Heart of the City (album)

Heart of the City is the fourth album by the Spanish group Barrabás, released in 1975. The album charted at #149 on the Billboard 200 in the USA,^[1] and was later re-released on CD in Spain as Check Mate.

This album was the first to feature Daniel Louis on drums, after the departure of José María Moll.

"Checkmate" / "Family Size" and "Make It Easy" / "Take a Wild Ride" were released as singles. The instrumental "Mellow Blow" was one of the first 12-inch singles to be released, and the first ever on Atlantic Records.^[2]

Track listing

1. "Checkmate" (Fernando Arbex) – 4:28
2. "Take a Wild Ride" (E. Morales, M. Morales, Ernesto Duarte, Daniel Louis) – 4:00
3. "Along the Shore" (Duarte, José Luís Tejada) – 6:06
4. "Make It Easy" (E. Morales, M. Morales) – 3:54
5. "Family Size" (Arbex) – 3:21
6. "Mellow Blow" (E. Morales) – 4:12
7. "Thank You Love" (E. Morales, M. Morales) – 4:45
8. "Four Season Woman" (Arbex) – 3:57

Personnel

• José Luís Tejada – lead vocals
• Enrique "Ricky" Morales – lead guitar, vocals
• Miguel Morales – guitar, bass guitar, vocals
• Ernesto "Tito" Duarte – saxophone, flute, percussion, bass guitar
• Juan Vidal – keyboards, vocals
• Daniel Louis – drums
• "The Waters" (Maxine, Julia & Patti) – backing vocals

• Produced by Fernando Arbex
• Recorded at Blue Rock Studios, New York

Release information

• Spain – Ariola Eurodisc
• Germany – Ariola 89 267 XOT
• USA & Canada – Atco SD 36-118
• Italy – Atlantic W50165

• Disconforme DISC 1993CD (2001 CD) – (as Check Mate)
• Wounded Bird WOBR6118 (2008 CD)

References

• Entry at Allmusic [1]
• Album cover / sleeve notes