a yerdarlingdaily mixtape: LAS CHINAS

I’m happy to present “LAS CHINAS,” an hour of Spanish-language listening lovingly handcrafted by yers truly. Inspired by a request for Spanish-language recommendations from the early-to-mid 1900s, I pulled out what I had, and like any good music nerd, kept searching for more, long after I had a completed tracklist.

The resulting set focuses on the 1950s and 60s, with a few outliers before and after. You’ll hear Cuban doo-wop, Mexican bolero, Peruvian tango arrangements, Texan chicano soul, bugalú, big band, cumbia, flamenco, rumba Catalana and fado. (Yes, fado—Amalia Rodrigues is such a force that I did include one Portuguese track.)

I took the photo on the cover last summer in the hamlet Cuilapan de Guerrero, outside Oaxaca. These flower-bedecked bailarinas are Las Chinas. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD (m4a file with tracks and artwork, 50MB)

tracklisting:

Los Pájaros - Turubao de Los Pájaros (1967)
Dimas - No Llores (196?)
Compay Quinto - Que Sera (Mi China) (1967)
Los Destellos - Elsa (1970)
Aurita Castillo Y Su Conjunto - Chambacu (196?)
Lita Nelson - Algo se me va
Margarita Sanchez - Romance de la reina juana (1962)
Paco Ibáñez & Carmela - Que nadie sepa mi sufrir (1969)
Los Zafiros - Y Sabes Bien (1967?)
Los Rondels - La La, Te Amo (1968)
Los Tres Caballeros - El Telefono (1957?)
Eydie Gorme & Trio Los Panchos - Luna Lunera (1966)
Elvira Rios - Noche De Ronda
Niña de los Peines - Amapola en un trigal (fandango) (1929)
Dolores Vargas “La Terremoto” - A tu vera (1962)
Los Amaya - ¡Qué mala suerte la mía! (1970)
Noel Petro - Cabeza de hacha (196?)
Toña la Negra - Oracion Caribe (1961?)
Amalia Rodrigues - Barco Negro (1955)
Chavela Vargas - Piensa en mí (1991)

dig deeper into Spanish-language music blogs:

WestTexDigs // Quitarayas // Arturo Discos // Tardes de Guateque // Voces, Guitarras y Maracas // Mexicovers // Cuchyfritos