At the start of 1981, I was fully immersed in the sounds of post-punk, New Romantic, and early synth-pop emerging from the UK. Disco felt like a relic of the past. But then, a song appeared that transported me back to the Eurodisco of 1979, as if something from that era had been re-released. That song was “San Salvador” by the Italian disco act Azoto.
I later realized it wasn’t a throwback but rather an early signal of the Italo disco wave that would rise to prominence in the years to come. Built on an electronic beat, the song was optimistic and uplifting, with lyrics like: “Let me take you to a place I know, where everything is fine. If you get there, even for a night, those troubles off your mind.” However, at the time of its release, El Salvador and its capital, San Salvador, were making daily headlines as the country plunged into what would become a long and brutal civil war. Unsurprisingly, radio stations in the Benelux soon called for a boycott of Azoto’s record, arguing that frivolous disco was inappropriate given the dire situation in El Salvador.
Despite this, “San Salvador” became a hit, reaching No. 15 in Belgium and No. 19 in the Netherlands. Back then, I wondered whether the people of war-torn San Salvador ever heard this jubilant song, and if so, what they thought of it. It’s unlikely this was ever explored—but we do get a fascinating clue in a surprising cover by Salvadoran band Grupo Macho.
Their rendition of “San Salvador,” performed in Spanish, feels more authentic, with a slightly stripped-down sound. The synthesizers of Azoto’s version are replaced by an arrangement more in line with what was popular in Central America at the time. Yet, the lyrics remain as joyful as the original. While some in Western Europe may have found it tasteless to celebrate a city caught in conflict, it seems the sentiment wasn’t universally shared—at least not by the locals.
Grupo Macho, a popular Salvadoran band of the early 1980s, released two albums and might even be considered an orchestra, featuring two lead singers (Susana Vasquez and Carlitos Hernandez) and six other members. Alongside their cover of “San Salvador,” their debut album Chico Latino included a rendition of “Americana,” the final disco track by French producer Alec R. Costandinos. The album and its singles even saw a U.S. release, though it failed to spark lasting success. The album cover surely had nothing to do with it 😁.
Both Vasquez and Hernandez pursued solo careers, but judging by their output, neither gained significant traction. “San Salvador” might have faded into obscurity if not for disco connoisseur Al Kent, who revived it on his renowned Disco Demands Part 6 compilation. And the album is highly sought after today. Frequently commanding prices up to $ 500.
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Discover The Album Cover : Grupo Macho
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At the start of 1981, I was fully immersed in the sounds of post-punk, New Romantic, and early synth-pop emerging from the UK. Disco felt like a relic of the past. But then, a song appeared that transported me back to the Eurodisco of 1979, as if something from that era had been re-released. That song was “San Salvador” by the Italian disco act Azoto.
I later realized it wasn’t a throwback but rather an early signal of the Italo disco wave that would rise to prominence in the years to come. Built on an electronic beat, the song was optimistic and uplifting, with lyrics like: “Let me take you to a place I know, where everything is fine. If you get there, even for a night, those troubles off your mind.” However, at the time of its release, El Salvador and its capital, San Salvador, were making daily headlines as the country plunged into what would become a long and brutal civil war. Unsurprisingly, radio stations in the Benelux soon called for a boycott of Azoto’s record, arguing that frivolous disco was inappropriate given the dire situation in El Salvador.
Despite this, “San Salvador” became a hit, reaching No. 15 in Belgium and No. 19 in the Netherlands. Back then, I wondered whether the people of war-torn San Salvador ever heard this jubilant song, and if so, what they thought of it. It’s unlikely this was ever explored—but we do get a fascinating clue in a surprising cover by Salvadoran band Grupo Macho.
Their rendition of “San Salvador,” performed in Spanish, feels more authentic, with a slightly stripped-down sound. The synthesizers of Azoto’s version are replaced by an arrangement more in line with what was popular in Central America at the time. Yet, the lyrics remain as joyful as the original. While some in Western Europe may have found it tasteless to celebrate a city caught in conflict, it seems the sentiment wasn’t universally shared—at least not by the locals.
Grupo Macho, a popular Salvadoran band of the early 1980s, released two albums and might even be considered an orchestra, featuring two lead singers (Susana Vasquez and Carlitos Hernandez) and six other members. Alongside their cover of “San Salvador,” their debut album Chico Latino included a rendition of “Americana,” the final disco track by French producer Alec R. Costandinos. The album and its singles even saw a U.S. release, though it failed to spark lasting success. The album cover surely had nothing to do with it 😁.
Both Vasquez and Hernandez pursued solo careers, but judging by their output, neither gained significant traction. “San Salvador” might have faded into obscurity if not for disco connoisseur Al Kent, who revived it on his renowned Disco Demands Part 6 compilation. And the album is highly sought after today. Frequently commanding prices up to $ 500.
Listen to “San Salvador” in this week’s Twelve Inch disco mix Monday on mixcloud. It’s song n°18 ! Or on my YouTube channel