Tierra - City Nights (1980) [Hi-Res]

Outside of the Mexican-American community, Tierra is considered a one-hit wonder -- the band's only major national hit was its 1980 cover of the Intruders' "Together," which reached the Top Ten on the R&B singles charts. But among Mexican-Americans, the East L.A. band enjoyed a devoted cult following. Released in 1980, City Nights is a soul-oriented classic that sometimes detours into Latin-flavored grooves. Anyone with a taste for sweet Northern-style soul should make a point of hearing Tierra's version of "Together" as well as the sentimental "Memories" and the romantic ballad "Gonna Find Her" (which had been released as a single in 1978). Tierra successfully mixes funk-soul with salsa on "Latin Disco" and "Time to Dance," and the Chicano band turns to swing with catchy results on "Zoot Suit Boogie" -- an instrumental that fondly recalls the days when pachucos were the party animals of East L.A. Without question, City Nights is Tierra's most essential album. ~ Alex Henderson