De Ti Depende (It’s Up to You)

Héctor Lavoe’s second solo album was more under his control than 1975’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.