No recording artist has more impeccable street credentials than Joe Bataan, the originator of the New York Latin Soul style that paralleled Latin boogaloo and anticipated disco. His musical experience began with street corner doo-wop in the 1950s, and came to include one of the first rap records to hit the charts, 1979's "Rap-O, Clap-O". In between these milestones, he recorded classic albums like St. Latin's Day Massacre, a perennial favorite in the salsa market Read Full BioNo recording artist has more impeccable street credentials than Joe Bataan, the originator of the New York Latin Soul style that paralleled Latin boogaloo and anticipated disco. His musical experience began with street corner doo-wop in the 1950s, and came to include one of the first rap records to hit the charts, 1979's "Rap-O, Clap-O". In between these milestones, he recorded classic albums like St. Latin's Day Massacre, a perennial favorite in the salsa market, Salsoul, which gave the record label its name and helped spark the national explosion of urban dance music, and Afrofilipino, which included one of the very earliest New York disco hits, an instrumental version of Gil Scott Heron's "The Bottle".
Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
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Special Girl
Joe Bataan Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Special Girl' by these artists:
Akcent Uuuuu uuuh In the city lights, She's like a brilliant I drea…
America Into each life a little sunlight wants to shine Let…
Boys Republic Can you feel me now na michigesseo Like a heart attack,…
Donell Jones [Verse: Donell Jones] (I'm looking for that special girl, th…
Eddie Schwartz Into each life a little sunlight wants to shine Let…
INFINITE - H Amudo nunchi mot chaegekkeum Neoreul humchyeo boneun ge nae …
Infinite H [Hoya] Amudo nunchi mot chaegekkeum Neoreul humchyeo boneun …
Infinite H Feat. Bumkey Yeah let's go 아무도 눈치 못 채게끔 너를 훔쳐 보는 게…
Jack and the Weatherman Like leaves falling to the forest floor Or waves crashing on…
Kano I need someone who understands me, (that's what I need) I…
Lil Romeo Intro: Romeo) Yo MH I think we need to let…
Marshall Dyllon I don't clean my house for just anyone But all day…
Meat Loaf Into each life a little sunlight wants to shine Let me…
NB Ridaz Its the ridaz yea... im looking for that special girl...…
New Ridaz Its the ridaz (yeah) I'm lookin for that special girl…
New Ridaz feat. Gemini Its the ridaz Yea... I'm looking for that special girl... My…
Party Posse Party Posse we rule the earth the greatest band since music…
Pholhas In The Sea, I'll Go To Find The Breeze Of My…
Romeo featuring Marques Houston (Intro: Romeo) Yo MH I thin…
The Kelly Family I see you now you don't fool me 'cause i've…
Wiley I need someone who understands me, (that's what I need) I…
소년공화국(Boys Republic) Can you feel me now na michigesseo Like a heart attack,…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Joe Bataan:
Always & Forever Always and forever Each moment with you Is just like a dream…
Bilingual Girl Oye, look who is there Está super hot será latino ó…
Call My Name Before the setting sun and I'll appear And know that I'm…
Chick a Boom Boom boom, chick-a-boom boom boom Chick-a-boom, chick-a-boom…
Chick-A-Boom Boom boom, chick-a-boom boom boom Chick-a-boom, chick-a-boo…
Crystal Blue Persuasion Look over yonder (better get ready) What do you see? (Crysta…
Cycles of You In the morning, as I make my way down the…
Freedom 3RD STOREE Miscellaneous Get Wit' Me"(feat. Joe Budden [Intr…
Gypsy Woman From nowhere through the caravan Round the campfire light A …
I Wish You Love I wish you bluebirds in the spring To give your heart…
If I Were A King If I were a king (if I were a king) I'd…
It's A Good Feeling Everybody is doing it. That's right! Everybody is doing it.…
Mestizo Mestizo, you're the air, Mestizo, you're the world, Latino…
Mestizo (12" Mix) Mestizos throughout the earth Stand tall **about your birth …
Mi Nube Gracias Señor por la nube que hiciste para mí Para que…
More Love Ooh, ooh, ooh. Let it be soon, don't hesitate, make love,…
Mujer Mujer mía... Mira este amor; Cómo pasa. Después que te fuist…
Mujer Mia Mujer mía Mira el tiempo como pasa Después que te fuistes de…
My Cloud Thank you lord for the cloud you made for me I…
Ordinary Guy I can't move a mountain top Everything's ordinary on my bloc…
Para Puerto Rico Voy Desde lejos yo oigo Un canto suspirar El zumbido de tus play…
Rap-O Clap-O Just clap your hands, everybody Everybody, come on, clap yo…
Sad Girl Sad girl Sad girl You look so sad Did he break your heart? …
Subway Joe (oh is this the right car? Boss street is coming up…
The Prayer In the name of the Father, and of the Son,…
Under The Street Lamp Standing around telling jokes We can't go no where because w…
Uptown Hey! Hey! Uptown Shoop shoo dooby dooby Uptown How! Uptown S…
What Good Is A Castle What good is a castle Way high upon a hill If you're…
When Sunny Gets Blue When Sunny gets blue, her eyes get gray and cloudy, Then…
When We Get Married Darlin' oh-oh-oh When we get married we'll have a big celeb…
You're Driving Me Right out of My Mind Now that you've taken, all the love that I could…
The lyrics can frequently be found in the comments below or by filtering for lyric videos.
Steve Perez
Thank you Joe Bataan for your beautiful, consoling soulful voice when you sang R&B..especially “Special Girl”! Whether or not you have that Special Someone in your life, this song you created helps to fill that void of loneliness, that we all encounter in our lifetime. I started listening to you , when I was 12 years old! Now I’m 66 and your voice still consoles and excites my soul! My being born in the Barrio as a Latino from Spanish Harlem and raised in the South Bronx...makes me proud , that all of your love songs about being a “Poor Boy” and an “Ordinary Guy” can model for us to search for that special someone who loves you back as much as much as you love them. Thank God for your gift to humanity. God bless you Bro..
cristian otero
Estas músicas eclécticas con mezclas de ritmos latinos y Americanos ,que inspiran sencillez pero al mismo tiempo son contundentes, únicos por que poseen gran fuerza y contenido, que de igual forma interpretó la orquesta de Joe Bataan me hacen recordar siempre a una persona muy muy especial para mí ...Ana.Maria.Ceron.Acosta ......por tu sencillez , por tu fuerza ,por tu esencia.......... SPECIAL GIRL.....
Ian Sutherland
superfine dance track. gets 'em up & dancing everytime.
Mayra rosario
thank you , grow up on the boogaloo. just dancing with mom in the living room. again thanks Pete
DudleyMod
Sinatras in Birmingham, PID on the decks or John Kelly, happy times indeed.
Albert Gaspà
could anyone bring the lyrics in the description of the video??
John C Rodriguez
My new York ,back in 1970
Uso Samoa
Push Push Push.......yea I luv da boogaloo ! Thanks again Pete.
Matthew Joseph
What do they say in the beginning
luciok
do the push, do the pushy push