JOE BATAAN Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Previously unreleased, Joe Bataan (real name Bataan Nitollano) recorded the bulk of the material making up Drug Story in 1972. This new, highly limited box set hears seven revered, rarely-heard gems of Latin jazz, deep soul, raucous boogaloo, and heavy salsa by the legend, most of which were largely salvaged from his very own self-run Ghetto Records vaults. Drug Story was inspired by true events, and hears Bataan croon graciously over themes of destitution, lost family members and friends, and addiction. One of three definitive reissues of Bataan's greatest works, licensed from Bataan himself, with his oversight and input into a 15 page oversized book by Pablo Yglesia,s that details Bataan's larger-than-imagination life and his little Latin label that could.