The New York Sound (RSD 23)

Much has been documented about the pioneering music that came out of the United States in the ’60s and ’70s, amid the social and political strife of the era. But the scene wasn’t just about the Summer of Love or Woodstock. There was another movement happening in the Latin neighbourhoods of New York City, as cultural barriers loosened. Beginning in the mid-’60s, musicians were filling the clubs with an irresistible combination of soul, R&B, and Afro-Cuban dance rhythms. By the turn of the decade, U.S. Latin music had evolved, often integrating socially conscious lyricism (in both English and Spanish), rock and funk influences, and a heavy dose of psychedelia.

That sound is captured in Flash & the Dynamics’ The New York Sound—a 1971 rarity from the Fania Records vaults. The album—which marks the band’s sole title—blends traditional Latin melodies with distorted guitars, soulful psychedelia, and funky rhythms. Listeners will be transported to another era with jams like “Everybody’s Got Soul,” “Guajira Sicodélica,” and the trippy instrumental “Electric Latin Soul.”

Returning to vinyl for the first time in decades, The New York Sound features all-analog remastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. Limited to 3,350 units worldwide, this special edition has been pressed on 180-gram purple vinyl at RTI for an optimal listening experience.