Toño Quirazco

Artist: Toño Quirazco
Album: Bailando Con Toño Quirazco Y Su Conjunto, Vol. II
Label: Orfeon
Year: 1969

1. Maria Isabel
2. Cotorreando
3. Te Vi Llorando
4. Enciende La Luz Del Amor
5. La Casita
6. Minotauro, Pt. 1
7. Matame De Amor
8. Comiendo Ciruelas
9. El Astronauta
10. Eres Maravillosa
11. Minotauro, Pt. 2

I found this one in the "about-to-donate" pile at a record store in Burbank, California. I can't tell you too much about Toño Quirazco as an artist, except for the fact that he was from Mexico and he must have some avid fans, because he has an entire blog dedicated to him.

I was able to translate some of the biography section from the aforementioned blog, and apparently he was born and raised in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. He seems to have done all sorts of things, from medical school, mechanics, engineering, electronics, and eventually music when he moved to Mexico City and signed with the Orfeon label.

Though the same biography mentions he gained popularity when ska music became big in the mid-60s, this album has much more of a Joe Cuba/Hugh Masekela/boogaloo flavor to it. "El Astronauta" and both parts of "Minotauro" have some very interesting sound effects that seem to be made with a pitch-shifted organ (Maybe a synthesizer? Not sure though).

The standout track is clearly "Enciende La Luz Del Amor," or "Turn On Your Love Light" in English. This song, written by Deadric Malone and Joseph Scott, has been recorded by many blues and rock artists. This version, however, is easily the funkiest take on this oft-covered track, with an outstanding (and sample-able) four bar drum break at the beginning.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps (mp3). Download the album here.


Much love,

This Mutha