“Whereas the first volume concentrated on northern Europe and America, this (far livelier, though that might just be personal taste) ten-CD follow-up anthology heads south-west from Spain and takes in such forms as flamenco and paso doble, Brazilian samba and Argentinian tango, and the Caribbean calypso, rumba, and beguine, among others. The individual CDs have the added value of not always concentrating on the most ‘authentic’ performances – for example, the calypso set opens with American wartime sweethearts The Andrew Sisters, whose 1944 cover of ‘Rum and Coca Cola’ introduced the world to the genre, and also includes movie star Robert Mitchum (surprisingly convincing), plus performers from across the Caribbean and not just from Trinidad.
The time span of these Dance Master Classics, as each set is termed, covers 1930 to 1966 (though the bluk of the performances date from the 50s), the sound quality is excellent throughout and each individual CD is well annotated and illustrated, though the English notes are abridged from the French – my only complaint.”
By Norman DARWEN – ROCK ‘n REEL
The time span of these Dance Master Classics, as each set is termed, covers 1930 to 1966 (though the bluk of the performances date from the 50s), the sound quality is excellent throughout and each individual CD is well annotated and illustrated, though the English notes are abridged from the French – my only complaint.”
By Norman DARWEN – ROCK ‘n REEL