Name: The Best of the Sandia: Watermelon 1991-1992
Brand: Texas Music Group
SKU: 244653
Availability: OutOfStock

The Best of the Sandia

Rating

Album: The Best of the Sandia: Watermelon 1991-1992
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Taos to Tennessee
2)	Prairie Moon
3)	Highway Calls, The
4)	Crazy Wind and Flashing Yellows
5)	Always
6)	Aquella Noche (That Certain Night)
7)	Samba San Pedro
8)	Anos, Meses y Dias (Years, Months and Days)
9)	Una Noche Mas (One More Night)
10)	Cumbia, Polka y Mas (Cumbia, Polka and More)
11)	Manos, Huesos y Sangre (Hands, Bones and Blood)
12)	De Colores
13)	Eres Tu
14)	Gracias a la Vida (Here's to Life)
15)	Building #9
16)	Everything You Wish
17)	Arbolito - (English Version)
18)	By the Rio Grande - (previously unreleased)

Album: The Best of the Sandia: Watermelon 1991-1992
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Taos to Tennessee
2)	Prairie Moon
3)	Highway Calls, The
4)	Crazy Wind and Flashing Yellows
5)	Always
6)	Aquella Noche (That Certain Night)
7)	Samba San Pedro
8)	Anos, Meses y Dias (Years, Months and Days)
9)	Una Noche Mas (One More Night)
10)	Cumbia, Polka y Mas (Cumbia, Polka and More)
11)	Manos, Huesos y Sangre (Hands, Bones and Blood)
12)	De Colores
13)	Eres Tu
14)	Gracias a la Vida (Here's to Life)
15)	Building #9
16)	Everything You Wish
17)	Arbolito - (English Version)
18)	By the Rio Grande - (previously unreleased)

Performer Notes

While Tish Hinojosa only recorded briefly for the Watermelon label at the beginning of her career, Taos to Tennessee, Aquella Noche, and Memorabilia Navidena represented a distinct body of work from a new singer/songwriter. While Hinojosa grew up in Texas, she kept close ties to her Mexican heritage, often choosing to sing in Spanish. This bilingual, bicultural approach also lent her songwriting a unique subject matter. Add to this her lovely, warm voice and pleasant country-folk arrangements, and there's much to admire on her early albums. The cuts from Taos to Tennessee represent five of the best pieces from Hinojosa's delightful debut. These songs, including the title track and "Prairie Moon," are as poignant and tuneful as anything she has written. There's also her achingly beautiful vocal on Irving Berlin's "Always," which evokes Patsy Cline. Recorded live and in Spanish, Aquella Noche offers melodious songs surrounded by rich acoustic guitars and Latin percussion. The effervescent "Samba San Pedro" reminds one of a bossa nova classic, while the quieter "Anos, Meses y Dias" is delivered with the simplicity of a traditional Spanish folk song. Only three songs represent Memorabilia Navidena, an album of holiday music. Four previously unreleased songs also enrich the disc, including a duet, "By the Rio Grande," with Kris Kristofferson. While this album succeeds as a representative collection, one wouldn't want to miss out on her other albums, especially the delightful Taos for Tennessee. The Best of Sandia serves as a good introduction to the early work of Tish Hinojosa. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.

Professional Reviews

Musician (8/97, p.90) - "Fine introduction to folk country soprano, who hits both notes and emotions with conviction that I don't hear much in her cutesy peers..."