Dario's Barrabas Page   

Copyright (C) Dario M 2000-04. This is a fan site. Do Not reproduce. Prohibido la reproduccion.

 

This Band from Spain was the brain child of Fernando Arbex ... who was not no newcomer. He was band member and songwriter for Spains most important Beat Generation 60's band "Los Brincos" who had unforgettable classics "una copa de champagne""flamenco""a mi con esas". Barrabas first LP comes out in 1972 thru RCA in Spain "Wild Safari"... with a sound somewhere between James Brown ... Santana ...The Doors. Y por supuesto aqui les tengo (and offcourse here I have for you a scan of their classic single from that Lp "Woman" that was a #1 hit in many countries

1972    7" released in spane by RCA

Fernando Arbex passed away in 2003 around the same time as Barry White.

fernando arbex in his Brincos days 1960s
Barrabas's percussionist "Tito Duarte" also passed away in 2003.
R.I.P

Watch a short video of Barrabas in low quality Real Audio format by clicking HERE

The follow up lp was called POWER. I didn't like it as much... but ...Have you ever wondered where does the "Circuit City" theme comercial song gets its hook from? wonder no more.... its from Mr.Money by barrabas....see scan of 7" for Casanova...an international hit

1973    7" 1973 en Espagna por RCA


This is a picture of Barrabas, now with Joe Tejada as vocalist performing completely LIVE

 

1974    Release Barrabas! (1974) (p) 1974 Fernando Arbex editado en USA por ATCO/Atlantic en Espagna por RCA

Tracks included

  1. Hi-Jack

  2. Mad Love

  3. Suzy Wong

  4. Notes: The album was recorded in California Featured the Waters on B.V Herbie Mann had an instrumental hit covering Hi-Jack Main Vocals on this album are by Jose Luis Tejada

Spanish release is gatefold.

Hi-jack was a picture sleave single relase in Spain I think the picture is taken in Disney Land. Also I know that Mad Love was released as single in the UK - because some MF wants many $$$'s for it.

Iņaki Egaņa after his Barrabas days went on to record an album of his own

 Iņaki Egaņa

Watch a short Listen in low quality Real Audio format Tale of Tom
Thanks to Enrique Gonzalez of Malaga

Watch a short video of Barrabas in low quality Real Audio format by clicking Woman

1975     
Heart Of the City (1975) Barraabas
(p) 1975 Fernando Arbex editado en USA por ATCO/Atlantic en Espagna por RCA

Click Here to

Click here to Listen to "Make it Easy" and see the CD.

Tracks included

  1. Take A Wild Ride

  2. Mellow Blow

  3. along the shore

  4. checkmate

  5. Notes: The album was recorded in the U.S.A It simply has one of the most fascinating sleeves I've ever seen . Pitty my scanner can't scan the full album! Checkmate was a single..."Spring affair" by Donna Summer released a year later sounded suspiciously simmilar to checkmate Mellow Blow was the first 12" Single Ever!!! The Maxi-Single Was Born! Main Vocals on this album are by Jose Luis Tejada

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1976    Watch Out!(76) (p) 1976 Fernando Arbex released in the USA by ATCO/Atlantic en Espagna por RCA

Some of the Tracks included are

  1. Broadway Star

  2. Desperately

  3. High Light

  4. Notes: The album was recorded in the USA credits includes Bob Clearmountain Main Vocals on this album are by Jose Luis Tejada. The Album is almost "fussion Jazz-Funk". It's a really good Lp.

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1977    no-title or Barrabas (77) (p) 1977 Fernando Arbex - According to some people - including band members this album was never released....e-hem!! I have a copy!!

Some of the Tracks included are

  1. Weekend

  2. swinger

  3. turn me love

  4. Notes: The album was recorded in the USA Herbie Man plays Flouts Main Vocals on this album are by Jose Luis Tejada

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After these Lp's the band dissapeared ... one of the Morales brothers left the band. The project re-surficed in 1981 via Germany with the LP Piel De Barrabas - skin of Barrabas. Again masterminded by Arbex who wrote most eveything . Deep From the Cave Mega Macho Vocals by Jose Luis Tejada. The Single "On the Road Again" became a top 20 in Germany. Here are some scans of singles from that lp. For you To enjoy!! ... And the pleasure is mine!

DarioScan81    single from Piel de barrabas 81!

DarioScan81    inside the gatefold sleave for Piel de barrabas 81!

DarioScan81    Spain 7" for On the Road Again release by defunct label Columbia - nothing to do with Sony/CBS from Piel de barrabas 81!

After this success... a second Lp was released "Bestial" . Also recorded in Germany. It must have been Freezing over there because it sounds like Jose Luis Tejada had lost his voice -the flu!(?). The Lp released in 1982 is dissapointing in Generel. Here are some scans from the singles (best track "Lover of The Night" ended up a B-side:

DarioScan82    Spain 7" from Bestial (Like a Beast) 82!

Not giving up... a new lp came out in 1983. Jose LUis Tejada is not in the group anymore. I really like the first single "saint valentine"...it was distributed thru cbs in spain. It was also released as a 12". I also remember - but don't have- a second single and 12" released from this lp. This Lp would be the last from Barrabas and F.Arbex.

DarioScan83    Spain 7" from 1983!


A cd was released called "grandes exitos"... in recent years
unfortunately the title is misleading...what it is ...is some band member
re-recording some of the songs (but theres no sign of Jose Luis Tejada
or Fernando Arbex).... so its not recomended.
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There is another CD called "Vive"...its a double CD. The contents of CD-1
is basically the same as the re-recorded "Grandes Exitos". The whole thing
is a re-recording without most
of the original members...so again "NOT" recomended. The scans
below are for "vive"...they were provided by Juan Correa of Florida

 Vive Barrabas

 barrabas

 1973

North American

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Video presentations of this 70s disco funk band:

continues in the next pages :     Next Page 

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Information gathered by Dario Margeli.

my e-mail:
dariointernet@gmail.com