You were very likely listening to Colombian style street salsa. Nowadays it's about the only true salsa being released. Salsa from P/Rico is nowadays being marketed to women and made bland and homogenized. Good salsa bands have to perform in Colombia, Panama and Venezuela in order to make a living! If you look at the sampler s sold at The Sharper Image outlets they are mostly Colombian bands.
Try Grupo Niche for a sample of great Colombian salsa. Most of the salsa greats from the 70's are available on CD: Willie Colón/Hector Lavoe, Eddie Palmieri, Richie Ray, Harlow Orchestra, Cheo Feliciano. Gilberto Sana Rosa Live in Carnegie Hall is a really outstanding example of ballroom salsa.
For a change, get any early Olga Tañón album and fasten your seat belts. A lot of of this stuff you can get through CDNow. Do not expect audiophile grade recordings, though.
Try Grupo Niche for a sample of great Colombian salsa. Most of the salsa greats from the 70's are available on CD: Willie Colón/Hector Lavoe, Eddie Palmieri, Richie Ray, Harlow Orchestra, Cheo Feliciano. Gilberto Sana Rosa Live in Carnegie Hall is a really outstanding example of ballroom salsa.
For a change, get any early Olga Tañón album and fasten your seat belts. A lot of of this stuff you can get through CDNow. Do not expect audiophile grade recordings, though.