Viva Soul (1968)

About this title: Though many artists in the late '60s earnestly searched for the place where Latin rhythms and soul melodies could intersect, few found it. Harvey Averne may have been one of the very few that could both swing salsa fans and get the soul crowd "shaking their money maker." The vibraphonist and bandleader wisely incorporated the most essential elements of R&B while adding Latino influence with salsa-inflected horn vamps and percussion voices otherwise unheard in the soul genre. It is albums like Viva Soul that would define the role of Latino concepts in American pop music for generations to come ... read more

Tracks:

1. You're No Good [Averne/Sheller]
2. Think It Over [Seymour]
3. Monday, Monday [Phillips]
4. My Dream [Averne/Sheller]
5. Wishing and Hoping [Seymour]
6. The Micro Mini [Averne/Sheller]
7. Shake Your Money Maker [Averne/Sheller]
8. You Mess My Mind Up [Averne/Sheller]
9. The Think Drink Theme [Boyell]
10. Make Out [Averne/Sheller]
11. The Word [Lennon/McCartney]
12. Free Advice [Phillips/Gilliam]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.