Los Reyes 73 - Los Reyes 73

Release Date: 02/08/24 

Genre: Funk

Continuing the Mr Bongo Cuban Classics Series, we shine a light on Los
Reyes 73 and their sensational debut LP from 1975

The album had multiple different pressings under various titles and artworks, but
the music stayed the same and speaks for itself. The group set the bar high with
this fery Afro-Cuban-funk gem, letting loose a vibrant Latin workout combining
psych rock trippiness with a heavy dose of deep funk . Elements that fuse to
frmly cement this album as a '70s Cuban masterpiece and one of our favourites
here at Mr Bongo HQ.

Releasing just two albums and a handful of 7- inch singles, the band were a
popular and infuential group in Cuba at the time. Since then, they have featured
on several compilation albums across the 2000s that have helped raise their
profle amongst new audiences worldwide.

Produced by the magical Raul Gomez, the album featured a list of heavyweight
Cuban musicians. Directed by Santiago Reyes and Ovidio Guerra , with
orchestration from greats including Ricardo Eddy Martinez who also released the
much- loved album 'Expreso Ritmico' in 1978 alongside Ignacio Herrera, Mario
Valdes and Gilberto Garcia. The album also features the writing prowess of Los
Van Van's Miguel Angel Rasalps.

Blending traditional Cuban Son aesthetics with funk infuences and psychedelic
touches, the music housed within showcases a cosmic fusion that stands up on
any modern dancefoor. The scintillating opener 'Grandes Amigos', the tripped out
'Adeoey' and the grooving 'Un Lamento Hecho Cancion' are just a handful of
examples that exhibit the sheer musical melting pot of this album.

For this reissue, we have chosen to use the artwork from a Mexican version of the
album released on Pentagrama Records that features the beautiful bird
illustration cover art. The Cuban edition was released on the state-run Areito.
An outstanding and wondrous Latin record that has long been calling out for an
ofcial reissue.