Buena Vista Social Club. Photo / Supplied
If, almost 20 years ago, someone told you one of the biggest music phenomena of the era would be a bunch of mostly old people from Cuba singing in Spanish, it's doubtful you'd have believed them.
But BVSC got a different audience going into CD stores and to their concerts
because they had a good back story, seemed charming and free from guile, enjoying the belated attention and made music which was uplifting or deeply felt.
There have been the inevitable attritions of ageing, offshoot projects and members being replaced, and their appearance at Womad this weekend is part of a farewell tour.
This collection of mostly short, previously unreleased material allows us to hear again the late, very great pianist Ruben Gonzalez (notably an improvised solo piece), singer Ibrahim Ferrer (three live tracks, he died in 2005), guitarist Compay Segundo (died 2003) and the wonderful Omara Portuondo who still performs with them at age 84 and heads with Orchestra Buena Vista to Womad this weekend.
There are also three simple solo guitar and voice recordings by Eliades Ochoa never intended for release, just after-hours stuff but very lovely. Being drawn from various sources (live, studio and downtime) this isn't as coherent as their debut album but the same spirit prevails.
