Adalberto Santiago's final outing for Fania Records shows the singer's consummate skill in the waning years of the label, despite salsa's downslide with the public. Arrangers
Ray Santos, Miguel Flores, Emilio Reales, and
Oscar Hernández and musical director/producer
Papo Lucca bring out fireworks in the production, with the help of
La Sonora Ponceña's rhythm section (pianist
Lucca, conga player Vicente "Little Johnny" Rivero, timbalero
Jessie Colón, and bongo player
Angel L. Hernández). Among the standouts, "Si Tu No, la Otra" (based on
Luis Kalaff's famed merengue), "Sácale Punta," "Debut y Despedida," "Pa' el Rincón," and "Te Dan de Lao" confirm the singer's excitingly uncanny vocal abilities. A fitting valedictory of
Santiago's career with the mainstream salsa label. ~ José A. Estévez Jr.