{"product_id":"a-taste-vinyl-lp-cd","title":"A Taste – Vinyl LP\/CD","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e*PLEASE NOTE: This is a pre-order only of this vinyl LP\/CD, and will be shipping 30th October 2026*\u2028\u2028\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you order additional products from our site they will be sent out with 'A Taste', so please place a separate order for those.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1. Tiny \/ 2. Algo \/ 3. And We'll Make Love \/ 4. Vengo \/ 5. Get Yourself Together \/ 6. Babalonia \/ 7. My Friend \/ 8. A Taste Of Latin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt \u003cstrong\u003edoesn’t get much more special than this one.\u003c\/strong\u003e The music industry loves throwing around phrases like 'rare as hens' teeth' and 'holy grail', but Ricardo Marrero \u0026amp; The Group’s 1976 album \u003cem\u003eA Taste\u003c\/em\u003e genuinely earns them. A \u003cstrong\u003emythical and elusive release \u003c\/strong\u003ein its original form, for many it’s an unattainable prize in the Discogs wantlist, and one far out of reach financially. Even though it’s already been reissued by other amazing record labels over the years, we really wanted to make a Mr Bongo edition to \u003cstrong\u003epay homage to the album’s greatness and to keep this iconic gem in print\u003c\/strong\u003e, and at an affordable price for all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scarcity of Ricardo Marrero \u0026amp; The Group's iconic \u003cem\u003eA Taste\u003c\/em\u003e released in 1976 grew from the foundations of its release on the \u003cstrong\u003enotorious TSG Records\u003c\/strong\u003e. Run by \u003cstrong\u003eLloyd Price\u003c\/strong\u003e, with alleged ties to boxing promoter \u003cstrong\u003eDon King\u003c\/strong\u003e, TSG was one of the tax scam labels of the 1970s created to exploit a \u003cstrong\u003eloophole in the US tax system\u003c\/strong\u003e. Such labels would run up inflated production costs and losses that investors or the parent label could write off against their tax bills.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Taste was \u003cstrong\u003enever intended to be promoted and distributed properly \u003c\/strong\u003eand was thus lost in the musical ether of this 1970s farce. However, the album is not merely sought-after due to its rarity, it’s an amazing listen throughout. Though categorised as a ‘Latin’ album, it incorporates so much more. It has a \u003cstrong\u003ewarm, boundary-pushing sound \u003c\/strong\u003eand a \u003cstrong\u003elush fusion of Latin, jazz-funk, and soul with a cinematic edge\u003c\/strong\u003e; it’s varied yet feels complete as a whole.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the crown jewels of the album is the \u003cstrong\u003emuch-loved Latin funk anthem ‘Babalonia’\u003c\/strong\u003e. Different versions of this dancefloor gem have been recorded and released by Marrero on other labels, but this version is a \u003cstrong\u003ecertified monster.\u003c\/strong\u003e The often overlooked ‘Get Yourself Together’ is a real curveball, feeling like it should have been featured on an \u003cstrong\u003eindependent gospel private press\u003c\/strong\u003e - both uplifting and spiritual. Elsewhere, ‘And We'll Make Love’, which was penned by bassist \u003cstrong\u003eMichael Viñas\u003c\/strong\u003e, radiates with an \u003cstrong\u003eearthy soul-jazz \/ rare groove quality\u003c\/strong\u003e. Other highlights include the raw\u003cstrong\u003e Latin funk dancer ‘Algo’,\u003c\/strong\u003e with the album entering a straighter \u003cstrong\u003eLatin \/ Nuyorican\u003c\/strong\u003e realm on ‘Vengo’ and ‘A Taste Of Latin’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you’re a Latin enthusiast, someone who wants to investigate and dig into the genre for the first time, or someone who just wants an unquestionably great album to listen to, this record has something for everyone. \u003cstrong\u003eA true classic!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinyl housed in a tip-on sleeve.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FoJGhVP6mxU?si=qhwX27-ZwLMv64lL\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qaVew-Hk8m4?si=1yIw3m3zHIOISWKe\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e \u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N3-2FDcho5Q?si=jwQR8AfDM7GyMUCf\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ricardo Marrero \u0026 The Group","offers":[{"title":"Vinyl LP","offer_id":56856000201090,"sku":"MRBLP346","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":56856000233858,"sku":"MRBCD346","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0165\/3366\/files\/MRBLP346RicardoMarrero_Shopify_Square.jpg?v=1786978124","url":"https:\/\/www.mrbongo.com\/products\/a-taste-vinyl-lp-cd","provider":"Mr Bongo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}