So you’d like to…
listen to the collection Grands Cantaores du Flamenco on the French Chant du Monde label, which is possibly the greatest single collection of Flamenco ever assembled. Regardless of what label they originally recorded on, nearly all of the greatest artists of the 20th century are included, and most of those are represented by some (at least) of their greatest performances.
(In arresting characters not as large as those showing the featured artist, each volume bears the legend “Collection dirigée par Mario Bois” (shades of the old Presti-Lagoya/Collection Robert J. Vidal albums on French RCA). M. Bois is certainly to be congratulated on bringing out what is possibly the most important collection of flamenco recordings since the historic Westminster anthology. Had he been able to refrain from filling the accompanying booklets with exclamatory drivel, posterity's gratitude would have been even greater.)
Over twenty-six hours of the most rewarding listening, then, are available by obtaining these 26 CDs. This I have tried to do; but not without difficulty, even when they were first released.
Problems
If you wish to join me, you will find that (as far as Amazon is concerned) your problems are twofold:
1) A simple find on "Grands Cantaores du Flamenco" does not turn all of them up. This is partially Chant du Monde's fault, because when a guitarist or dancer is featured (as on vols 5, 6, 11 & 14), the generic title changes to "Grands Figures du Flamenco". But further, on Amazon, some of them are listed under the French title, some under the title "Great Masters of Flamenco", and some under the names of the individual artists.
I have submitted catalogue update requests which hopefully will correct this situation on Amazon US; however, if you search for these albums on other Amazons (as you may find yourself obliged to do), you will need to be aware of it.
2) Some of the volumes are obtainable only through a third party, new or second-hand; and some (as I write) are listed as unobtainable. The latter, obviously, are the ones you'll have to seek on Amazons elsewhere.
I realise that comments on each disc would be useful, but that would be very time-consuming. Meantime, at least it may be helpful to know what to look for; so here, then, are links to to all of the collection.
The Individual Albums
01 Pepe de la Matrona. Guitarists: Román el Granaíno & Pedro Soler.
02 Niño de Almadén. Guitarists: Román el Granaíno & Pedro Soler.
03 Niña de los Peines. Guitarists: Melchor de Marchena, Niño Ricardo & Manolo de Badajoz.
04 Terremoto de Jerez. Guitarists: Manuel Morao & Paco de Antequera
06 Carmen Amaya. Guitarists: Sabicas, & José or Paco Amaya.
07 Manolo Caracol. Guitarists: Melchor de Marchena & Unknown
08 Manuel Agujetas. Guitarists: Parrilla de Jerez, Manolo Sanlúcar & David Serva.
09 Antonio Mairena. Guitarist: Melchor de Marchena
10 Pepe Marchena. Guitarists: Paquito Simón, Ramón Montoya & Perico del Lunar
12 El Borrico. Guitarists: Paco Cepero & Paco de Antequera
13 La Perla de Cádiz. Guitarists: Manuel Morao & Zafiro.
14 Sabicas. Several tracks are mislabelled.
15 Camarón. Guitarists: Paco de Lucía, Ramón de Algeciras, Tomatito & Raimundo Amador
16 El Sordera. Guitarist: Felix de Utrera.
17 Beni de Cádiz. Guitarists: Pepe Martínez, José Manuel Roldán & Unknown.
18 Rafael Romero. Guitarist: Perico del Lunar.
19 Tía Anica la Piriñaca. Guitarists: Diego Carrasco & Juan Moreno.
20 Juan Talega. Guitarists: Paco Aguilera, Eduardo de la Malena, Melchor de Marchena, Niño Ricardo, Manuel Moreno & El Poeta.
21 Porrina de Badajoz. Guitarists: Paco Aguilera, Justo de Badajoz, Niño Ricardo, Pepe de Badajoz, Melchor de Marchena, Ramón Montoya, Carlos Montoya & Juan Serrano
22 La Paquera de Jerez. Guitarist: Manuel Morao
23 Canalejas de Puerto Real. Guitarist: Vicente El Granaío
24 Pepe Pinto. Guitarists: Pepe Martínez, Niño Ricardo, Melchor de Marchena & Manolo Molina
25 Curro de Utrera. Guitarist: Rafael El Cordobés
26 Roque Montoya ‘Jarrito’. Guitarists: Antonio Arenas, Luis Maravilla & Paco Aguilera
Sampler
Four-Album Boxed Sets
01–04 Great Masters of Flamenco, Vols. 1-4
05–08 Great Masters of Flamenco, Vols. 5-8
09–12 Great Masters of Flamenco, Vols. 9-12
