Perales  (Audio CD) 
by José Luis Perales

He performs four duets: "La Carcel del Amor" with Ana Gabriel, "Ay Amor" with Mocedades, the exquisite balada "Porque Esta Soledad" with my favorite singer Alejandro Fernandez, and perhaps what is the knock-out song of the CD set, "Porque Te Vas", with La Oreja de Van Gogh. It's an up-tempo, funky, fabulous version of the first track on Disc 1, and you're guaranteed to want to hit the re-play button.
Other big favorites include "Que Pasara Mañana" and "Buenos Dias Tristeza".

It's a lovely package, with a booklet insert that includes the lyrics, complete song info, and photos of this great artist, who wrote the lyrics and music to all 30 songs.
Born in Spain, Perales has been composing and singing for over 25 years, and sounds somewhat like a smoother Joan Manuel Serrat...there's a warmth to his voice, with it's charming vibrato, and slightly gravelly low notes.
The total time for Disc 1 is 56'26, and for Disc 2 is 60'12, and every minute of it great listening.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:

Vintage Perales: Potent Poetry With Some New Arrangements  Mar 30, 2002
Jose Luis Perales' poetry never ceases to amaze me! This new collection of 30 masterful songs includes some pleasant surprises, such as duets with Alejandro Fernandez, Ana Gabriel, and La Oreja de Van Gogh. Nevertheless, it's his lyrics that linger in my mind days after reflecting on his music.

Whether it's a fantasy about a sculptor and his work ("El Escultor y Ella"); lovingly reminiscing about a former relationship ("Hoy Me Acorde de Ti"); a tragic tale of losing a loved one after many years of marriage ("Le Llamaban Loca"); the nostalgia of looking backwards as your very children leave the nest ("Como Ha Pasado el Tiempo"); the triumph of seeing your marriage prevail, despite the storms that such a union can bring ("Supervivientes"); an enigmatic autobiographical (presumably) description of himself ("El Loco"); an earnest prayer to GOD for the needs and plight of others ("Dime"); or a loving tribute to friendship ("Mi Ultimo Espectador"), Perales powerfully and masterfully engages the hearts of his loyal listeners with inspired poetry and lovely melodies.

Of the 30 songs in this collection, four are brand new, and 11 have been rearranged by Rene Toledo. For a whole generation of ballad fans that have yet to appreciate the artistry that IS Perales, these fresh new arrangements give these vintage tunes a new life. The other 15 songs in the collection are just poetry set to lovely melodies, and these alone would be sufficient to merit the five stars so richly deserved...