Bataan's an interesting guy. A half-Pinoy Black dude who grew up in a solidly Puerto Rican neighborhood, he coined the term "salsoul" and was responsible for one of the first rap tunes ever put to wax ("Rap-O Clap-O"). He's never had any problem mixing and inventing new styles, even back in 1968 when this LP was released. So here you get tracks like the opener "It's A Good Feeling(1)," a 7-minute soul session that owes as much to Motown as it does to El Barrio, leading into the straight doo-wop "For Your Love." Bataan and the kick-ass band then easily switch gears for some Palmieri-inspired hard salsa ("Muneca," the hot "Pa'Monte(2)" and "Mambo De Bataan(3)"), before getting to what have proved to be the lasting cuts from this set: "What Good Is A Castle(4)" and "Ordinary Guy(5)." Re-recorded numerous times in his career, these gut-wrenching soul songs are unique. I can only think of something like Syl Johnson's "Is It Because I'm Black" to compare to them in intensity. "Castle" changes tempos halfway to a charging, horn heavy beast, while "Ordinary Guy" is a song the Truth & Soul / Daptone camps could die happy after making. Pure deep soul perfection. Nine songs total.

reviewed by monk