Los Fabulosos Calaveras

Performer: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Artist: Ruben Blades
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Gabriel Fernandez Capello (vocals, piano, accordion, percussion); Ruben Blades, Florian (vocals); Minimal (electric & acoustic guitars); Sergio Rotman (tenor & baritone saxophones, transverse flute); Americo Bellotto (trumpet, flugelhorn); Dany Lozano (trumpet); Fernando Albareda (trombone); Mario Siperman (keyboards, analog synthesizers, piano); Flavio Oscar Cianciarulo (bass, fretless & acoustic basses); Fernando Ricciardi (drums, timbales, cencerros, cajon grave); Gerardo Rotblat (percussion, cueros, cencerros, djembe, cajon de rumba); K.C. Porter (background vocals, piano, accordion, percussion); Anibal Rigozzi, Midnerely Acevedo (background vocals). Recorded at Compass Point Studios, Bahamas and Los Estudios Del Abasto Al Paston, Don Torcuato, Buenos Aires, Argentina in October 1996 and April-May 1997. FABULOSOS CALAVERA won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Performance. Rock en Espanol heroes Los Fabulosos Cadillacs first came roaring out of Argentina in the mid-'80s, but a decade later, 1997's FABULOSOS CALAVERA found their fiery mix of salsa, rock, ska, and funk at its peak. While no less regal a guest than Ruben Blades pops up to contribute a little extra salsa cred to one track, this is ultimately one of the band's most hard-hitting, rock-oriented albums. While it's an eclectic affair from stem to stern, there's a hardy strain of hard-charging punk and metal riffs and beats flaring out from several tracks.

Rolling Stone (10/2/97, p.56) - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "...a landmark record designed to smash borders....For all its exotic trappings, FABULOSOS CALAVERA has enough pure pop juice and smart party music to make anybody listen." Spin (11/97, pp.147-148) - 8 (out of 10) - "...on songs that speak of death and love and dread, they throw a party that's wholly their own, giving the ska grooves a rest and riffling instead through jazz, punk, surf, and pan-Latin moves that stop and mutate on a dime..."

Argentinean band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs formed in 1985, releasing their debut album, BARES Y FONDAS, the following year. A true example of the "world music" concept, their music mixed punk and ska with salsa and samba. Fueled by the songwriting of the group's two mainstays, vocalist Vicentico and bass player Senor Flavio, the band became progressively more popular, first in South America, and then worldwide. Their 1994 single "El Matador" broke them through to a bigger audience than ever before, particularly in America. At various times they collaborated with everyone from Debbie Harry to Ruben Blades. After a six-year layoff, the band came back strong with the 2009 album LA LUZ DEL RITMO.

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.4

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