Champagne

by John BushWith Champagne, Eddie Palmieri attempted to chart the changing waters of popular music circa 1968, and the results are as widely varying as the material. He veers from Latin soul to real champagne music to straight-ahead salsa, tries to jump-start a new crossover dance craze, but also looks back to adult-pop standards. And from the first few moments of the LP, it's clear a change-up is in order; over an elastic, funky bass line, a male voice asks incredulously: "Como?/Palmieri? Boogaloo?" The man leaps right into his response to the nascent boogaloo craze with "Ay Que Rico," an irresistibly swinging number with great playing from all involved, from a sprightly upright bass to the raucous brass section re-introduced periodically. Unfortunately, the rest of the crossover material doesn't sound quite this inspired; the very next track is a the chestnut "Here's That Rainy Day," taken at a snail's pace. "Cinturita" and "Palo de Mango" are solid straight-ahead salsa numbers, but "The African Twist" is another obvious commercial tester, a female-led popcorn anthem with a good groove and solid playing but not much else to recommend it. It's best to skip Champagne altogether, and find "Ay Que Rico" on a compilation like NuYorican Funk Experience: Salsa Caliente de Nu York!.