Spanish rap songs in R&B, Hip Hop & Rap Music

"Spanish Harlem/Don't Play That Song" (03/14/2006) R&B King, Ben E., Collectables Records2 LPs on 1 CD: SPANISH HARLEM (1961)/DON'T PLAY THAT SONG (1962). Includes liner notes by Marv Goldberg. Collectables' two-in-one CD reissue of Ben E. King's first and third LPs is arguably the strongest CD of its kind, showing off not only King's three biggest early hits but also a brace of fine album tracks. The first dozen songs, all thematically linked as light Latin pop-soul (and representing the Spanish Harlem album), are mostly not quite as strong or representative of King's range as what follows, but they're all enjoyable and the 24 songs between them sum up his early-career work quite well. The annotation focuses much more of King's broader career and there is no list of recording dates or sessions, but the sound is excellent. ~ Bruce Eder Ben E. King may be best known by the average listener for his mega hit "Stand By Me." However, his influence on soul and R&B in the 1960's was quite significant. On these two albums--condensed onto one CD--we hear the range of King's abilities. For example, King sings fine renditions of many soul tunes on DON'T PLAY THAT SONG. His honeyed voice on the album's opening title track can induce goose bumps. He also really shines on the march-like "Here Comes the Night," and the light rock number "The Hermit of Misty Mountain." On SPANISH HARLEM, we hear King in a Latin setting, crooning atop the Cuban percussion and sweeping strings. "Besame Mucho" may be the best known of these selections, but it is the Ruiz/Gimbel composition "Sway" that really stands out here. In general, both albums contain huge production numbers; full orchestras are employed on each record, including brass, harp, and woodwinds, as well as backing singers. This is typical of the Phil Spector "wall of sound" approach that cropped up often on the soul and R&B scene of the 1960's.