Desi Arnaz

Babalu [RCA]

by Richie Unterberger review

Twenty tracks from his 1946-49 prime, mostly paced by Arnaz himself on vocals, with some instrumentals and occasional pieces for female singers Jane Harvey, Elsa Miranda, and Amanda Lane. Sure, this is sometimes corny, but more often it's invigorating Latin big-band pop, Arnaz' conga and quasi-operatic vocals to the forefront. Those who dismiss this as Cuban rhythms watered down for American consumption are missing the essential point: it's fun stuff that's usually overflowing with joie de vivre, as a listen to "Babalu," "Carnival in Rio," "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas," "Guadalajara," and "El Cumbanchero" will confirm.

	Track Name/Composer	Time
1.	Babalu Margarita Lecuona	3:32
2.	Through a Thousand Dreams Arthur Schwartz / Leo Robin	3:00
3.	Siboney Ernesto Lecuona	3:06
4.	Cuban Pete Jose Norman	3:07
5.	Made for Each Other Ervin Drake / Jimmy Shirl / René Touzet	3:14
6.	Tico-Tico Aloysio Oliveira / Ervin Drake / Jose Abreu / Zequinha de Abreu	2:59
7.	I'll Take the Rhumba Desi Arnaz / James	2:58
8.	Carnival in Rio J. A. Orlando	2:56
9.	Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps) Osvaldo Farrés / Joe Davis	2:49
10.	Guadalajara Pepe Guízar	2:52
11.	In Santiago, Chile (Tain't Chilly at All) A. Gamse	2:30
12.	El Cumbanchero Rafael Hernández	3:00
13.	Ah-Bah-Nah, Coo-Bah	2:21
14.	Tabú Margarita Lecuona / Al Stillman	3:15
15.	Carinoso Alfredo Vianna / João de Barro	3:01
16.	Holiday in Havana Desi Arnaz	2:30
17.	Cuban Cabby	3:10
18.	Another Night Like This Ernesto Lecuona / Harry Ruby	2:46
19.	Straw Hat Song Allan Roberts / Fred Karger	2:46
20.	Good Night Desi Arnaz	2:28