Atardecer (2)

Vicálvaro, a small town just 8 kilometres from Madrid, was the theater of the hopes for five teenagers that dreamt about becoming a professional band and traveling around the world playing their songs. Javi ‘The Kid’ (guitar), Vicente (keyboards), Dioni (drums), José Luis (bass) and Pepe (singer) shared their talent in 1972 and Atardecer was born. It wasn’t an easy time. Even buying an instrument was a tough challenge for all of them. But they fought against all the troubles and began to give concerts in their hometown and nearby. They made covers of the Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, Free, Deep Purple, Status Quo, Led Zeppelin… Atardecer became a very popular band in the area. The next step was an offer to play in a luxury cruise that travelled during 50 days from England to Canary Islands, Jamaica, Venezuela and Trinidad & Tobago. They accepted and it was the most awesome adventure of their lifes. Some of them had never seen the sea. During this trip they composed ‘Escúchame’, the outstanding song that dazzles in the record that you have in your hands. Back to Vicálvaro, their career took off with many gigs and a proposition for recording a single that was released in 1974 by Fase, a label run by Manuel Rodríguez Nevado. ‘Oh María José’in the A side and ‘Escúchame’ in the B side. Nowadays, it’s a very very expensive gem praised by the collectors. As happened to most of the Spanish bands from the 60s and 70s, the obligatory military service destroyed their future. This vinyl is the proof of their greatness.