ESQUIVEL: "Strings Aflame" + "Latin-Esque"

Original released on LP RCA Victor LPM 1988

(US, October 1959)

"Strings Aflame" is one of the easier Esquivel records to find, no doubt because many people were turned off by the material. As with "Four Corners of the World", Esquivel seems to be proving his chops (this time with arrangements of popular string pieces), rather than doing what he does best or what his fans want most. Nevertheless, it is a fine album, well worth having in stereo. "Turkish March," "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," "Gypsy Lament," "Guadalajara," and "Misirlou" all receive semi-exotic, unusual treatments. About four or so tunes feature the chorus's patented "zu zu zu" wordless vocal. (Toni Wilds in AllMusic)

Original released on LP RCA Victor LSA 2418

(US, November 1961)

This album has several musical and historical significant aspects, making it Esquivel's most desirable. First, it is one of only three or so truly great RCA Stereo Action ("The Sound Your Eyes Can Follow") albums. The music is deliberately scored for channel separation, but there is more to the stereo gimmickry than the arrangements. Not counting layered-track (multi-dubbing) efforts, "Latin-Esque" was the first album recorded with total stereo separation - two separate orchestras in two separate studios performed, connected by headphones. The results are fairly fantastic. "Latin-Esque" also is Esquivel's first stereo album in the Latin-esque style of his great first album, "To Love Again". ("Jungle Drums" from that LP is updated here.) The artist's jaw-dropping masterpiece of zany pop, "Mucho Muchacha," is a highlight. "Carioca," "La Paloma," and several other standards also were well-chosen for this project. This album was essential to the renaissance of Esquivel's popularity in the 1990s. (Toni Wilds in AllMusic)