Es Navidad
| Es Navidad | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1980 | |||
| Genre | Latin pop | |||
| Menudo chronology | ||||
| ||||
Es Navidad is the sixth studio album and second Christmas album by the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, released in 1980 by Padosa Records.[1] The group members at the time were the Meléndez brothers, Óscar and Ricky, René Farrait, Johnny Lozada, and Xavier Serbiá.[2]
Regarding its production, as with their previous albums, the backing vocals were enhanced by professional singers including the group's vocal coach, Marilyn Pagán.[3] The tracklist includes two songs that also appeared on their previous album ¡Felicidades! (1979): "El chiji navideño" and "Eso es lo mío".[4]
The album wasn't released in the United States, but in 1983 all its songs were included in the compilation Feliz Navidad — Con 14 éxitos navideños, released exclusively in that country.[5] The LP and cassette versions featured different cover art showing the group members dressed as Santa Claus.[5] The tracklist added four songs from their previous Christmas album ¡Felicidades!.[5] The album performed well in the U.S., appearing on Billboard magazine's Latin albums chart.[6][7]
Critical reception
According to Damarisse Martínez Ruiz, author of the book Menudo: El Reencuentro con la Verdad, the album's production doesn't stand out for its musical quality, featuring simplistic and underdeveloped content.[3]
Commercial performance
Commercially, the album was successful in Venezuela, becoming Menudo's first recording to sell 100,000 copies in that country.[8] According to an October 1984 report in the American magazine Cashbox, sales had exceeded 150,000 units in Venezuela by that date.[8] On April 9, 2023, the digital remastered version of the album reached #70 on Mexico's iTunes charts.[9]
Track listings
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "La Gallina" | Herminio de Jesus | René Farrait | 4:09 |
| 2. | "Traigo Una Parranda" | H. de Jesus | Xavier Serbiá | 2:51 |
| 3. | "Las Nubes" | H. de Jesus | Johnny Lozada | 2:45 |
| 4. | "Las Navidades" | H. de Jesus | Ricky Meléndez | 3:04 |
| 5. | "Chiji Navideño" | H. de Jesus | All group members | 2:53 |
| 6. | "Mi Parranda" | H. de Jesus | Óscar Meléndez | 2:52 |
| 7. | "El Tamborilero" | Adapted by Ed Diaz | Johnny Lozada | 3:10 |
| 8. | "Eso Es Lo Mío" | H. de Jesus | Óscar Meléndez and René Farrait | 3:14 |
| 9. | "Voy También" | Curet Alonso | Johnny Lozada | 2:34 |
| 10. | "Año Nuevo Y Reyes" | Juan de Dios Guzmán | Johnny Lozada | 2:01 |
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Estimated sales |
|---|---|---|
| Venezuela | Gold | 150,000[8] |
References
- ^ "Menudo - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2013..
- ^ Carter, Brooke (July 20, 2023). "What Happened to Menudo". Gazette Review. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Ruiz 1999, pp. 26–27
- ^ Menudo (1979). ¡Felicidades! (Media notes). Puerto Rico: Padosa. DP 1007.
- ^ a b c Menudo (1983). Feliz Navidad — Con 14 Éxitos Navideños (Media notes). United States: Profono Internacional. TPL-1405.
- ^ "Billboard Special Survey Hot Latin LPs" (PDF). Billboard. January 7, 1984. p. 41. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Special Survey Hot Latin LPs" (PDF). Billboard. December 17, 1983. p. 58. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c "In Venezuela We obtain this results!" (PDF). Cash Box: 32. October 13, 1984. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
The albums listed can be identified by their catalog numbers in the country.
- ^ "Es Navidad (Remastered) - Menudo". www.top-charts.com. April 9, 2023. Archived from the original on February 1, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
Bibliography
- Ruiz, Damarisse Martínez (1999). Menudo: El reencuentro con la verdad (in Spanish). Hato Rey: Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas. ISBN 1-881713-71-7.