Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1957
Chanchullo
Buy Chanchullo now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'Chanchullo'" (; literally: "scam", "racket", "hustle") is a danzn-mambo composed by Cuban bassist Israel "Cachao" Lpez. It was first released as a single in 1957 by Arcao y sus Maravillas. It was the third single released on Cuban independent record label Gema and has been covered by multiple artists including Tito Puente, Tpica '73 and Rubn Gonzlez. Puente himself reworked the song as the successful "Oye cmo va", later recorded by Santana, for which Cachao received no credit. Instrumental versions of the song have been recorded variously under the titles "Mambolandia" and "Mambologa", often credited to Peruchn.
Composition and recordings
The first recording of "Chanchullo" was made in 1949 for RCA Victor by Julio Gutirrez's orchestra under the title "Mambolandia" and credited to Peruchn, who plays piano on the track. An edited version of "Mambolandia" was included in the 1950 Cuban-Argentine film 'Off to Havana I Go', specifically for a dancing scene starring Mara Maceda and Rolando Garca at the Cabaret Montmartre in Havana. This performance was later included in a documentary film on the origin of the mambo produced by Cubavisin. It has been named as one of the most important films involved in spreading mambo.
The first version of "Chanchullo" credited to Cachao was recorded in 1957 by Arcao y sus Maravillas, one year before their dissolution. For the recording, the group featured composer, bassist and musical director Israel Lpez "Cachao", who had left the group in 1949. Bandleader Antonio Arcao was no longer performing on flute for health reasons, so Eulogio Ortiz played the flute parts. Like many other 1950s recordings by the Maravillas, this piece likely originated from an earlier composition from the period when Cachao and his brother Orestes composed most of the bands danzones (19371950). Most authors agree that "'Rareza de Melitn'"first played by the Maravillas in 1942is the precursor to "Chanchullo". According to Max Salazar, "Rareza de Melitn" could have been composed as early as 1937,Salazar, Max. "[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FXV/is_7_12/ai_92403678/pg_2 Orestes Lopez, brother to Israel Lopez Cachao, and the mambo]", 'Latin Beat Magazine'. September 2002. which would make it one of the first examples of danzn-mambo, predating "Mambo" by one year. Most sources assign the authorship of "Rareza de Melitn" to Cachao, while Helio Orovio credits his brother.
In 1958, Colombian musician Luis Andrs and his orchestra recorded "Chanchullo" under the title "Mambologa" for the album 'Fiesta en Pars', released by Vergara. In 1960, Rolando Aguil also recorded "Chanchullo" under the title "Mambologa" for his first 'Cuban Jam Session' album issued by Maype. These versions are almost identical to the recording of "Mambolandia" by Julio Gutirrez. The Panamaian band Mximo Rodrguez y sus Estrellas Panameas recorded "Chanchullo" under the title "Mambologa" for their album 'Felicidad y bogaloo'. Colombian band Sptimo Sentido recorded "Mambologa" in 2003 and credited it to Mximo Rodrguez.
Tito Puente recorded "Chanchullo" in 1959, and in 1963 he built on the tune's introduction to compose "Oye cmo va". As shown in the documentary 'Cachao: Uno ms', when asked whether he would sue for his rightful share of the royalties, the notoriously humble Cachao shrugged and said: "You know how kids are". On August 4, 1990, Cachao joined Tito Puente on stage for a performance of "Oye cmo va" as part of the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Before the performance, Puente introduced Cachao by saying: "This gentleman is responsible for all the music we play".
Track listing
Personnel
*Antonio Arcao leader
*Israel "Cachao" Lpez musical director, bass
*Eulogio Ortiz flute, soloist
*Orestes Lpez piano
*Ernesto Duarte producer
Cover versions
Discogs and Allmusic list cover versions by several performers:
* Tito Puente, on the album 'Mucho Cha-Cha' (1959)
* Gilberto Cruz, on the album 'Chanchullo' (1971)
* Tpica '73, on the album 'Charangueando con la Tpica 73' (1980)
* Fania All-Stars, on the album 'Greatest Hits' (1992)
* Olavo Aln Rodrguez Son Ensemble Nos Naranjos, on the album 'From Afrocuban Music to Salsa' (1999)
* Rubn Gonzlez, on the album 'Chanchullo' (2000)
* Joaqun J. Oliveros, on the album 'De Bala' (2000)
* Somos Amigos, on the album 'Imagnate Cuba' (2005)
* Charanga Tropical on the album 'Live!' (2006)
* Buena Vista Social Club, on the album 'At Carnegie Hall' (2008)
* Cuba Jazz Millennium All Stars, on the album 'Tributo a Arsenio, Chano Pozo y los Clsicos' (2008)
* Al De Lory, on the album 'Hot Gandinga' (2009)
References
Buy Chanchullo now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1957