[Clancy]

What a great night, Kirk and I were just sitting around watching fairly boring TV and to our absolute delight switched on to a channel showing the Buena Vista Social Club... Although it's the third time around for me, I loved watching it all over again. Ry Cooder is great and the Cuban musicians... well what can you say, such enthusiasm and love for music... a real joy to watch... If you haven't seen this movie, do yourself a favour and check it out. a big thumbs up

Clancy

[si16]

I agree, Clancy. There's plenty of good concert movies available but there aren't too many good documentaries about music. This, though is certainly one of them. I don't know if I would try Compay Segundo's recipe for a hangover cure though. Sounds more like a recipe for instant death! It's a shame that the musicians had to wait so long before they achieved the success they deserved.

Since the film was made three of the members - Compay Segundo, pianist Ruben Gonzalez and singer Ibrahim Ferrer - have unfortunately passed away but thankfully they left us with this great film and a tremendous album as part of their legacy.

Simon

[Stephen]

I remember first hearing the first track from the CD (studio recording, not the soundtrack) on the local radio station. I went straight out and bought a copy and played it endlessly. Then the film came out there was all that wonderful photography and the interviews and live sessions. Ibrahim Ferrer had one of the sweetest voices I had ever heard. The songs are beautiful and fun and the excitement is contagious. I would have watched it again last night but I was playing at the Rails. Highly recommended. The CD (studio recording) performance is a little better than the film soundtrack if you can't find the movie.

[Kirk Lorange]

I liked the bass player's comment about music ... he said "Music is like a game". I know exactly what he means. It's a game with rules and regulations, like an endless puzzle that you can spend a lifetime tinkering with. I guess that's why you 'play' music, why you don't 'work' it.

I also loved seeing Havana in the movie as I lived there when I was a kid. My dad worked for a big multinational tyre company that sent him -- and the family -- to several places around the World. We spent a couple of years there (56 to 57) just before Castro took over.

I was also amazed at seeing Ry Cooder's son Joachim ... in about 1978 I met Ry briefly outside his hotel in Sydney when he was touring with David Lindley. Ry was holding little Joachim in his arms ... to see him all grown up made me feel ... ancient.