Volare! - The Very Best Of The Gipsy Kings

Drawn from a 9-album discography that has proven one of the most durable artist catalogs in the genre, this new compilation expands on their single-disk "Best of" from 1995 adding newer material along with a richer harvest of earlier tunes.

This specially-priced comprehensive career survey also features two tracks previously unreleased in the U.S., as well as two rarities: a cover of "Hotel California" - used in the film The Big Lebowski - and "I've Got No Strings".

There's very little doubt that the Gipsy Kings are good at what they do--they've become the brand name in Sevillana, the pop-oriented flamenco style. Since 1989, when the single "Bamboleo" and their Gipsy Kings album broke through and went gold in the United States, they've found a willing audience in America for their style, which, while flashy, doesn't demand a great deal of the listener, unlike more hardcore versions of flamenco. This double set collects 37 of their biggest tracks, including a version of the Eagles' "Hotel California," into one package guaranteed to satisfy fans of their precise, jubilant playing. And there's no denying they have the power to move people with their singing and fretwork, making this a must for those who want to experience all the familiar material in one sitting. Like the band themselves, the record is an unqualified success as a greatest hits package. --Chris Nickson