UA Latino

[Teasing the Korean]

Does anyone else have any records on the United Artists Latino label from the 1960s? The sessions tend to be very solid. Liner notes are in both English and Spanish. While many labels were of course releasing Latin and Brazilian music during that decade, what other major US label at that time devoted a subsidiary to the Latino demographic? I think it was both forward-thinking from a sociological standpoint and shrewd from a business perspective.

[JSngry]

Off the top of my head, I know I've got a least one.

[alankin]

It might of been shrewd business, but having an ethnic subsidiary was as much backward-looking as forward-looking. In the early days of 78's record companies produced "race records" for Black audiences. There were recordings targeted to other ethnic groups as well.

[Fer Urbina]

Not a major, but Tico springs to mind. I only know a few releases from the late 50s, but apparently it was started a decade earlier. It became part of Roulette c. 1959 and now its owned by Fania.

F

[JSngry]

Sony has a Latin division & label right now: http://www.sonymusiclatin.com/

[Bill Nelson]

Around 1969-71, the MGM Latino label released 15 titles, most were re-issues of Verve titles, etc.

http://www.bsnpubs.com/mgm/mgmmisclabels.html

[Teasing the Korean]

It might of been shrewd business, but having an ethnic subsidiary was as much backward-looking as forward-looking. In the early days of 78's record companies produced "race records" for Black audiences. There were recordings targeted to other ethnic groups as well.

I get where you're coming from, but in this case, I still think it was forward-thinking.

[Bill Nelson]

There are some staid, dreary labels which accidentally released a vein of killer latin soul. The Decca label did this briefly in 1969 (probably when Pop took the wife on a European holiday). Instead of their tame LPs of Cugat playing 'teen hits' and the theme from 'Batman', we could groove to:

DL-74829 Manny Corchado & Orch - Swing While You Can

DL-74830 Ozzie Torrens - Boogaloo in Apartment 41

DL-74838 Johnny Zamot - The Latin Soul of

DL-74945 Johnny Zamot - Tell It Like It Is

The two by Zamot are grail-worthy in the extreme.

[Teasing the Korean]

I've got that Ozzie Torrenz. In the mid-60s, Decca also put out Dave Pike's "Manhattan Latin," which would be great were it not for the Jarrett-esque moaning throughout the solos.

[Bill Nelson]

The Decca Johnny Zamot 'Tell It Like It Is' can now be gotten for $11.99 as a vinyl knock-off.

Sure beats $200-300 for an original or $25 for the Japanese CD.

10 solid boogaloo workouts -- topped by the last track 'You Dig?'

Guaranteed to make any party GO, unless you're the DJ at a Republican fund-raiser.

[mikeweil]

Even Prestige had a handful of Latin or ethnic sessions - but never started a sub-label for it, contrary to Riverside with the Battle label.

Edited June 19, 2011 by mikeweil

[Bill Nelson]

Ah yes, who could overlook Battle Records. Otherwise known as The House of Mongo.

I recall my frequent visits and pleasurable hours there as a young man.

[paul secor]

I believe that Riverside used the Battle label to release blues, gospel, and some sermons by Rev. C.L. Franklin, as well as Latin music.

[JSngry]

Prestige did have Tru-Sound.