Artist: Cuarteto Patria
Author: Francisco Repilado
Label: Corazon/Munich
Year: 1987
On their cd Chanchanyando con Compay Segundo. Vocal and tres guitar: Eliades Ochoa, who also sang on the Buena Vista version. Eliades was born in Mayari, one of the east Cuban villages mentioned in the song: "Alto Cedro, Marcané, Cueto, Mayari", that's a roadtrip doubling for poetry.
Covers:
Compay Segundo [author; real name: Francisco Repilado; named Compay Number Two as he once played in Duo Los Compadres, Compay being Cuban slang for Friend]
Buena Vista Social Club [with Ry Cooder and with then 90 year old author; vocals: Compay Segundo & Eliades Ochoa (see footnote)]
Orishas [as 537 C.U.B.A.]
Charlie Musselwhite [with Cuarteto Patria]
Chan Chan was first recorded by Ochoa's band because Compay Segundo was already in his eighties when he wrote it and hadn't recorded in years. Thanks to Cuarteto Patria he could at least enjoy some royalties. Quite an understatement: Chan Chan became a big hit in the Oriente province and got Compay on the road again. He and his combo were on a world tour even before word came out that Ry Cooder was planning a Cuban project. See also: Orgullecida and Veinte Anõs.
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)