Tipica 73

One of the groups that epitomized the salsa explosion of the 1970s, Orquesta Tipica 73 formed in 1972 from the ashes of Ray Barretto's group, among others. The group originally formed to play typical (tipico) Latin music, and it found a home on Fania's sister label, Inca. But by the end of the decade, differences between the musicians -- some of whom wanted to stretch out and improvise more -- led to an almost wholesale change in personnel. Several members left to form Los Kimbos, while others pursued solo careers. (Among the band's veterans are Alfredo de la Fe, Jose "El Canario" Alberto, Adalberto Santiago and Camilo Azuquita.) Though the band had wound down by the early '80s, they released one final, lauded release, 1980's Charangueando Con la Tipica 73.