Total Visits

Saturday, June 13, 2009

WITH LOVE (1972) - RALFI PAGAN


What would THE KEEPER OF LOST DREAMZ be without a top notch RALFI PAGAN album? Well, fortunately for everyone we don't have to contemplate that problem thanks to the help of northern soul collector SCAVENJAH. Once again SCAVENJAH makes the scene and drops some soul heaven for the listeners.
This album has some fabulous cuts including "Look At Her", "To Say I Love You" and the slow grinding gem "Just One Of Your Kisses."

Ralfi Pagan passed without making a significant mark in the music industry, but that certainly was not due to lack of talent. Raised on the Lower East Side of New York City, he was part of the city's bubbling salsa scene in the '60s and late '70s. His main body of work -- four albums -- was waxed for Johnny Pacheco and Gerald Masucci's Fania Records. Though a major player in the studio, he didn't achieve the notoriety of some other Fania artists, known as the Fania All Stars and which included Mongo Santamaria, Johnny Colon, Willie Bobo, Joe Bataan, Ralph Robles, and Bobby Valentine. The label started on a shoestring and couldn't afford to promote its early product across-the-board, but Fania records were hot platters on Latin radio stations.
Pagan was a gifted vocalist. His light, floating tenor was as serenading as Smokey Robinson's, but more ardent when he came down from the clouds. His melodious crooning on the WITH LOVE album got Ralfi some chart action with the remake of Bread's "Make It With You" for Wand Records (Fania contracted with Wand during this period).

1. MI CHAMACO

2. MI VOY CAMINANDO

3. I NEVER THOUGHT YOU'D LEAVE ME

4. NEGRONA

5. EL GATON

6. TO SAY I LOVE YOU

7. MAKE IT WITH YOU

8. STRAY WOMAN

9. JUST ONE OF YOUR KISSES

10. LOOK AT HER

8 comments:

  1. love this guy.sweet vocals.sad he died so young

    ReplyDelete
  2. I completely agree LOUIS. He never really got the rewards he deserved for making such great music.

    One thing I always liked about him is he had such a distinct sound....nobody ever quite sounded like him.

    G MAN

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely Lp G Man - thanks for the share!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanx HOOCH.......this guy put out some great, one of a kind music.

    G MAN

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm ashamed to admit, but I didn't know this wonderful singer until I've found his music here.
    Great discovery. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanx RAGGEDY...

    Unbelievable such a great singer could fly under the radar of fame.

    G MAN

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey, I just launched a Ralfi Pagan tribute site at www.ralfipagan.com Please come by!

    ReplyDelete
  8. NICE SITE R DUB..........THANX 4 THE HEADZ UP!

    G MAN

    ReplyDelete