Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco’s Tremendo Caché, one of salsa music’s most foundational albums, is getting a vinyl reissue from Craft Latino in honor of its 50th-anniversary.
Originally released in 1975, this album brought together the Cuban “Queen of Salsa” and Dominican bandleader Pacheco for an enduring example of the genre at its peak. Tremendo Caché‘s hit songs included “La sopa en botella,” “Tres días de Carnaval,” and the chart-topping “Cúcala,” which became one of Cruz’s signature tracks. Pacheco and Cruz would go on to record multiple more albums together, including the Grammy-nominated Eternos; De nuevo; and Celia, Johnny and Pete with Pete Rodriguez.
“Recording with Celia was like going to a carnival,” recalled Pacheco. “From the moment she arrived at the studio, I could feel her positive energy, and immediately our minds began working in unison. We had a special chemistry, but above all, we had enormous professional respect and immense affection for each other.” Supporting the charismatic duo on the album was an all-star ensemble including Papo Lucca, Justo Betancourt, and Roberto Torres.
Scheduled for release on March 14, the fiftieth-anniversary edition of Tremendo Caché is pressed on 180-gram vinyl, and features all-analog mastering by Clint Holley of Well Made Music. This reissue celebrates not only the album’s longstanding influence, but the centennial of Celia Cruz’s birth. Throughout 2025, Craft Latino will honor Cruz’s remarkable legacy with a series of reissues, exclusive content, and special releases. Cruz died in 2003 at the age of 77.
Order the Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco album Tremendo Caché now.
