Unlike other older New York Latin music stars who rejected the boogaloo explosion of the mid-‘60s as “bubblegum,” Ray Barretto took to Latin soul with aplomb, resulting in one of the era’s most sophisticated albums. The veteran bandleader’s musical experience shines on Acid, infusing jazz touches into the hypnotic title song and “Espiritu Libre” while showing his younger peers that he too can dance with boogaloo styles on tracks like “The Soul Drummers” and “El Nuevo Barretto.”

– Oliver Wang