Buena Vista Social Club – Buena Vista Social Club (2xLP, 30th Anniversary Edition, Pearl Vinyl)

Let the Buena Vista Social Club’s album of the same name transport you to the bustling streets of Havana—a captivating journey into the heart of Cuban music! Recorded in 1996 by acclaimed producer Ry Cooder, this timeless masterpiece celebrates the rich blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms and soulful melodies that have enchanted audiences for generations.

Buena Vista Social Club is both the name of this extraordinary group of musicians and the album, which was recorded in just seven days in 1996 at Havana’s 1950s-era EGREM Studios. From the infectious energy of “Chan Chan” to the heartfelt nostalgia of “Dos Gardenias,” every track immerses listeners in an intoxicating blend of son, bolero, and guajira styles. Led by legendary musicians such as Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Omara Portuondo, the Buena Vista Social Club ensemble delivers performances that are as exuberant as they are intimate, capturing the essence of a bygone era while igniting a boundless passion for Cuban music.

The success of the original album turned the artists (including Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González, and Omara Portuondo) into superstars, inspired an award-winning film by Wim Wenders, and helped bring Cuba’s rich musical heritage to the world’s attention. Produced by Ry Cooder for World Circuit, the timeless quality of the music and the sheer verve of these veterans ensure that this recording will go down in history as one of the milestones of the 20th century.

Embark on a musical odyssey filled with warmth, joy, and the irresistible allure of Havana’s nights!

To mark the 30th anniversary of the release of “Buena Vista Social Club,” this classic is now being reissued as a limited edition on “Pearl Sunrise Vinyl.” This edition includes the remastered audio as well as the bonus tracks that were originally released in 2021 to mark the album’s 25th anniversary. The “Buena Vista Social Club” project—initiated by Cuban bandleader Juan de Marcos González, American producer and guitarist Ry Cooder, and British producer and label owner Nick Gold —refers both to the extraordinary gathering of musicians and to the album they recorded in 1996 in just seven days at the legendary EGREM Studios in Havana, which date back to the 1950s. The special atmosphere was already palpable during the recording sessions; but no one could have imagined that the Buena Vista Social Club would become a global phenomenon—winning a Grammy (1997) and, with over 8 million copies sold, becoming more successful than any other record in this genre. The enormous success of the original album propelled the participating artists (including Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González, Eliades Ochoa, Compay Segundo, and Omara Portuondo) to superstar status, inspired an award-winning film by Wim Wenders as well as a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, and played a key role in bringing Cuba’s rich musical heritage to the world’s attention. Thanks to Ry Cooder’s production and Nick Gold’s executive production (for World Circuit), as well as the timeless quality of the music and the impressive vitality of the seasoned musicians, this album has established itself as one of the seminal recordings of the 20th century.

Genre: Global