LA Bamba and Other Hits

Album Review

Ritchie Valens was only 17 when he died in 1959. His musical legacy rests on about an album and a half of completed studio material, a poorly recorded high-school concert, and a handful of demos and rehearsal tapes, all of which actually makes this extremely brief ten-song set a decent purchase, since the longer compilations are forced to include a lot of filler. In the case of Valens, who had no real time to refine or develop his obvious talents, less is quite likely best. Valens' big hit, "La Bamba," is here, along with its flip side, "Donna" (which was actually the A-side, but "La Bamba" has emerged over time as Valens' signature tune), and they are probably the two tracks most casual listeners will want. Collectors and serious fans should definitely pick up one of the longer anthologies, since the demos and unfinished tracks most of them feature are certainly interesting, if hardly essential.