Canarios – Libérate! 1970 (Spain, Progressive/Jazz Rock/Rhythm & Blues)
This LP marks the reunion of the Canarios after the military adventures of four of its members. It was recorded in London, although this time the full band participated, supported by English musicians.
At the time, "Break Free" had political and sexual connotations and, in general, meant breaking with everything established, something that was clearly frowned upon by the powers that be. It marked a turning point for the group, which strayed somewhat from the soulful paths to embrace North American influences from groups like Bload, Sweat and Tears, and Chicago. This LP was a major success and topped the LP charts.
"Hello" is a simple instrumental introduction, less than a minute long, that introduces the title track, "Free Yourself," a composition with an intense rhythmic base of bass, drums, and percussion, over which voice and wind instruments alternate, with a prolonged ending in a kind of seemingly uncontrolled party in which we are repeatedly invited to free ourselves.
"Magna" is a long, almost religious homily, with a long introduction that includes, in addition to the usual instrumentation, percussion and flute. Teddy's voice recites more than sings. It contains jazzy organ and tenor saxophone solos and, in general, hovers within the parameters of progressive music. The ending accelerates the pace and breaks the soloist's voice.
"Intro-Bossa-Oito" responds to the rhythm indicated in its title and is constructed within the LP as an instrumental interlude between two songs. "You're My Sunshine" brings a certain country flavor that enriches the album with a change of register that is unexpected for the listener. It sounds somewhat like the country songs Ray Charles once recorded.
"Say Hi" and "Say Bye to the Salvation Army" are two short instrumental pieces, just a few seconds long, in which the wind repeats the melody of "Free Yourself," whose sole purpose is to connect the album as a continuous and complete work and not as a succession of unconnected songs.
"Words of the Lord" is a good soul ballad in which a male choir accompanies the singer throughout. Note the trumpet, with its baroque classical airs, in the central solo of the song. "She Brought the Blues" is a song I particularly like. Teddy changes his register to blues and is very reminiscent of the songs white blues singers sang at that time. Germán's guitar is very high. "Hey Mr. Teller" is, despite its title, a brief recitation in Spanish, and "Let It Be Me" is a progressive take on this progressive music classic, so often performed and recorded by crooners like Andy Williams. It has an instrumental introduction lasting over a minute that has little or nothing to do with the rest, and the song is backed by a horn section. Teddy shows off his vocal talents in a song that has been covered so many times.
A1 Hello 00:00
A2 Free Yourself 01:08
A3 Magna 05:42
A4 Intro-Bossa-Oito 11:23
A5 You're My Sunshine
B
