DESCRIPTION:
Regardless of its significance as an Ames Brothers album, Hello Amigos is at least somewhat important for its backing by Juan Garcia Esquivel. Perhaps RCA felt there was no better guarantee of authenticity-with-novelty than including the orchestral arrangements of Esquivel. (An album titled Hello Amigos certainly needs authenticity.) Esquivel appropriately takes as much of a back seat as he is capable; consequently, this is unlike his more adventurous work. About half the tracks provide some delight for the Esquivel completist, and the Ames' singing certainly has its moments. Overall, however, marginal Esquivel fans will be able to live without it, and the pairing of the Ames Brothers and Esquivel should not be taken as a natural or inspired combination.