De Ti Depende (It’s Up to You) cover

De Ti Depende (It’s Up to You)

Released

Héctor Lavoe’s second solo album was more under his control than 1974’s La Voz, which had basically been a Willie Colón production; while the trombonist helped his longtime vocalist out, it was Lavoe’s show. The biggest hit from the album is “Periodico de Ayer” (“Yesterday’s News”), a dismissal to an ex-lover that he delivers with a romanticism that belies its somewhat cruel lyrics. The album also features plenty of romantic ballads, including “Tanto Como Ayer” (“As Much as Yesterday”), which has a lushness (strings, electric piano) almost reminiscent of Philly soul, and “Hacha y Machete” (“Hatchet and Machete”), a salute to his longtime creative and professional partnership with Colón.

Phil Freeman

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