The original Buena Vista Social Club album, produced by Ry Cooder and released in 1997, became a worldwide cultural phenomenon and helped to introduce Cuba’s rich musical heritage and pre-revolutionary past to the world. Now, almost two decades later, World Circuit Records reissues the album on vinyl as a double-LP, out now, distributed in North America by Nonesuch Records. For this vinyl reissue, the studio recordings have been cut from the original analogue half-inch tapes and mastered by Bernie Grundman (engineer of the original release), and pressed on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl.
The original Buena Vista Social Club album was recorded for World Circuit Records over seven days at the vintage EGREM studios in Havana. Released in 1997, it went on to become a worldwide phenomenon, selling over eight million copies and helping to introduce Cuba’s rich musical heritage and pre-revolutionary past to the world. Now, almost two decades later, World Circuit Records reissues Buena Vista Social Club on vinyl as a double-LP, out now, distributed in North America by Nonesuch Records. The reissue follows a limited run released exclusively in the US and Japan in 1997 and a subsequent US-only reissue in 2009. To get Buena Vista Social Club on vinyl in the US, head to your local music shop, Amazon, or the Nonesuch Store, where orders include a download of the complete album at checkout.
Cut from the original analog half-inch tapes and mastered by Bernie Grundman (engineer of the original release), the studio recordings have been lovingly pressed on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl. Housed in a gatefold sleeve, the LPs are presented alongside a beautiful 20-page booklet and a digital download card. "From the moment I first heard this recording I was impressed with how natural the sound was and the overall feeling that you were in the room," Grundman says. "In mastering, to preserve that master tape sound, I was careful to use very little processing and made sure that the signal path contained the absolute minimum amount of electronics. A recording of this caliber does not come along very often, and when it does it is a real pleasure to work on."
Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, a core band featuring several of the original musicians from Buena Vista Social Club, which recently became the first Cuban group to perform at The White House in more than 50 years, continues its "Adios" tour of North America through next week with performances in Boston, New York, and San Juan. For details and tickets, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.
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