Lydia Mendoza First Queen Of Tejano Music CD

Recorded between 1950 and 1964. Originally released on Ideal Records. Includes liner notes by Leticia Del Toro.

In the early '50s, after taking some years off to raise her family, Lydia Mendoza returned to recording. First Queen of Tejano Music has 26 songs that she recorded for the Ideal label between 1950 and 1964. In contrast to her sparse, guitar-accompanied sides from the '30s, these have a fuller band sound, with backup by several different orquestas. Although much of this is in the conjunto mainstream of jaunty, emotionally delivered tunes with guitar-accordion arrangements, there's some variety as well that finds her occasionally in more of a pop, jazz, or torch song mold, along with some straight mariachi settings, boleros, and tangos. For the money, it still works best when the melodies are sad and the arrangements tend toward the more simple, putting the focus firmly on Mendoza's assured vocals. It's still quality material, however, reflecting the increasing sophistication of conjunto music instrumentation as the century passed the halfway mark. ~ Richie Unterberger

Personnel: Lydia Mendoza (vocals, 12-string guitar); Jose Morante (vocals); Enrique Rodriguez (guitar, requinto, percussion); Narciso Martínez, Tony de la Rosa (accordion); Lorenzo Caballero (double bass); Reynaldo Barrera (6-string bass).

Liner Note Author: Leticia del Toro.

Editor: Chris Strachwitz.

Photographer: Elizabeth Weil.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Chris Strachwitz; Mariachi Ideal; Beto Villa Y Su Orquesta; Los Rebeldes.

Personnel includes: Lydia Mendoza (vocals); Enrique Rodriguez (requinto); Narciso Martinez, Tony De La Rosa (accordion); Reynaldo Berrera (bajo sexto); Lorenzo Caballero (acoustic bass); Conjunto De Gilberto Lopez, Beto Villa Orquesta, Mariachi Ideal, Jose Morante, Los Rebeldes, Conjunto De Al Mendez, Conjunto Narciso Martinez, Gilberto Lopez Y Conjunto.

Compilation producer: Chris Strachwitz.