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Not all Rough Guides are created equal, to make one really stand out you need an excellent compiler and access to the records that matter. This collection of the Queen of Salsa was put together by Sue Steward, Latin DJ and respected author of several key books on Latin music -- and the catalogue of Fania was opened up to her, which must have helped.

A quick search on Amazon for Celia will pull up 300 titles, among them countless 'Best of's and 'Exitos Grandes'. Without doubt, Celia was incredibly prolific and extensively recorded. The difficulty therefore in making another compilation is one of rejection. How do you reduce the work of someone who was recording for half a century into less than a score of tracks? As the person who distilled the top 100 albums of the entire world of Latin music, Sue Steward is better qualified than most for this task though.

The music starts in 1966 on this CD. Celia is playing with one of her classic bands (or at least an offshoot of them) La Sonora Manteca in New York. A few years earlier she had decided to stay on in the States, when Fidel and Che marched into her beloved Havana while she was on tour. In one of those neat historical ironies she swapped a life in Havana where she mostly played to well-heeled gringos for a life in the US where she was adored by her own compatriots.

Blessed with one of the most powerful and seductive voices in any genre of music, the 19 tracks here lead us from those earlyish days in the US (she had been active in Cuba all the way back to the 30s) right through to the early nineties. Celia will have her ups and downs during this period but new directions and collaborations will invariably put her back on the top of the pile every time she might be in danger of losing her crown.

Her most famous collaborator Tito Puente is oddly represented by only one track from the eight hit albums they cut and then it is an untypical Santeria piece, 'Elegua'.

On the other hand, the admittedly seminal work with Johnny Pacheco is shown on no less than a third of the tracks selected and 'hard hands' Ray Barretto is also well represented.

One of my favourite tracks is here, the Sevillana-inspired 'Flor de Mayo', which features crazy montunos and a great salsa break bursting out of the Spanish feel set up at the outset by the guitars.

Otherwise most of the tracks sit squarely in the mainstream of salsa, the style she would come to represent above all others. Perhaps with an eye on the market in the West for great tracks to dance to, this CD will be as beloved by dancers as those who just love a great Latin tune to listen to.

CD Cat No: RGNET1150CD
Barcode: 605633115024
Release date: 25 April 2005

Track Listings:
1. Jaibera
2. Cacahuatero
3. Arrecotin Arrecotan
4. Metida Con You
5. Campeona
6. Reina Rumba -- Justo Betancourt
7. Elegua
8. Bambarakatunga -- Ray Barretto
9. No Me Cambie Camino -- Ray Barretto
10. Paso del Mulo
11. Madre Rumba
12. Nadie Se Salva de la Rumba -- Ray Barretto
13. Sugar Sugar
14. Cucala
15. Rico Changui
16. Flor de Mayo
17. Se Que Tu -- Justo Betancourt
18. Te Solte la Rienda
19. Cuando Sali de Cuba

Link:
Celia Cruz and the Fania Allstars in Africa (DVD)
www.worldmusic.net