Rosemary Clooney & Perez Prado – A Touch of Tabasco [Tracklist follows] – RCA Victor LSP-2133 /Original Recordings Group ORG 132 45-rpm (2-12” vinyls), 26:25 *****:
This album was originally released in 1959 and is the only time these two worked together on a recording. The familiar “Living Stereo” moniker is prominently displayed across the top of the cover which should get some audiophiles immediately excited. Also, this disc set (from 2012) is not only 45rpm but limited edition/numbered as well. [And expensive!…Ed.] The drawback is the need to flip the disc after every three songs, but the reward is better sound. The discs come in special plastic sleeves and original artwork is duplicated inside the flip cover with a lengthy set of liner notes by Clooney’s husband at the time, Jose Ferrer. In the notes he discusses the magical blend of talents of Clooney’s vocals and Prado’s command of Afro-Cuban music. I can fully attest to this as it wasn’t even close to being a chore listening to this record. Before I knew it I was putting on side four and wishing there were more.
The sound of these remastered discs is excellent (even without considering the age of the recordings). All the tunes are fantastic although “Sway” is a much-played standard. Other songs are penned by greats like Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter and Gershwin—just to name a few. If you’re a fan of Clooney or Prado I can’t see one not liking this record. I got goose bumps every time I heard Prado utter his “hu-unh” and found myself bopping my head and back and forth and wanting to get up and dance. After all, that is what this music is about—lots of lively fun and dancing. I could go on and on about how great each and every song is, but the gist of it is: if you can afford it, buy it. Highly recommended!
TrackList: Corazon de Melon; Like a Woman; I Only Have Eyes for You; Magic is the Moonlight; In a Little Spanish Town; Sway; Mack the Knife; Bali Ha’I; You Do Something to Me; Cu-Cu-Rru-C-Cu Paloma; I Got Plenty O’Nuttin’; Adios.
—Brian Bloom