SIMON & GARFUNKEL Los grandes exitos
Tracklisting / Additional Info:
1. 7 O'clock News / Silent Night
2. Homeward Bound
3. Mrs Robinson
4. A Poem On The Underground Wall
5. I Am A Rock
6. Scarborough Fair / Canticle
7. A Peculiar Man
8. The 59th Street Bridge Song
9. The Sounds Of Silence
10. Fakin' It
11. Richard Cory
Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
Title: Los Grandes Exitos -
Format: LP RECORD
The entire region known collectively as 'South America' encompasses the highest
volume of music sales in the world, largely derived from the umbrella of 'Latino
Music', or, popular recordings in the Spanish language. The Colombian music
industry began with the formation of the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901,
followed by the more familiar Columbia Gramophone Company in 1903. From the
early 1900's these companies made "overseas recordings" by sending
teams of representatives to foreign countries with stacks of wax blanks and
recording machines which, although rudimentary, were quite portable, and then
imported back into Colombia. It was some years later before what we know as
'popular' music forged a path into the industry which had mostly been based
around Rumbas, Tangos and Foxtrots! Pressings plants for vinyl were scarce and
investment low, thus sound quality was quite inferior to vinyl from other parts
of the world at the time. However, most Colombians were happy to play these
on their imported American gramophones, crackles and all. Today, the most desirable
aspects of Colombian vinyl are the variants of sleeve and label design and more
eye-catching still, the much sought after coloured vinyl pressings which were
almost never issued elsewhere. Many sleeves would be printed entirely in Spanish,
the native language. There would often be amusing, almost amateurish, but completely
official and authorized, sleeve alterations to the original artwork with biography
information and track-listings translated into Spanish. Label variations and
collaborations throughout the 1970's and 1980's, such as those with Philips,
were many as pressing plants diminished, stricken by the poor and corrupt economy.
The paper quality used in sleeve manufacture would vary wildly and some labels
would issue their records with built in plastic linings or outers, to help reduce
wear and tear. Pushing sales often involved featuring an exclusive or bonus
Spanish Version of an English track which would rarely make it onto other worldwide
pressings of the same record. Coloured vinyl pressings are few and far between,
often only made and distributed to DJs or radio stations. The variety is endless,
from bold one-colour vinyl to some fantastic multi-coloured 'splattered' pressings,
where a base colour or transparent vinyl is used with any number of alternate
colours radiating across the disc from the label to the outer edge. Really,
these have become some of the most elusive and valuable pressings to be found
in Colombia. Once again, their pressing quality and condition vary massively
since most vinyl ceased pressing entirely in the early 1990's, but they are
incredibly sought after for their sheer visual impact and even our buyer has
to pinch himself when he stumbles across these. Labels rarely had the budget
to reissue original albums and as a result, collectors and music lovers tend
to hang on to their much-loved records. Colombia is most definitely a dark,
very dangerous and mysterious place to go hunting for rare records, but brave
it we do and as our buyer says, "cómprelo cuando usted lo ve, como
nosotros nunca podemos encontrar otro uno", or "buy it when you see
it, as you may never find another one..."
Record Label: CBS
Catalogue No: 14165
Country of Origin: Colombia