Fania All-Stars' first concert in Puerto Rico was a spiritual homecoming for everyone who made the trip down from New York, whether they had been born in PR, raised by parents who had called the island home, or simply grown up with its sound all around them -- despite being born 1,500 miles away. It's a flight that few of Fania's stars missed, despite the rising profile of the label's biggest names; every major spoke of the wheel was represented, including
Johnny Pacheco,
Willie Colón,
Ray Barretto,
Hector Lavoe,
Cheo Feliciano,
Larry Harlow, Bobby Valentin, and many others (including special guests
Mongo Santamaria,
Celia Cruz, and
Manu Dibango). The show, which opened Roberto Clemente Coliseum late in 1973 and found 11,000 fans packed in (with thousands more restlessly waiting outside), cemented
Fania All-Stars' wide world-wide appeal -- as if there was any doubt in Puerto Rico -- and featured several classic recordings later found on
Latin-Soul-Rock and Live at Yankee Stadium. Obviously, the historic value of this tape -- discovered in pristine condition in an upstate New York storage facility -- can barely be topped in salsa history, but the music inside justifies its value as well. True, live salsa sets from the '70s are usually brimming with energy anyway, but this far exceeds even the many released live concerts by the
Fania All-Stars. The brass is crystal-clear, the rhythms are tight and aggressive, the audience is supportive, and when
Hector Lavoe leads them to the finish of "Mi Gente," the feeling of community and joy is palpable. ~ John Bush