AMG Review of Éxitos Eternos

Alex Henderson
All Music Guide

In 2003, 2004, and 2005, Universal Latino assembled quite a few best-of collections for its Éxitos Eternos (Eternal Hits) series, and the artists ranged from salseros like Tito Puente, Tito Nieves, and Celia Cruz to regional Mexican/grupero stars los Yonic's. This Éxitos Eternos collection, which Universal Latino released in November 2005, takes a look at the long and impressive career of Mercedes Sosa -- the expressive Argentine vocalist who can take much of the credit for the rise of Latin America's nueva cancion movement back in the '60s. There is no way that a single 56-minute CD can adequately or sufficiently tell Sosa's story; her list of musical accomplishments is too long. But while Éxitos Eternos doesn't pretend to be the last word on Sosa's legacy, it wouldn't be a bad starting point for novices. Many of her more essential recordings are offered, including "Años," "Razón de Vivir," "Todo Cambia," "Yo Vengo a Ofrecer Mi Corazón," and "La Maza" -- in other words, many of the songs that are considering required listening in an Introductory Mercedes Sosa 101 situation. Éxitos Eternos could have been more generous; as much five-star material as Universal Latino had to choose from, they could have easily provided another 20 minutes of music. But everything on this disc is excellent -- there is no filler at all -- and for novices, Éxitos Eternos can offer a rewarding, if brief, introduction to Sosa's legacy.