Both a traditionalist and an innovator, legendary Colombian salsa and tropical music singer
Joe Arroyo had already been gone from this earth for six years when
Mis Favoritas hit the shelves, but that's not the only reason the title is in doubt. After such a long, productive career, it's hard to imagine all of his -- or any fan's -- "favorites" coming from his time on the Sony label (roughly the years 1991-2003), or that they would all come from his 2007 two-CD set
20 Originales, which
Mis Favoritas matches -- track for track and in the same order -- right up until "Deja Que Te Canta" closes the set. That was the fourth track on disc two on
20 Originales and this set just cuts off the remaining songs, but it's a testament to
Arroyo's later work that the set still shines despite its simplistic construction, with hits like "Tal Para Cual," "Noches de Ilusión," and "El Viajero" all standing up to the man's early work. Still, this isn't the full picture, just an excellent and easy pickup for anyone looking to knock off
El Joe's Sony years in one disc. ~ David Jeffries