La Sonora Matancera feat. Willie Rodriguez & Carlos Díaz - En Puerto Rico (1977)

"En Puerto Rico" (1977) is a historic and highly conceptual studio album by the legendary Cuban band La Sonora Matancera, featuring the outstanding vocalists Willie Rodríguez and Carlos Díaz. Released in 1977 by the prestigious Fania Records label (under its Bárbaro Records sublabel), the album became a monumental tribute to the island of Puerto Rico.

This release captures one of the most striking moments in the band's later history, when Cuban classics merged with Puerto Rican soul.

The album's sound is the signature "Matancera sound": a precisely calibrated double trumpet section, crystal-clear percussion (congas, bongos, maracas), and a dense piano tumbao. There's no aggressive New York trombone rush here, typical of the hard-hitting salsa of the era; instead, the orchestra offers a refined, noble, and incredibly danceable classic.

This LP is highly prized by tropical vinyl collectors for the impeccable recording quality ensured by Fania Records engineers and for demonstrating how a seasoned orchestra could sound fresh and relevant in the heyday of disco and hard-hitting urban salsa.