The New Oldies: #7 2024 Album of the Year: Sheila E – Bailar

Something seems to be missing these days. It seems that record companies, radio stations, and streaming services are pushing some the great established musicians to the background. As a result these veteran artists are not getting the attention they deserve. Enter the Top 10 Album Countdown: The New Oldies. The main point is simple – to make this list you must have at least 20 years of producing established music. The album by the artist must have been released between November 1st, 2023 and October 31st, 2024

#7 Sheila E – Bailar

It’s hard to believe that Sheila E is six decades into her music career. She started out as a percussionist for the George Duke Band in the 1980s. We remember her breakthrough in the 1980s as a solo artist and a part of Prince’s entourage. While she didn’t necessarily have the biggest solo career, she went on to become one of the most successful female percussionists in the last 50 years. While she might always be associated with the Minneapolis sound, she had roots in Latin Music as her father Pete Escovedo was also a legendary percussionist. It still would be nearly half a century into her career before Sheila E. would release a Salsa album, Bailar. That album lands number 7 on this year’s New Oldies list.

It wasn’t just her father that contributed to her Latin music heritage. Her father had a friendship with Tito Puente, who she used to refer to as her godfather. Many consider Puente’s use of Latin and Caribbean music as something that led to the birth of Salsa (although Puente would always say Salsa came in a bottle and he said he played Cuban music). Tackling her first Salsa album, Sheila would bring in Tony Succar. A 37 year musician who is an absolute dynamo in Latin Music and Salsa. As for the title, Bailar means “dance”

In the year of collaborations in music, Bailar has several of them. The duet Bembe Colorà features Gloria Estefan as well as Succar’s mother Mimi. It’s pure Salsa gold fusing that Latin Caribbean sound beautifully. Ruben Blades plays on the opening track Anaconda. Luis Enrique plays on the title track, and Sheila E’s father is on the closing track Descarga. We cannot forget El Rey de Timbal, a collaboration with Salsa-great Gilberto Santa Rosa that pays homage to Tito Puente. On each track, we also reminded what a great percussionist Sheila is.

Whether you are a Salsa fan or a Sheila E.fan, this album will deliver. If you aren’t a fan of either, this album is a great primer to discover both.