Shocking Omissions: Gloria Estefan And Miami Sound Machine's 'Let It Loose'
The album's unique fusion of salsa with '80s pop aesthetics allowed the group its unprecedented crossover success and launched Gloria Estefan's career.
This essay is one in a series celebrating deserving artists or albums not included on NPR Music's list of 150 Greatest Albums By Women.
In 1985, the Miami Sound Machine exploded onto the popular music scene with the Latin crossover hit "Conga," introducing many English-speaking listeners to salsa and Latin rhythms. Sung in English but maintaining all the musical elements of salsa — complete with multiple percussion breaks — "Conga" changed the game
