Tejano Roots: Raíces Tejanas

Texas-Mexican conjunto is “one of the most enduring musical traditions among Mexicans and Mexican Americans,” writes ethnomusicologist Manuel Peña. Starting with the music of both urban and rural Mexico, Tejano and conjunto musicians also incorporated musical influences from their Anglo-American, African American, and European (especially German and Czech) neighbors. In 1990, Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz acquired Ideal Records, a company that had a long history of recording Tejano and conjunto performers. Drawing from Ideal’s deep musical library, he compiled this rich sampler. The liner notes include a history of Tejano music and background information about each of the 24 tracks.

Track Listing

101	Mi Único Camino (My Only Path) Conjunto Bernal	03:14
102	La Cuquita Narciso Martínez	03:08
103	Feliz Sin Ti (Happy Without You) Lydia Mendoza	02:38
104	Cuatro O Cinco Farolazos (4 or 5 Shots of Liquor) Tony De La Rosa	02:31
105	Ausencia Narciso Martínez	03:44
106	Por Tu Ausencia (Because of Your Absence) Carmen y Laura	02:51
107	Mi Pecosita Beto Villa y su Orquesta	02:38
108	Gregorio Cortez Jesús Maya y Timoteo Cantú	03:00
109	Un Recuerdo Quedo (One Memory Remained) Trío San Antonio	03:00
110	Tres Consejos (Three Pieces of Advice) Las Hermanas Mendoza	03:08
111	La Primavera Juan López	02:31
112	La Tijerita Juan López	02:34
113	Mujer Hermosa (Pretty Woman) Valerio Longoria	03:07
114	Pensamiento (Thoughts) Conjunto Bernal	02:54
115	Quiéreme Vidita (Love Me, Dear) Chelo Silva	02:37
116	Pachuca Blues Beto Villa y su Orquesta	02:48
117	La Novia Antonia (Sweetheart, Antonia) Conjunto Bernal and Mando Marroquin	02:48
118	Corina, Corina Freddy Fender	02:18
119	Que Mala (How Bad) Eddie con Los Shades	02:27
120	Corazon Del Pueblo (Sweetheart of the Town) Isidro López y Conjunto Ideal	02:35
121	Tarde Pa' Arrepentirnos (It's Too Late to Change Your Mind) Isidro López y Su Orquesta	02:57
122	Porqué Me Abandonas (Why Are You Leaving Me?) Agapito Zúñiga y sus Desveladores	02:37
123	Tu Destino (Your Destiny) Lydia Mendoza	02:59
124	Las Nubes (The Clouds) Wally Almendarez	03:03