YOU GOTTA HEAR THIS RECORD: Manitas De Plata - Juerga!

Manitas De Plata - Juerga!

(Originally released in 1963)

I originally bought this album for the cover. I mean, LOOK at that. My first thought was, "Holy shit. How can that be bad?" In this case my gut instinct was dead on. When I got home and put it on the turntable it absolutely blew my mind. Literally overnight Manitas De Plata became one of my favorite guitar players and I soon learned that he made dozens of recordings back in the day. For some reason his technique was considered unorthodox and controversial in the world of Flamenco guitar. An absolutely stunning performer, apparently there were many traditionalists in his time that refused to take him seriously. They thought of his freakishly unique style as some kind of gimmick. I'm no expert, so I don't know about all that business. What I do know is that when he plays it often sounds like 2 or 3 guitar players.

Born Ricardo Baliardo in a gypsy caravan in southern France in 1921, he passed away in 2014 at the age of 93.

Here is footage from 1967 of Manitas performing as Salvador Dali paints:

Juerga's liner notes describe recording sessions that took place in a large cathedral. During a break in the proceedings, Manitas took his guitar out on the street to join in a traditional gypsy ritual of food, drink, and dancing around a large open fire. The recording engineers wisely recorded this spontaneous event and it makes up the bulk of the LP.

Manitas De Plata's nephews started the Rock & Pop influenced Rumba Flamenco group Gipsy Kings in 1978 and they are still active today.

In Spanish, Manitas De Plata means "little silver hands".

Here is some incredible live performance footage of Manitas in 1986: