Released in 1971, Cheo marked Cheo Feliciano’s return to music and the beginning of his solo career with Fania Records. Produced and largely written by Tite Curet Alonso, the album featured an all-star lineup of musicians, including Fania Records founder Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Bobby Valentín, Louie Ramirez, Vinnie Bell, and Orestes Vilató.
Personal and powerful, the album balanced autobiographical material with songs rooted in Caribbean history and everyday life. Upon its release, Cheo broke sales records in the Latin market and helped establish both Feliciano and Curet as defining figures in salsa music.
The newly remastered album returns July 17, 2026. Available on vinyl in the US for the first time in over 50 years, the release features all-analog (AAA) lacquers cut by Clint Holley and Dave Polster and pressed on 180-gram vinyl, alongside HD digital audio. “Anacaona” is available to stream now.
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BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Before recording Cheo, Feliciano became known as one of salsa’s leading voices through his work with the Joe Cuba Sextet, where he sang hits including “El Pito (I’ll Never Go Back to Georgia),” followed by a stint with the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra. Struggles with substance abuse eventually forced him to step away from performing. With the support of his friend Tite Curet Alonso, Feliciano sought treatment and returned to music in 1971.
Cheo introduced him as a solo artist while preserving the qualities that defined his earlier recordings: smooth baritone vocals, nimble improvisational skills, and the ability to move between styles with ease.
SONGS ROOTED IN PERSONAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY
Across the album, Feliciano moves between personal reflection and historical storytelling. “Pa’ que afinquen” served as a declaration of return, announcing his comeback while challenging his peers to raise their own standards. “Mi triste problema” and “Pienso en ti” take a more intimate approach, centered on heartbreak and reflection.
The album’s best-known track, “Anacaona,” was inspired by the 15th-century Taíno cacica poet and composer who resisted Spanish colonizers in what is now Haiti. A celebration of indigenous pride and resistance, the song became a major hit in New York and Puerto Rico and remains one of Feliciano’s most celebrated recordings.
LISTENING NOTES
- “Anacaona” — Inspired by the Taíno cacica of the same name, the song became one of Feliciano’s signature recordings and a salsa classic.
- “Pa’ que afinquen” — A guajira that announced Feliciano’s return to music while addressing his place within the salsa scene.
- “Mi triste problema” — One of the album’s more heartfelt performances, centered on heartbreak and restraint.
- “Pienso en ti” — Written by Feliciano himself, reflecting a more personal side of the album.
- “El Ratón” — Features the album’s all-star ensemble, including players from across the Fania roster.
A LANDMARK IN SALSA
Cheo not only reintroduced Feliciano as a solo artist but also helped launch Tite Curet Alonso’s career as one of Latin music’s most important songwriters. A testament to their enduring friendship, the album became a defining title of salsa’s golden era.
More than five decades later, Cheo remains closely associated with Feliciano’s career and with the period that shaped the sound of modern salsa.
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