1988 Ruben Blades – Nothing But the Truth

Abraham Laboriel Sr, Al Schmitt, Alan Pasqua, Carlos Rios, Dean Parks, Hadley Hockensmith, James Ingram, Jeffrey Porcaro, JR Robinson, Kate Markowitz, Larry Williams, Neil Stubenhaus, Paulinho Da Costa, Phil Perry, Phillip Ingram, Ruben Blades, Tommy LiPuma

Nothing but the Truth is the title of the first album in English of the Panamanian salsa singer Ruben Blades, this production is unique for several reasons: initially by the novelty of listening to Ruben Blades sing in English. In addition, during the Ruben Blades embodiment he had the opportunity to work with three of the most eminent musicians: Lou Reed (in the songs “Hopes on Hold,” “Letters to the Vatican,” and “The Calm Before the Storm”) Elvis Costello (in “The Miranda Syndrome” and “Shamed into Love”) and Sting (in “I Can not Say”).

The songs are in tune with the events that marked the historic moment of its realization, and refers to realities present in the 1980s As for the music, which varies from one song to another, merges genres like Soul, R & B and Rock, but with Latin accent, although in the absence of the genre that Blades became famous throughout Latin America, Salsa.Themify Builder Placeholder

Tracks

1 The Hit (Ruben Blades) 05:52
2 I Can’t Say (Sting) 03:46
3 Hopes On Hold (Ruben Blades; Lou Reed) 05:22
4 The Miranda Syndrome (Ruben Blades; Elvis Costello) 04:54
5 Letters To The Vatican (Ruben Blades; Lou Reed) 05:03
6 The Calm Before The Storm (Ruben Blades; Lou Reed) 04:39
7 In Salvador (Ruben Blades) 04:44
8 The Letter (Ruben Blades) 03:26
9 Chameleons (Ruben Blades; Carlos Rios) 05:52
10 Ollie’s Doo-Wop (Ruben Blades) 02:37
11 Shamed Into Love (Ruben Blades; Elvis Costello) 04:03

Media

Musicians

1 The Hit

Drums	JR Robinson
Bass	Abraham Laboriel Sr
Guitar	Mike Landau
Keyboards	Alan Pasqua
Keyboard Programming	Carlos Rios
Percussion	Paulinho Da Costa
Congas	Bobby Allende
Background Vocals	James Ingram
Background Vocals	Phillip Ingram
Background Vocals	Phil Perry
Background Vocals	Howard Kenney

2 I Can’t Say

Bass	Neil Stubenhaus
Drums	Jeff Porcaro
Guitar	Carlos Rios
Keyboards	Alan Pasqua
Additional Keyboards	Larry Williams
Percussion	Lenny Castro
Sax	Larry Williams
Background Vocals	Kate Markowitz
Background Vocals	Carlos Rios
Background Vocals	Larry Williams

3 Hopes On Hold

Bass	Mike Viñas
Drums	Robby Ameen
Guitar	Carlos Rios
Acoustic Guitar	Rubén Blades
Keyboards	Oscar Hernandez
Additional Keyboards	Larry Williams
Synthesizers	Jason Miles
Timbales	Ralph Irizarry
Congas	Bobby Allende
Percussion	Bobby Allende
Background Vocals	James Ingram
Background Vocals	Phillip Ingram
Background Vocals	Phil Perry
Background Vocals	Howard Kenney

4 The Miranda Syndrome

Bass	Abraham Laboriel Sr
Drums	Jeff Porcaro
Acoustic Guitar	Elvis Costello
Keyboards	Alan Pasqua
Accordion	Alan Pasqua
Percussion	Paulinho Da Costa
Percussion	Paulinho Da Costa
Background Vocals	James Ingram
Background Vocals	Phillip Ingram
Background Vocals	Phil Perry
Background Vocals	Howard Kenney
Background Vocals	Carlos Rios

5 Letters To The Vatican

Bass	Yossie Fine
Drums	JT Lewis
Guitar	Lou Reed
Guitar	Mike Rathke
Sax	Rick Bell

6 The Calm Before The Storm

Bass	Yossie Fine
Drums	JT Lewis
Guitar	Lou Reed
Guitar	Mike Rathke
Sax	Rick Bell
Background Vocals	JT Lewis
Background Vocals	Yossie Fine
Background Vocals	Lou Reed
Background Vocals	Mike Rathke
Background Vocals	Rick Bell
Background Vocals	Rubén Blades

7 In Salvador

Bass	Neil Stubenhaus
Bass Overdubs	Abraham Laboriel Sr
Drums	Jeff Porcaro
Guitar	Carlos Rios
Keyboards	Alan Pasqua
Timbales	Ralph Irizarry

8 The Letter

Bass	Abraham Laboriel Sr
Drums	JR Robinson
Guitar	Hadley Hockensmith
Acoustic Guitar	Dean Parks
Keyboards	Alan Pasqua
Synthesizer	Larry Wlliams
Keyboard Programming	Carlos Rios
Sax	Larry Wlliams
Background Vocals	James Ingram
Background Vocals	Carlos Rios

9 Chameleons

Bass	Abraham Laboriel Sr
Drums	JR Robinson
Guitar	Hadley Hockensmith
Guitar Overdubs	Carlos Rios
Keyboards	Alan Pasqua
Keyboard Programming	Carlos Rios
Percussion	Paulinho Da Costa
Background Vocals	Howard Kenney
Background Vocals	Phil Perry
Background Vocals	James Ingram
Background Vocals	Carlos Rios
Background Vocals	Kate Markowitz
Background Vocals	Phillip Ingram
Bata	Bobby Allende
Bata	Ralph Irizarry
Bata	Bobby Allende
Owl	James Ingram

10 Ollie’s Doo Wop

Background Vocals	James Ingram
Background Vocals	Phillip Ingram
Background Vocals	Phil Perry
Background Vocals	Carlos Rios
Background Vocals	Howard Kenney

11 Shamed Into Love

Bass	Abraham Laboriel Sr
Drums	JR Robinson
Guitar	Hadley Hockensmith
Acoustic Guitar	Dean Parks
Keyboards	Alan Pasqua
Sax	Larry Wlliams
Cello	Buell Niedlinger
Background Vocals	James Ingram
Background Vocals	Phillip Ingram
Background Vocals	Phil Perry
Background Vocals	Howard Kenney

Liner Notes

Producer – Carlos Rios (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 9)
Producer – Tommy LiPuma (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11)
Arranged By – Carlos Rios (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Arranged By – Ruben Blades (Tracks 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
Mastered By – Stephen Marcussen
Mixed By – Al Schmitt (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Recorded By – Al Schmitt (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Mastered At – Precision Lacquer
Recorded At – Bill Schnee Studios, North Hollywood
Recorded At – Power Station, New York City
Recorded At – Sorcerer Sound, New York City
Recorded At – Ocean Way, Los Angeles
Recorded At – RPM Studios, New York City
Recorded At – Secret Sound, New York City
Mixed At – Bill Schnee Studios
Mixed At – Shakedown Sound Studios