Xavier Cugat- Cugat Cavalcade

DSCN4294This was $3.20.  Although the cover was a bit word, the album itself was sealed in plastic. I will buy any album with a version of “Brazil” on it so that was the key influencer in this purchase.xavier-cugat-5410693-565X720

Xavier Cugat (1900-1990) was a Spanish born band leader, who emigrated to Cuba with his parents when he was 5 and then left for New York in 1951.  Along with success in both films and records, Cugat headed the band at the Waldorf-Astoria, shuttling between New York and Los Angeles.  He held that gig for either 16 or 30 years, depending on which web site you believe.  He was also a cartoonist as the clip below shows, perhaps pre-dating Beans Barton (if you are not from Houston, this reference is most likely lost on you).

His best years were the 1930’s and the 1940’s. His biggest hits were “Perfidia”, “El Manicero”, “Babalu”, and “Brazil”.  Members of his band included at times Desi Arnez, Tito Rodriguez, Luis del Campo, Yma Sumac, and his third wife, Abbie Lane.  In the 1960’s he helped launch the career of his fifth (or fourth, again based on which web site is correct) wife, Charo for which the Love Boat was thankful.  He would retire in 1970 and die of heart failure twenty years later at the age of 90.  Also, apparently, holding his Chihuahua while he conducted was his thing as well.

This album , released by Columbia Records in 1958, is a greatest hits collection of sorts or at least his hits on Columbia .  It features the sounds that made him famous.  According to the cover, this is the first presentation of these songs in stereo fidelity.  DSCN4295

For samples, I decided to go with “Tico-Tico”.  And of course, like I always do, here is his version of “Brazil”.  Still think Esquivel has the best version, though.cugat

Top Rated Album.

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