1968 Joe Bataan “Subway Joe” on Fania.

Man, what a banger! Obviously, every person on the planet needs to own every Bataan record ever released, and probably even the demo tapes and snippets of edits left on the cutting room floor, but in a way this one feels like The Purest Joe. Whatever that means. It’s just SO in pocket. Not as dulce as earlier stuff, not as funky as later stuff, pre-political, pre-St. Latin’s Day Massacre, just hard and fast dance floor wizardry, no need to mess with a good thing, let alone a great thing.  “Freaky, baby…Freaky!”

​Hey, did you know that Joe Bataan’s real name is Bataan Nitollano, and he’s half Filipino, although born in Spanish Harlem, like any self respecting purveyor of smoking Boogaloo would be? Interestingly, after the third spin, I have decided that this record really summits the asphalt mountain because of the KILLER trombone action of Joe “Chickie” Fuente. Dude hits those valves hard and slick and sexy. Although the congas of Lorenzo “Chino” Galan are definitely the other swing of the pendulum.  Que rico Guaguanco action! Hey hey hey, baby! Like a long, hot afternoon uptown! Descarga this!