Harlem River Drive [LP]

Harlem River Drive - Harlem River Drive [LP]

PRESSED ON SMOKE COLORED VINYL
When initially released in 1971, many critics panned Eddie Palmieri’s album Harlem River Drive. Those critics
were wrong. Regardless of critical opinion, the release was not the crossover success Palmieri and Roulette
Records had hoped for, at least in the immediate. Over the years the release has developed a following among
listeners, DJs, and aficionados of rare-grooves.
The record may have been recorded towards the end of the Latin soul era, yet it features that genre's wonderful
mix of Puerto Rican soul, Spanish Harlem Latin, and New York funk. Palmieri worked with an incredibly talented
crew of Latin and R&B session musicians to create this quintessential New York vibe, a synthesis of funk and
Afro-Cuban sounds. Contributors include Victor Venegas from Mongo Santamaria’s band, Palmieri’s brother
Charlie, an accomplished musician in his own right, Bruce Fowler who went on to join Frank Zappa’s band,
Dick Meza who went on to great things with Tito Puente, Ray Barretto and Celia Cruz, as well as Andy
Gonzalez who’s pedigree includes recordings with Barretto, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colon
and even Chico O’Farrill. Also appearing Randy Brecker and one of the all-time
greatest of the greats Bernard Purdy.
An over-arching theme of Harlem River Drive is the thought that, as Palmieri puts it “The U.S. is richest country,
all this immense wealth, side by side with the most intense poverty, racial prejudice; how is that possible?” A
question that’s perhaps more even more relevant today than it was in 1971. A question that can be further
explored with Get On Down’s reissue of this seminal recording.