Forgotten Treasure: Eddie Palmieri “In Concert At The University Of Puerto Rico” (1971, Coco Records)

After watching Eddie Palmieri perform last week, I posted a picture on Instagram with the caption “I want to put Eddie Palmieri in a time capsule. So in case thousands of years from now Puerto Ricans no longer exist and they speak of us like they do of lost civilizations, they will play Eddie and they will know exactly what we were.”

I meant it. However, I was left with a challenge as to which album. The album I kept coming back to in my head was this one, “In Concert At The University Of Puerto Rico”.

The performance was held on the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico during a year that saw a great deal of protests against the militarization of the school. Students burned down the ROTC building and held massive protests calling for the independence of Puerto Rico amongst other things.

Combine the revolutionary cries in the air with the heavy revolutionary sounds brought by Eddie and his crew and you have one of the most powerful performances ever recorded.

Eddie wastes no time, as soon as the intros are done, he goes right into an electrifying performance of “Vamonos Pal’ Monte” which he had just dropped that same year. As soon as the first keys are played the crowd erupts. Chills.

My father swears up and down that he was there when this album was recorded. I can’t call it. What I do know for certain is that I get transferred there every time I let the needle ride on this album.

Christian Martir

Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico and now residing in New York City, Christian Mártir likens himself to a renaissance man. Over the last 7 years, as founder of the Rice & Beans Sound System, he has played and spread his love for Latin and Afro-Caribbean rhythms and culture.