Born of a marriage of Cuban salsa and the New York musical influences that migrating and American-born Latino musicians found themselves immersed in, boogaloo emerged in the late sixties and managed at times to mix the worst excesses of any modern craze with some exceptional moments that become more than simply historical artifacts of their times.

With references to items common to American culture (albeit a decidedly downhome one of cornbread and chitlins), songs in English and repeated funky beats and participatory choruses, boogaloo (aka bugalu and boogalu) crossed over bringing together a young Latin crowd with their African-American peers.

As the Salsaroots website says, no one is sure who first coined the term boogaloo: "There is a great deal of debate about who was the first person to coin the term 'boogalu' or to create the musical style. Richie Ray was certainly among the first innovators with his 1967 album Jala Jala Y Boogalu. The song 'Pete's Boogalu' written by trumpeter Tony Pabon was the first Latin boogalu song to be played on the radio."

This is decidedly dance and party music and this compilation doesn't shy away from goodtime music although it omits some of boogaloo's biggest hits (Joe Cuba's 'Bang! Bang!' was the first million-selling Latin single). Most of the stars of this short lived musical movement are well represented -- 'Do the Boogaloo' (Pete Rodriguez), 'Oh, Yeah' (Joe Cuba) and even Tito Puente's 'Fat Mama' and 'Timbalito' who dismissed boogaloo as "kids' stuff" when it first emerged on the scene.

Overall, a pretty good starting place if you want to try out the boogaloo and while it might not be the definitive document, everyone'll be having too good a time to worry about that too much.

Tracks:
1. Do the Boogaloo - Pete Rodriguez
2. Fat Mama - Tito Puente & His Orchestra
3. Boogaloo Mania - Charlie Palmieri
4. Soul Nitty Gritty - Ralph Robles
5. Boogaloo Lebron - The Lebrón Brothers
6. Batman's Boogaloo - Bobby Valentin
7. Timbalito - Tito Puente & His Orchestra
8. Son, Cuero y Boogaloo - Fania All-Stars
9. Ismael y Monchito - Ismael Rivera
10. Oh, Yeah - Joe Cuba Sextet
11. Getting Happy - Ralph Robles
12. Viva Tirado - Fania All-Stars
13. Tumbaloflesicodelicomicoso - Celia Cruz
14. Maggo's Boogaloo - Ismael Rivera
15. Willie Whopper - Willie Colón
16. Deeper Shade of Soul - Ray Barretto
17. Use It Before You Lose It - Bobby Valentin
18. Good Lovin'