[Tango-L] Music recommendation and a little history.

[Crrtango@aol.com]

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


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