BBC Review
...captures the singer in all his multi-faceted glory.
Amar Patel2007
The power of the screen is such that many may first recognise the face of Trinidad Lopez III from either his turn in Marriage On The Rocks alongside Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra (or as one of The Dirty Dozen opposite Lee Marvin) without ever appreciating his other talents.
One 'Cali' connection aside (PJ’s Club in Beverly Hills was an early stomping ground for him), it was through his upbeat delivery and arrangements of popular 60s songs like ‘'If I Had A Hammer'’, ‘'Smile'’ and ‘'Unchain My Heart'’ on Reprise Records (signed by Sinatra himself) that Lopez achieved international recognition as an artist. Possessor of that all-important essence of the swinging cool, as far as 60s California pop is concerned, Lopez was certainly instrumental in evolving the notion of the itinerant folk singer, the poor chico made good, but with an added alluring international dimension beyond your average Spaghetti Western. Just listen to his live version of the standard ‘'If I Had A Hamme'r’ (a chart topper in 28 countries) with the subtle ‘Mexicana’ inflections and you’ll concur.
Almost gimmicky, yet genuine, American yet alien at the same time, Lopez wooed audiences with celebratory fireside sing-alongs like ‘'La Bamba'’ and ‘'A-Me-Ri-Ca'’, putting his early tutelage on the greater Dallas honky tonks and guitar lessons from his father to good use. Equally impressive is Lopez’s triumph over both prejudice (persistent calls to ditch the name Lopez) and adversity (Buddy Holly’s invitation for Trini to record at his studio being blocked by Holly’s producer).
This punchy and crisp collection richly captures the singer in all his multi-faceted glory, from guitar-wielding entertainer to Latino romantico to R 'n’ B hound dog. All invested with that irresistible 'Trini beat'!
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