Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound – El Progreso (1978)

El Progreso is the classic 10th album from Puerto Rican salsa percussionist Roberto Roena and his legendary group Apollo Sound. Widely regarded as one of the best Latin salsa bands in Puerto Rico, Apollo Sound underwent some major changes before this album with singer Papo Sánchez, trombonist Julio Merced, and saxophonist Miguel Rodríguez, among others, leaving to start the band Salsa Fever. El Progreso would be the last album in Roberto Roena’s most creative “golden era” period and features some amazing covers of compositions by duo Roberto Carlos and Erasmo Carlos. Check out a bolero version of the duo’s ballad B3 “Necesito llamar su atención” and the Cuban rumba B2 “Guanganco del adios,” which speaks to the members who left Apollo Sound.