La Tierra del Olvido

Infobox Album |
Name = La Tierra del Olvido
Type = Album
Artist = Carlos Vives


Released = July 25, 1995
Recorded =
Genre = Latin
Length =
Label = Philips
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album = "Clásicos de la Provincia"
(1993)
This album = "La Tierra del Olvido"
(1995)
Next album = "Tengo Fe"
(1997)

"La Tierra del Olvido" is the second major-label album by Colombian singer/composer Carlos Vives.

Released on July 25, 1995 it is considered Vives' second proper release, and his seventh album overall (when counting earlier releases). The album, like its predecessor, contains vallenato covers, however, it also contains Vives' first foray into original compositions in the vallenato style. Two of his originals would be top-twenty singles ("Pá Mayté" & "La Tierra Del Olvido"), solidifying Vives' career as one of Colombia's biggest artists.

Overview

With the success of Clásicos de la Provincia, many fans throughout Latin America and Europe had become entranced by the budding singer's take on Colombian vallenato. A decade prior, Carlos was better known as a soap opera star in such telenovelas as "Gallito Ramírez" and "Escalona", juggling acting with a career as a romantic balladeer. Vives' musical aspirations resulted in three albums (Por Fuera y Por Dentro (1986), No Podrás Escapar de Mí (1987), and Al Centro de la Cuidad (1989)), which met with varying degrees of success, but were largely overlooked outside of Colombia. The popularity of Vives' fledgling fame brought about a number of new compilations, such as 20 de Collecion, and re-releases of his older work, which were largely unavailable to the mainstream public. Vives' fans fell in love with the fusion of vallenato and rock prevalent throughout his defining sound, introducing old rhythms into a new generation of music.

With a popular world tour, successful records, and his own growing family; Vives had become a master at reinterpreting Colombian standards into the mainstream. However, his greatest challenge would be maintaining the fire he ignited as Colombia's hottest musical export. With Clásicos de la Provincia, the standard had been set so high, many wondered how he would face the challenge of a follow-up. Vives would not only prove wrong any naysayers, but would surprise the public by releasing what many considered a musical masterpiece.

The album that would appear the following summer, "La Tierra del Olvido" ("The Land of Obscurity") would mark Vives' most important release as a singer, not only to maintain himself as a musical force, but also as his first major release with original material. Composed of eleven tracks, the album was a natural progression into songwriting territory. Half the album contains vallenato reinterpretions, while the other six tracks are originals from Vives, La Provincia, and producer Iván Benavides. As proof to Vives' songwriting power, the album original, "Pá Mayté" ("For Mayté"), reached #12 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks and was the answer to "La Gota Fria" the public hoped for. Starting with the pounding percussion from new drummer Pablo Bernal; the listener is instantly beckoned into the song's rhythms (with a short rap about Vives' undying love for his home fútbol/soccer team). "Pá Mayté", would also prove a success, and would become one of Vives' most beloved singles.

As for La Provincia, members had an equal hand in collaboration. Former guitarist Ernestro "Teto" Ocampo, along with producer Iván Benavides, would help in nearly all songwriting, with songs "Ella" (She), and "Agua" (Water), making for a more guitar-driven funk to the album sound. Egidio Cuadrado, Carlos's right-hand man, nearly steals the album once again as his accordion brings life to such covers as Alejo Durán's "Fidelina", and Toño Fernández's "Zoila", while proving himself with his follow up to _es. "Pedazo De Acordion", the self-penned _es. "La Puya Puyá" (The Pointed Puya-Rhythm Song). Production wise, the music contains a rawer edge, much less slick, yet much more crisp in sound than its predecessor, making the listener feel as if they are "in" the studio with Carlos and La Provincia. Whereas "Clásicos" blended together with its similar song structure, each composition of "Olvido" is more eclectic and stands on its own.

With the reception of this album, "Olvido" would not only benefit from its popular airplay on Latin and international markets, but from its music videos that played on Latin American television. Aside from "Pá Mayté", Carlos would breathe new life into the album when his other original composition, his first major ballad, provided his highest charting hit up to that point in his career. The album's title track peaked at #5 (Billboard Hot Latin Tracks), proving Vives' versatility, keeping crowds moved in the feet as well as the soul.

Having expanded on his fusion of vallenato rock, Vives made an album that blended older and newer vallenato, proof that along with the great Colombian artists he covered and admired, he could hold his own as one of their peers. The success of _es. "La Tierra del Olvido" would establish Carlos Vives as Colombia's hottest export of contemporary Latin music.

Track listing

# "Pa' Mayté" ("A. Castro", "C. Medina", "C. Vives") – 3:07
# "Fidelina" ("A. Durán") – 4:22
# "La Tierra Del Olvido" ("C. Vives", "I. Benavides") – 4:25
# "Zoila" ("T. Fernandez") – 4:23
# "Rosa" ("I. Martínez") – 4:12
# "Agua" ("I. Benavides", "E. Ocampo") – 3:52
# "La Cachucha Bacana" ("A. Durán") – 4:21
# "Diosa Coronada" ("L. Díaz") – 4:14
# "La Puya Puyá" ("E. Cuadrado") – 5:00
# "Ella" ("I. Benavides") – 3:47
# "Jam En Jukumey" ("I. Benavides", "E. Ocampo", "C. Vives", "M. Montero", "C. Medina") – 1:30

Album credits

Performance Credits
*Carlos Vives - Primary Artist, Director, Vocals
*Egidio Cuadrado - Accordion, Vocals (La Puya Puyá), Backing Vocals
*Carlos Ivan Medina - Background Vocals, Choir, Chorus, Keyboards
*Mayte Montero - Background Vocals, Choir, Chorus, Gaita, Percussion, Vocals
*Luis Angel Pastor - Bass
*Gilbert Martínez - Conga, Marimbas, Marimbula, Percussion
*Pablo Bernal - Drums
*Eder Polo - Guacharaca
*Ernesto "Teto" Ocampo - Guitar, Vocals
*Alfredo Rosado - Tamboura, TimbalesTechnical Credits
*La Provincia - Arranger
*José Luis Diazgranados - Artwork
*José Rincón - Contributor
*Chris Lawson - Engineer
*Carlos Vives - Graphic Design, Producer
*Jerry Lofaro - Illustrations
*Alfonso Bulla - Logistics
*Iván Benavides - Producer
*Richard Blair - Producer
*Ernesto "Teto" Ocampo - Producer
*Luis Angel Pastor - Producer
*Michael Fuller - Mastering

External links

* [http://www.carlosvives.com Carlos Vives official homepage]