Craft Latino is continuing their year-long celebration of Fania Records with a major release: a special 50th anniversary reissue of one of salsa music’s most important albums, Celia & Johnny. The record was the debut collaboration between legendary Cuban singer Celia Cruz and bandleader/producer/Fania co-founder Johnny Pacheco. The anniversary album will be in stores on October 11th.
Order Celia & Johnny (50th Anniversary Remastered Edition)
The reissue of Celia & Johnny features all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. It is printed on 180-gram vinyl and is housed in an old-school style tip-on jacket, replicating its original artwork. A 180-gram “Azul Real (Royal Blue)” color vinyl variant (limited to 300 copies), with a bundle option that includes a Vaya Records T-shirt will be available. Additionally, the album will make its debut in 192/24 hi-res audio on select digital platforms.
Cruz had been a major star since the 1950s, but Pacheco wanted to return to her roots for their collaboration. “Celia sounded good with a stick banging against a can,” he told journalist Juan Moreno Velazquez. “She didn’t need all those instruments.”
Celia & Johnny is the latest release from Craft Latino as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of Fania Records. Throughout the year, Craft Latino promises to honor the iconic label’s enduring legacy through reissues such as this one, new releases, plus a host of exclusive content. A special tribute event dedicated to Celia Cruz and Fania’s 60th anniversary will be held on Saturday, August 3rd, at Grand Performances in Los Angeles. The free event begins at 6 p.m. and will feature a live performance by Havana Secret led by maestros Luis Eric Gonzalez and Sean Billings, former members of Celia’s backing band in the West Coast, alongside a DJ set by Gia Fu and dance lessons by the dance theater company Contra-Tiempo. More information can be found on Fania’s website.
Order Celia & Johnny (50th Anniversary Remastered Edition)