Vuelve (CD - 1998)

Personnel includes: Ricky Martin (vocals); Rusty Anderson (acoustic & electric guitars); Peter "Yussi" Wenger, Marcelo Berestovoy, Richard Gomez, Phillipe Bourgues, Joseph Lito Cortes, Ramon Stagnaro (acoustic guitar); Michael Landau (electric guitar); Andy Abaz (tres guitar); Leo Quintero (cuatro); Tony Concepcion (trumpet, coronet, flugelhorn, bell); Luis Aquino (trumpet); Robi Rosa (keyboards, programming, handclaps, background vocals); John Beasley (piano); KC Porter (keyboards, electric piano, Wurlitzer piano, bass, programming); Juan Zambrano (keyboards, programming); Reggie Hamilton, Kari Cameron, Mike Porcaro (bass); Curt Bisquera (drums); Archie Pena, Rafael Solano (percussion); Philip Ingram, Oren Waters (background vocals).

Producers: KC Porter, Robi Rosa, Desmond Child.

Engineers include: Benny Faccone, Rik Pekkonen, Steve Churchyard.

VUELVE won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Performance.

Personnel: Ricky Martin (background vocals); Lázaro Rodriguez, Michael Thompson, Manny López (guitar); Joseph Lito Cortés (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Phillipe Bourgués, Peter Yussi Wenger, Marcelo Berestovoy, Rich Gomez, Ramon Stagnaro, Rusty Anderson (acoustic guitar); Michael Landau (electric guitar); Leo Quintero (cuatro); Andy Abaz (tres); Ethan James (hurdy-gurdy); Luis Aguino (trumpet); Erik Kerly (French horn); John Kricker (trombone); Robbie Buchanan (piano, keyboards); Robi Rosa (piano, bass programming, palmas, background vocals); John Beasley, Paquito Hechavarria, Randy Waldman, Gloria Cheng (piano); K.C. Porter (electric piano, programming); Juan Vincente Zambrano (keyboards, programming); Curt Bisquera, John "J.R." Robinson (drums); Luis Conte, Luis Enrique, Rafael Padilla, Rafael Solano, Archie Pena (percussion); Francisco Manuel Ruiz Gómez (palmas); Ricardo Cordero, Darryl Phinnessee, Jose Luis Vega, Stella Petrova, G.B. Dorsey, Angelina Rosa, Maxine Jeter, Rick Nelson, Ingram, Katrina Harper, Jackie Simley, Jim Gilstrap, John West, Josie Aiello, Julia Waters, Kristle Murden, Maxine Willard Waters, Oren Waters, Phil Perry, Stephanie Spruill, Mortonette Jenkins, Marlena Jeter, Carmit Bachar, Bunny Hull, Carmen Twillie (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Humberto Gatica; Tony Peluso; Benny Faccone; Charles Dye.

Recording information: Criteria Studios; Disney Studios, Burbank, CA; Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles, CA; Worldbeat Recording, Calabasas, CA.

Photographer: Lance Staedler.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Camilo Valencia; Ed Calle; Ethan James; Dama Taboe; Meia Noite; Wilfredo Rosado; Luis Gómez Escolar; Angel "Angie" Machado; Kenneth Faulk.

Arrangers: Camilo Valencia; Desmond Child; Orion Crawford; K.C. Porter; Robi Rosa; Archie Pena; Juan Vincente Zambrano; Cesar Lemos.

Ricky Martin's Spanish-language 1998 set Vuelve is the predecessor to the self-titled English-language album that would propel him to iconic status in the U.S. the following year. Vuelve, however, is much more of a Latin album than a pop album, and effectively balances red-hot Latin dance numbers with melodramatic ballads. The album's main highlight is the unforgettable, unstoppable "La Copa de la Vida," which is the song he chose for his now legendary show-stopping Grammy performance. The version on Vuelve is the original -- miles better than the English-language, remixed version which resurfaced on Ricky Martin. The version here includes all the bells, whistles, horns, trumpets, and percussion that anyone could want from such a carnival-esque song. Other highlights include the intoxicating album opener "Por Arriba, por Abajo," the hit "La Bomba," and other fast-paced gems, such as "Marcia Baila" and "Lola Lola." Some of the ballads lean toward the forgettable (especially during the album's second half), and his version of Michael Bolton's Hercules theme "Go the Distance" (here titled "No Importa la Distancia") is pure schmaltz. Other ballads, however, fare a little better, such as the melodramatic yet effective "Corazonado," the brooding piano and string ballad "Hagamos el Amor," and the Sting-esque "Casi un Bolero." All in all, this engaging and beautifully produced album, despite a few lulls, emerges a winner. ~ Jose F. Promis

So he did time in Menudo, so what? He was young and impressionable. You don't hold New Edition against Bobby Brown, do you? The point is that Ricky Martin is a fully-realized, mature artist who has a lot to offer to the world of Latin music. VUELVE shows the range of Martin's talents, from the propulsive Latin rhythms of "Por Arriba, Por Abajo" and "Lola, Lola" to the Anglicized power balladry of the title track, with plenty of stops in between. Somehow, it all fits together seamlessly. One of the reasons may be the economy of the tunes; Martin likes 'em short and sweet, and nothing on VUELVE sticks around long enough to wear out its welcome. minimize