CD Review: Julio Iglesias - Tango (Remastered)

Julio Iglesias' album Tango, reissued and remastered by Columbia Legacy, is pure Julio and pure Tango. Although the interpretation is a bit different than those you might be used to, you're going to end up loving this album. Look for it in record stores August 29, 2006.

The first time I heard Julio Iglesias sing the classic tangos on his album Tango, the experience was a little disconcerting. Expecting the bold, dramatic bravura of, say, Carlos Gardel himself, Iglesias' subtle, understated treatment of these 12 classic tangos seemed odd.

Iglesias does not have the voice of a Gardel, so he has tailored his tangos to a style that works wonderfully well with the pleasant low-keyed vocal instrument he has to work with. These tangos are more sensual than operatic, but Iglesias puts his all into every one of them and they slowly insinuate themselves into your consciousness until, by the end of the album, you forget there is any other way to sing the tango.

The 12 tracks include everyone's favorites, "La Cumparsita" and "El Choclo" ("Kiss of Fire"), Gardel classics like "El Dia Que Me Quieras", "Volver","Mano A Mano" and probably Gardel's most famous tango, "Mi Buenos Aires Querido".

Today, I love this album and carry with me when I travel, which means I listen to it alot. This CD is a classic worth reissuing,and should be part of every tango lover's collection.