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With a cover like that, and considering the group moniker plus the title, there's no way this album isn't going to be a winner. This will be a Latin rock extravaganza, right?
Not really. At first I was a bit disappointed, but as I played through it a couple of times, I warmed up to it quite a bit. The first name I recognized after finding the album was vocalist Lenny Zakatek. Who's that? Ah, he's one of the primary singers on some of the classic Alan Parsons Project albums, including their funk classic 'I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You'. Apparently Parsons was producing an album next door when he heard the band rehearsing. And that funk leaning is exactly where Gonzalez sits. Their music is more Latin funk meets fusion than rock oriented. Side 1 is still a bit marginal for my tastes with a couple of highlights, but Side 2 is almost all aces. Especially the last three tracks. 'Ahwai Five O' (lol, named after guitarist and composer Robert Ahwai) is a really fine instrumental fusion number. 'Crystal Blue Persuasion' reminds me of Malo when in a similar Latin pop mood. The album would have been better served had it featured some ripping guitar solos in the Santana mode, but that's not what Gonzalez were about. Naturally the band went on after this and tried to capture the disco market with limited success. I still want to hear them if afforded the chance.
Ownership: LP: 1977 EMI (USA). Single sleeve. First US pressing, released two years later. Even has the same cut out hole like Discogs' stock photo. Acquired locally at What's Left Records (2024)
6/1/24 (first listen/new review)
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