Orquesta Harlow feat. Ismael Miranda – Orchestra Harlow Presenta a Ismael Miranda (1968)

This is Ismael Miranda's second album with Larry Harlow, where his name and some of his earliest hits gain more prominence. Harlow uses some of theFania label's artists, like arranger Bobby Valentín (in one of his earliest bass playing on records), Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Santos Colón, and producer Johnny Pacheco. This production may be considered not only a sample of the early Harlow sound, but a forerunner to the Fania All Stars and their collective effort. Ismael Miranda's vocal skills are on the rough, at best; nonetheless, "La Contraria" (arranged and composed by Valentín) is among Miranda's earliest well-known tunes. Furthermore, there are early experiments with R&B, like "Horsin' Up," and the Arsenio Rodriguez influence in "Jaguey" and "Grazing in the Grass" (of Hugh Masekela fame). This was one of the examples of what ingredients gave shape to the 1970s New York salsa phenomenon.~José A. Estévez, Jr.