In celebration of pioneering New York label Fania Records’ 60th anniversary, Craft Latino have been reissuing a collection of the label’s classic records. The latest reissue to be announced is De ti depende (It’s Up to You), the 1976 sophomore solo outing from salsa icon Héctor “El Cantante” Lavoe. Featuring salsa hits “Periódico de ayer,” “Hacha y machete,” and “Vamos a reír un poco,” the bestselling record marked Lavoe’s debut as a bandleader. Returning to vinyl for the first time in the U.S. since the mid-’70s, De ti depende arrives September 27th.
Featuring all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, the album is pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in an old-school-style tip-on jacket, replicating the LP’s original artwork. A 180-gram “Oro liquido (Liquid Gold)” color vinyl variant (limited to 300 copies), with a bundle option that includes a collectible T-shirt will also be available. Additionally, De ti depende will make its debut in 192/24 HD digital audio.
De ti depende was originally released following Lavoe’s creative split with bandleader Willie Colón. “At first, I was hurt,” Lavoe later told Latin NY magazine in 1980, “but I soon realized the split up had its purpose; it was a test! I had to prove that I could go it alone.” Lavoe worked on the record with Colón’s celebrated band, composed of percussionists Jose Mangual Jr. and Milton Cardona, pianist “Professor” Joe Torres, and bassist Santi Gonzalez. The album’s autobiographical track “Hacha y machete” finds the singer reflecting on his longtime musical partnership with Colón.
To celebrate Fania’s legacy on its milestone anniversary, Craft Latino will release over a dozen remastered 180-gram vinyl reissues, over two dozen remastered digital albums, many of which will debut in hi-res digital, and a variety of content throughout the year, including curated playlists, artist spotlights and live events across New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and London.
