Buena Vista Social Club

We begin, of course, with the smoky strains of "Chan Chan" and the languid guitar of producer Ry Cooder. This is the one song that started the Buena Vista craze. The collective's bona fide diva, Omara Portuondo delivers exquisite versions of the somber "La Sitiera" and the raucous "Dónde Estabas Tú."

The raspy voice of the late Compay Segundo adds authenticity to new readings of "Longina" and "Lágrimas Negras." Pianist Rubén González had a jazzy touch, filled with humor and tenderness. His take on "Siboney" says it all. It was included in his debut solo album, released when González was 77 years old.

As the Buena Vista franchise became established in the World music front, its members found the courage to throw caution to the wind and experiment. A solo album by bass player Cachaíto Lopez and a wonderfully eccentric collaboration between Ry Cooder and former Los Zafiros guitarist Manuel Galbán are highlighted here.

It was one of Latin music's most surprising success stories. An unassuming album, helmed by an American guitarist and recorded in Cuba with a collective of forgotten veterans, sells millions of copies and ignites a worldwide interest in Cuban music. The first Buena Vista Social Club launched a franchise that includes more than a dozen sequels and spinoff projects. The big surprise? All of them are as excellent as the original.