(2-CD Set) 1954 was the year when the Afro-Cuban sound dubbed the Mambo crossed over into the mainstream and predictably brought with it a wave of commercial novelty hits like Rosemary Clooney's "Mambo Italiano," Bill Haley's "Mambo Rock" and Perry Como's "Papa Loves Mambo". These recordings were far from the real thing of course, which had initially attracted Latino audiences with the delirious sound of high-register trumpets, tight percussion, riffing horns and straightforward, infectious melodies to appeal to dancers of all backgrounds. Perez Prado leads off this collection which also includes Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Slim Gaillard & Machito.