The Gipsy Kings are one of those groups that many people first heard on commercials before ever discovering the music that brought the group to prominence in the first place. The Gipsies had a Best of LP that came out in '95 and broke all kinds of international sales records but saying that that LP held their best music would be like saying Bob Marley's Legend as his greatest LP: it simply ain't true. Whenever the group's genre come up in conversation, before pointing to the more bare bones sound of "Paco de Lucía":http://www.thestore24.com/Music/Artist.aspx?p_id=P+++++6392&si=rhino I always try to direct newbies toward these three Gipsy King LPs, as an introduction to the group: "Allegria":http://www.thestore24.com/Music/Album.aspx?p_id=P+++++3286&a_id=R++++99719&PersonID=P%20%20%20%20%203286&prodid=NNS61019.2&si=rhino, the GK's first proper album, came out in 1990 and is as fresh now to American ears now as it must've been 16 years ago...this whole fuckin' LP is good. A must for every collection. There's a tune for every mood, from the proud ,upbeat opener "Pena Penita", the airy "Sueno" that chops it up and then folds evenly into "Tristessa." Later, you'll feel the same effects on "Viento del Arena" that seems to call to you from the cliffs of Cataluna which leads me to the next must have Gipsy King LP. "Tierra Gitana":http://www.thestore24.com/Music/Album.aspx?p_id=P+++++3286&a_id=R+++232745&PersonID=P%20%20%20%20%203286&prodid=NNS79399.2&si=rhino opens quite simply with the mid-tempo "A Ti a Ti" before it takes of with "Siempre Acaba Tu Vida" further along the Kings return to what I think is one of their many strengths, the flamenco-pop instrumental, exemplified on the LP's title cut. "Pajarito" is a reggae infused Gipsy jam that's part Wailers, part Paco de Lucia and it's all good. Two other cuts to look out for are the charged "A Tu Vera" (a looser version than the one on that Best of set) and the penultimate track "Campesino," is another stomper. The last Gipsy LP that should be in your collection is "Este Mundo":http://www.thestore24.com/Music/Album.aspx?p_id=P+++++3286&a_id=R+++123541&PersonID=P%20%20%20%20%203286&prodid=NNS61179.2&si=rhino which, while not as cram-packed with gypsy ditties, it holds three of the group's tightest joints: "Baila Me" (the only one to make it on the Best Of), El Mauro (which kicks ass live) and lastly, another funky instrumental, "Furia" which will have you reaching for the castanets.