Héctor Lavoe’s third solo album, from 1978, is a powerful artistic statement, an album that demonstrated the creative potential of everyone involved. Rubén Blades’ title track is a 10-minute epic depicting the inner sorrows of a famous singer; Lavoe’s vocal improvisations expand on the message of the song in charismatic fashion, while producer Willie Colón lays in soaring strings behind him and the band (piano, bass, percussion, two trumpets and two trombones). The album features two other surprisingly long songs, “Bandolera” (9:35) and “Songoro Cosongo” (7:50), along with several shorter pieces, and the musicians throw in nods to jazz and classical without ever derailing the Latin groove. Lavoe’s astonishing charisma and breathtaking technical skill come through on every track.

– Phil Freeman