Special Features: Flamenco on vinyl. '60s and '70s EPs (1)

Camarón de la Isla

S.C.O., June 2003
Translation: Joseph Kopec

The eight selected EPs of four songs each by El Camarón de la Isla come from the first half of the 1970s, all of them recorded on the Philips label. Although he is accompanied on the guitar by Paco de Lucía on all of them, in most of the cases he from Algeciras is presented as a collaborator, with or without the qualifier "special". Only on the record including the canastera, creation of the duet, are they presented on the same level. And proof of it is the cover photo, a black-and-white shot of Camarón and Paco live.

The pair are also presented in a curious photomontage in which a guitar separates both portraits with the addition that on the back cover - on which another black-and-white picture of Camarón replaces the usual advertising of the label's other titles - the photography by Pérez de León as well as the writing by Miguel Castán are signed. Both authors are credited with the cover, somewhat more classic, with a color photo of the pair of artists framed in ochre tones, with a back cover sporting a close-up in sepia of the cantaor. The first of these presentations breaks away from the other covers, nearly all color pictures - some on an urban background - of the cantaor from San Fernando, normally framed in solid, lively colors with obvious pop esthetics.

As far as the information included in the credits, it is inevitable to highlight the signature of the music and lyrics, most of which are credited to Antonio Sánchez, not always shared with his son Paco. The role of Paco de Lucía's brother, Ramón de Algeciras, is also noteworthy, as second guitar on many of the cuts. As far as the cantes, which are nearly always announced on the cover of these singles, the fandangos, tientos tangos and bulerías like 'El caminante' ('The Traveler') (on an EP taken from the LP 'Soy caminante' from 1974) stand out, although splashes of other styles appear such as the tarantos 'Se pelean en mi mente', the mineras, seguiriyas, alegrías, soleares and even the peteneras. Ah, the price... 395 pesetas on average, around 2.37 euros.

Worthy of special mention is 'Sere... serenito', taken from the soundtrack of the film 'Casa Flora' (1973), directed by Ramón Fernández. In this comedy, also starring Lola Flores and Estrellita Castro, Camarón de la Isla, donning a leather jacket and on a motorcycle, sings a song by Rafael de León and Juan Solano... a memorable picture confirmed on both the EP's cover and back cover. On the single, which Philips released in 1973, the verse is accompanied on side B by the popular tangos 'Detrás del tuyo se va'.

* Records provided by Bolo from his private collection.

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