Ralfi Pagan - A Voice of Love Ralfi Pagan, a Puerto Rican-American singer, known for his soulful and heartfelt music, holds a special place in my heart. His voice resonates with pure emotion, bringing to life the sentiments of love and affection that I feel towards a significant person in my life. One of his most notable songs, "To Say I Love You," captures the essence of my feelings perfectly. The soothing melody, accompanied by his smooth vocals, creates an atmosphere of love and tenderness. Listening to this song, I am reminded of the bond we share, and the depth of my emotions towards this person. Ralfi Pagan's ability to convey such raw emotion through his music is truly remarkable.
That’s what Art Laboe’s Killer Oldies show has always been about—love, the idea of love, missing love, remembering love, hoping for love. For many of us who grew up in a certain time, in certain neighborhoods in California, his voice and those songs are as iconic as Route 66 winding through San Bernardino, Valencia orange groves in Riverside and Corona and Pomona, and crowded drive-ins in El Monte.
I stay in the kitchen; as ever, welcoming me to what must be approaching his millionth show is that deep, reasonable, invariable voice This is Art Laboe with another night of Killer Oldies on the Art Laboe Connection. Just like millions of listeners all around California, close to radios in cars and kitchens and yards and factories and prisons and night fields where if things are desperate they pick grapes or oranges by the beams of headlights.
Ralfi Pagan's ability to convey such raw emotion through his music is truly remarkable. Each lyric and note evokes a sense of longing, joy, and passion. It is a testament to his talent and artistry.
Ralfi Pagan – 1975 – I Can See
Ralfi Pagan was a beautiful anomaly within Latin music powerhouse Fania Records’ late ’60s/early ’70s roster. Blessed with a gorgeous, airy falsetto tenor, Pagan was more musically aligned with the sensitive soul balladry of his obvious role model Smokey Robinson than the salsa dura erupting out of East Harlem and his native Bronx. His early recordings reflected as much, moving tentatively between English and Spanish-sung soul slowies and dance numbers. But with his 1971 hit cover of Bread’s “Make It With You,” he found his niche – emphasizing the song’s forlorn romantic longing, rather than seduction, and ecstatically vamping in Spanish on the outro to seal the deal.
Tracks
A1 Ooo Baby Baby 3:15
A2 La Vida 3:06
A3 Just For A Little While 2:39
A4 Loneliness Loneliness 4:29
B1 I Could Never Hurt You Girl 3:22
B2 Darling You And I (Together) 4:30
B3 Stay Out Of My Life 3:56
B4 Rat Race 2:45
By Jeff Chairman Mao
The song was a crossover smash, and the remainder of Pagan’s career at Fania would see the label attempt to repeat its success – even re-releasing “ Make It With You’s ” accompanying album, With Love, sans its Latin tracks and subbing in older soul numbers. 1973’s Ralfi awkwardly moved him towards singer-songwriter territory. But 1975’s I Can See gets the musical calculus nearly perfect. As its title and dramatic cover design suggest, it’s a focused effort (just eight songs) that returns Pagan to his chief strength, the heartbreaking soul ballad.
It also reunites Pagan with producer Marty Sheller, whose arrangements made With Love’s soul tracks such standouts. From the first notes of the opening Smokey Robinson cover, backed by a who’s-who of top studio players, everything feels just right. Drummer Bernard “Pretty” Purdie and bassist Jerry Jemmott (both veterans of Aretha Franklin’s touring group) lock into a sultry groove accented by Nicky Marrero’s bongos and Frank Malabe’s congas. Louie Ramirez’s vibraphone lines shimmer, and guitarist Joe Beck’s wah-wah adds just the right touch of blue light basement friction. For his part, Pagan’s breathy, reverb-bathed performance is a study in exquisite vulnerability that would do Smokey proud. Throughout I Can See, he’s further buoyed by sumptuous backup harmonies from veteran producer/songwriters J.R. Bailey (of his own cult classic soul LP Just Me and You fame), Kenneth Williams, and Mel Kent.
It’s a brilliant template that yields uniformly sublime results on “ Just For a Little While ” (as in “I never knew that when you said ‘I love you’ it was…”), the Bailey/Williams/Kent-penned “ Loneliest Loneliness ” and an outstanding cover of Cholly Rivera’s late ’60s single “ I Could Never Hurt You Girl ”. The latter features a brief call-and-response adlib between Pagan and Bailey that speaks to the attention to detail herein. Even two down-tempo funk-infused tracks, “ La Vida ” and “ Rat Race ”, work well; Beck’s guitar builds sonic continuity while Pagan turns his attention from matters of the heart to broader philosophical and societal concerns.
Despite its obvious musical merits, I Can See stalled commercially and would be Pagan’s final LP for Fania. He would continue to record for other labels and relocate to Los Angeles, where his Latin soul sound was beloved by Chicano audiences. But tragically, his life and career ended far too soon. While touring Colombia in 1978, he was murdered under circumstances that have long been the subject of speculation and rumor. Knowing this, one can’t help but experience I Can See as something even more profound: haunting.
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Furthermore, Ralfi Pagan's authenticity shines through in his music. He sings from the heart, baring his soul for all to hear. This honesty and vulnerability make his songs relatable and touch the hearts of many. In addition to his music, Ralfi Pagan's personal journey is also a source of inspiration. Facing adversity throughout his life, he remained resilient and dedicated to his craft. His unwavering passion for music serves as a reminder to never give up on love and to always cherish the connections we have with others. In conclusion, Ralfi Pagan's voice is a vessel for my sentiments of love towards someone dear to me. Through his music, I can express the depth of my emotions and let them know how much they mean to me. Ralfi Pagan's soulful tunes continue to resonate with me, capturing the essence of love and affection in each lyric and note..
Reviews for "Ralfi Pagan: Singing My Sentiments of Love into Existence"
1. John Smith - 1/5 stars
I really didn't enjoy "Ralfi Pagan to Voice My Sentiments of Love Towards You". The album felt repetitive and lacked creativity. Pagan's vocals were unimpressive, and the overall production felt flat. I was hoping for more depth and emotion from this album, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for something unique or engaging.
2. Emily Johnson - 2/5 stars
"Ralfi Pagan to Voice My Sentiments of Love Towards You" was an underwhelming album for me. While I appreciate Pagan's attempt at capturing love sentiments, the execution didn't connect with me. The songs all sounded too similar and lacked variety. Pagan's voice, though pleasant, couldn't make up for the lack of depth and originality in the lyrics. Overall, it was a forgettable and mediocre experience.
3. Robert Thompson - 1/5 stars
I found "Ralfi Pagan to Voice My Sentiments of Love Towards You" to be a bland and forgettable album. Pagan's voice felt uninspired, and the songs lacked any unique qualities or memorable hooks. It all blended together into a generic and uninteresting listening experience. I was hoping for more passion and creativity, but sadly, this album didn't deliver. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking captivating love songs.
4. Sarah Davis - 2/5 stars
While "Ralfi Pagan to Voice My Sentiments of Love Towards You" showcased Pagan's smooth vocals, the album as a whole failed to captivate me. The songs lacked originality, and the lyrics felt cliché and predictable. Additionally, the production didn't do justice to Pagan's voice, as it often felt drowned out or overpowered by the backing instrumentals. Overall, it was an average album that didn't leave a lasting impression.