# The 8 Best Salsa Tracks of All Time

Cuban son rebuilt in New York by Puerto Rican musicians in the sixties and seventies, harder and brassier than its parent, with jazz voicings on top and a political charge the original never carried.

- **Origin:** New York City, 1967
- **Tempo:** 150–250 BPM
- **Also known as:** salsa dura, fania, nuyorican, salsa romántica
- **Tracks:** 8
- **Updated:** 2026-08-30
- **Canonical page:** https://waxonia.com/genre/salsa/

## The list

### 1. [Rubén Blades](https://waxonia.com/artist/ruben-blades/) — [Pedro Navaja](https://waxonia.com/track/ruben-blades--pedro-navaja/)

*1978 · Fania*

Seven minutes of narrative about a mugging that goes wrong both ways. Blades wrote salsa's great short story, and the band never lets the tension drop.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Rub%C3%A9n%20Blades%20Pedro%20Navaja) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=xe4jSbcKiUQ)

### 2. [Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe](https://waxonia.com/artist/willie-colon-and-hector-lavoe/) — [Che Che Colé](https://waxonia.com/track/willie-colon-and-hector-lavoe--che-che-cole/)

*1969 · Fania*

A Ghanaian children's song, two trombones and a teenager from the Bronx who could not really play yet. Crude, and one of the most joyful records here.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Willie%20Col%C3%B3n%20and%20H%C3%A9ctor%20Lavoe%20Che%20Che%20Col%C3%A9) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=-X92muXeN-s)

### 3. [Fania All-Stars](https://waxonia.com/artist/fania-all-stars/) — [Quítate Tú](https://waxonia.com/track/fania-all-stars--quitate-tu/)

*1971 · Fania*

Six singers taking turns to insist the others move aside, recorded live at the Cheetah. The label's entire roster in one competitive twelve minutes.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Fania%20All-Stars%20Qu%C3%ADtate%20T%C3%BA) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=qbVLaYVdET4)

### 4. [Héctor Lavoe](https://waxonia.com/artist/hector-lavoe/) — [El Cantante](https://waxonia.com/track/hector-lavoe--el-cantante/)

*1978 · Fania*

Written by Blades for Lavoe: the singer everyone comes to hear, whom nobody asks how he is. Given what happened to Lavoe afterwards, it is hard to hear now.

Also on: [Dancing to Bad News](https://waxonia.com/theme/dancing-to-bad-news/).

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/H%C3%A9ctor%20Lavoe%20El%20Cantante) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=bT-3s4ZQEhs)

### 5. [Celia Cruz](https://waxonia.com/artist/celia-cruz/) — [Bemba Colorá](https://waxonia.com/track/celia-cruz--bemba-colora/)

*1974 · Vaya*

Cruz had already been a star in Cuba for twenty years before exile. Her timing against Tito Puente's band is the best evidence for calling her the greatest voice in the music.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Celia%20Cruz%20Bemba%20Color%C3%A1) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=NkrONGkGXVI)

### 6. [Tito Puente](https://waxonia.com/artist/tito-puente/) — [Oye Como Va](https://waxonia.com/track/tito-puente--oye-como-va/)

*1962 · Tico*

A cha-cha-chá that predates the word salsa, and Santana's 1970 cover took it to the rock audience. Puente reportedly enjoyed the royalties considerably.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Tito%20Puente%20Oye%20Como%20Va) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=emG8e-YmXss)

### 7. [Cheo Feliciano](https://waxonia.com/artist/cheo-feliciano/) — [Anacaona](https://waxonia.com/track/cheo-feliciano--anacaona/)

*1971 · Vaya*

A Taíno chief burned by the Spanish, sung as a swinging tribute. Salsa routinely smuggles history into records people dance to without listening.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Cheo%20Feliciano%20Anacaona) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=pRhKY1jVJwE)

### 8. [Ray Barretto](https://waxonia.com/artist/ray-barretto/) — [Indestructible](https://waxonia.com/track/ray-barretto--indestructible/)

*1973 · Fania*

Barretto's band had just walked out on him, so he built another and called the record this. The conga playing is the hardest-hitting on the label.

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Ray%20Barretto%20Indestructible) · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCLeS1ICPuo)

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