Lost In Tyme Blog

Truly magical stuff this first album by this little-known but magnificent Latin Rock band.
Worth it just for ''Suavecito'', an amazing lowrider anthem,

Jorge Santana(Carlos Brother) plays lead guitar on this album, but Malo's sound incoporates more vocals and percussion into the music which contrasts Carlos Santana's guitar-focused style. Lots of great percussion sounds fill this record as well as romantic spanish lyrics

Tracks

1. Pana 6.45

2. Just Say Goodbye 8.00

3. Cafe 7.21

4. Nena 6.28

5. Suavecito 6.36

6. Peace 9.21

The Reviews

1
Malo's debut album remains their best and best-known work, primarily for the inclusion of the hit single "Suavecito." That track managed to make a Chicago-like pop-soul song sound hip with its smooth integration of Latin rhythms and irresistible "la la la" chorus. However, it represented just one facet of a band who, despite some expected similarities to Santana, played some of the most exciting and exuberant fusions of rock, soul, and Latin music. The six extended tracks (all clocking in at over six minutes apiece) leaned more heavily on hot Latin jazz brass than Santana did, though Jorge Santana himself generated plenty of friction with his burning electric guitar. It's not an exaggeration to state that by the time this came out in 1972, Malo's Latin rock blend sounded fresher than Santana's, if only because they sound hungrier and less formulaic than Santana did by that point. The Santana comparisons are unavoidable, though in this case it's to Malo's credit, as they too boasted a deft balance of improvisatory instrumental passages, solid multi-layered percussive rhythms, and emotional, romantic singing in both Spanish and English.

2
This is a great album of great songs. They could have been done by Santana, but they are longer and more fluid. The music style is closest to Santana's Caravanserai, but a little lighter. When Santana hit it big, there were many copiers, as the record labels tried to find the next big latino band. Malo was the best of the Santana wannabe's. Although this is not an important album and it is copying someone else's music style, I still give it 5 stars because it so good on many levels. Malo featured Carlos Santana's brother, Jorge, on guitar. Other prominent members include Louis Gasca, would go on to a solo career in jazz fusion and Richard Kermode, a phenominal keyboardist who would join Santana during the Caravanserai days. Malo had a richer sound than Santana and featured more brass instruments. They put out very enjoyable music. However, there music was not as powerful and the songs were not as meaningful as Santana's. Malo recorded 5 albums before breaking up in 1980. Some of the original members left before the breakup. Malo, has "reformed" a number of times since then. The only remaining original member is the lead singer. Malo is currently active and playing in small places like art and wine festivals (they recently played at a Tamale festival.)

3
At a time when brother Carlos turned spiritual and got ready to release Caravanserai, Jorge Santana became a member of this band, Malo. Malo, the debut album from 1971, continued with the formula from the first three Santana LPs which had made them world-famous: fusing Latin percussion, Rock and West Coast Pop. The album mainly consists of uptempo songs complete with wahwah guitars, excellent brass and percussion sections and great arrangements. Peace is a suite beginning with a heavy Rock vamp leading into a swinging Jazz improvisation by the trumpet; a quiet guitar improvisation leads back to the Rock vamp from the beginning. Highlights: Suavecito, sung in English, a mild Rumba and a quiet storm classic with lovely harmony vocals and subtle percussion; and Just Say Goodbye, a little suite starting with a slow introduction, then a rocking part takes over featuring a guitar solo, great congas and organ, eventually vocals sing a falling line, the part fades out to be replaced with a slow Rumba sung in English restating elements from the introduction.