Leon Gieco - Solo Le Pido A Dios

Argentine folk legend León Gieco is one of his country's most enduring national heroes. Though he is most treasured in Argentina, where his outspoken social consciousness and storied past as a fearless protest singer endeared him deeply to those who share his heritage, his appeal extends beyond his homeland: he performs to international audiences regularly and is often described in shorthand as "the Bob Dylan of Argentina." He first earned these comparisons with his debut album, "León Gieco" (1973), released by Argentina's premier rock label, Music Hall. Gieco recorded several more albums for the label during the mid-'70s, all of them popular, before he could no longer withstand the pressure of the Argentine government to censor his outspokenness. Like so many other Argentine artists of the time, he fled the country, finding sanctuary in the United States in the late '70s. He reunited there with Gustavo Santaolalla, who had produced his debut album, and in time, the two of them recorded songs for "Pensar en Nada" (1981), a triumphant comeback album that announced Gieco's return to Argentina. Throughout the early '80s, he toured the country from top to bottom and, with Santaolalla producing, documented his travels. Released as "De Ushuaia a La Quiaca" (1985), this documentary project showcases Gieco as a folk troubadour, performing acoustically alongside his countrymen. Much acclaimed, "De Ushuaia a La Quiaca" was followed by two further volumes, and Gieco continued his relentless touring, traveling to Europe and playing at a variety of festivals. "Semillas del Corazón" (1989) marked his return to conventional studio recording, and in the wake of that album's success he signed to EMI, for which he recorded a variety of albums in the years that followed. By this point, Gieco´s legacy was firmly established as one of Argentina's most enduring national heroes, with his outspokenness in the face of government censure during the 1970s particularly treasured.     

Born Raúl Alberto Antonio Gieco on November 20, 1951, in a small town near Cañada Rosquín in the Santa Fe province of Argentina, Gieco learned to play guitar as a boy and was influenced by '60s rock bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. He moved to Buenos Aires when he was 18 years old, hoping to find success amid the city's burgeoning late-'60s rock scene. Upon his arrival, Gieco befriended Gustavo Santaolalla, then part of the band Arco Iris. In addition to Santaolalla, he became associated with other notable Argentine rock artists of the time, such as David Lebón and Litto Nebbia, and performed at the Buenos Aires Rock Festival several years in a row, from 1971-1973.   

"León Gieco", released in 1973 by Music Hall and produced by Santaolalla, is a first-rate Argentine folk-rock album highlighted by "En el País de la Libertad" and "Hombres de Hierro," the latter a protest song. This debut album earned him his first comparisons to Bob Dylan. Several more releases followed for Music Hall: "León Gieco y Su Banda de Caballos Cansados" (1974), featuring his live band, comprised of Rubén Batán (bass), Vicente Busso (drums), and Rodolfo Gorosito (guitar); "PorSuiGieco" (1976), a supergroup recording featuring Raúl Porchetto, Charly García, Nito Mestre, and María Rosa Yorio, a group with whom he also performed in concert; "El Fantasma de Canterville" (1976), an album heavily censored by the Argentine government that nonetheless became a hit; and "IV LP" (1978), with the career standout "Sólo Le Pido a Dios" - one of my all time favourites. "7 Años" (1980), a greatest-hits compilation, capped off his first decade as a recording artist.

                                    
Tracklist:

A1		Sólo Le Pido A Dios
A2		El Que Queda Solo
A3		Bajo El Sol De Bogotá
A4		Soy Un Pobre Agujero
A5		La Cultura Es La Sonrisa
A6		Bajaste Del Norte
B1		Esos Ojos Negros
B2		Don Sixto Palavecino
B3		Príncipe Azul
B4		Cola De Amor
B5		Carito
B6		Canto Dorado

Leon Gieco - Solo Le Pido A Dios
(192 kbps, front cover inlcuded)