (Trombone), Jose Mangual Jr. (Choir, Chorus), Rubén Blades (Vocals)