Aguapanela con Limón

Eddie Palmieri kicks off this week's set with the funky "Vamos Pal Monte" - perhaps one of his most classic tunes. Next, you have Lisandro Meza's "Entre Rejas" - this is the song that makes me wish I played the accordean!

Be on the lookout for Fruko's "Sabré Olvidarte." I never paid much attention to this one before, but it is definitely a treat.

I hope you enjoy the overall selection. Tune in next week - I got some fun tracks already picked out. Sorry to have to make you wait =(

Peace!

Chitos con Gaseosa

RIP Ralph Mercado. Click Here for NY Times Obituary.

As I was looking over the records I had selected for this week's set, I thought about revising some selections in order to feature more songs that would pay tribute to a man that did so much to promote latin music around the world. It was at this moment that I realized that Ralph Mercado's influence on latin music is so widespread that I can play virtually any song in my vinyl collection and there's a good chance that the artist is somehow connected to Mercado. Finally, I went with my original selection. In this week's track list alone, there are six artists that Ralph Mercado represented at one point - Tito Puente, La Lupe, Ricardo Ray, Bobby Cruz, Ray Barretto, and Eddie Palmieri.

This week's selection highlights some boogaloo and soul. You don't want to miss the Fania All Stars' live version of Marvin Gaye's "If This World Were Mine," featuring Joe Bataan and La La.

Also, the song "If (We Had Peace Today)" comes off one of my favorite albums, Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive. I highly recommend you take a listen to the entire record, it is truly great.

Aguardiente Estraight (on an empty stomach)

No sitting, no 'playin the wall', none of this 'I don't dance" paja - this is some get sweaty, get movin', get with it or get out type of chit - no joke. Asi que, get the 'firewater' ready because this is salsa de la buena - pa' que sepan

We got some hardcore classics here - The Latin Brothers have two spots on this weeks selection. They are a very successful Colombian group organized by Julio Ernesto Estrada, who we know better as Fruko. Las Caleñas son Como las Flores has Piper Pimienta Diaz on vocals and Patrona de los Reclusos features Joe Arroyo.

Hector Lavoe's El Todopoderoso is by far my favorite 'gospel' song. If they played this at church, I'd be there every Sunday - en serio!

And then we have El Preso. Wowsers, talk about a power song - this one never fails to get everyone on the dance floor. If I'm at a party with my sister, it doesn't matter what I'm doing, when this song comes on, I put down my drink, empanada, or whatever and I look for my hermanita on the dancefloor. This one is for you flaca!

Brevas con Arequipe

After a heavy week, I hope you saved some room for this sweetened selection. Joe Cuba's "Mujer Divina" along with Lucho Gatica's version of "Historia de un Amor" give this mix a candy coat. Enjoy.

No olvides sonreir.

Caldito de Pollo

Qui'bo people. Welcome to the arepafunk blog. This is where I will be posting notes from time to time regarding the weekly arepafunk podcast. Feel free to leave me comments! Since my goal is to mix it up and keep it fresh, your feedback is much appreciated.

So... the first epsiode is now available at the homepage and in the iTunes store. My very first selection of tracks came after a full weekend at home while I was recovering from the flu. I listened to records for like 3 days straight - no joke. Entonces, if you feel like you might be catching something, the doctor says lots of fluids and a lot more arepafunk - Pa' que sepan