Maps of Music

Contra la Corriente (1997)

Where the lyrics of Contra la Corriente take you, and where it was really made.

Anthony recorded this album in three weeks while also working on Paul Simon's musical play The Capeman, choosing nine songs from 1,300 samples.

Place unknown

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Contra la Corriente (Against the Current): third studio album by Marc Anthony
Released 21 October 1997 by RMM Records
Produced by Angel "Cucco" Peña; most songs written by Panamanian composer Omar Alfanno
Six singles released; four reached the top ten on Hot Latin Tracks
Last album Anthony recorded under RMM before switching to Columbia Records

Anthony's first two albums, Otra Nota and Todo a Su Tiempo, sold over 600,000 copies combined by 1996
Todo a Su Tiempo was certified gold in the United States and received a Grammy nomination
Sergio George, producer of the earlier albums, had left RMM to found his own label and was not involved here
Angel "Cucco" Peña had worked with salsa veterans Gilberto Santa Rosa and Willie Colón
Promoted by a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden days before release

Anthony built a studio near his home for the album
He was also involved in producing Paul Simon's musical play The Capeman and had to record the album in three weeks
Chose nine songs out of 1,300 samples
Sent tapes to co-producer Peña at Altamar Music Studios in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for feedback
Made routine flights between New York and Puerto Rico to record and rehearse for the play

Born Marco Antonio Muñiz on September 16, 1968 in Manhattan, New York City, to Puerto Rican parents.
Raised in East Harlem (Spanish Harlem); youngest of eight children; raised Catholic.
Learned to sing in Spanish and English under his father Felipe, a professional guitarist.
Influenced by José Feliciano, Air Supply, Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, and Tito Puente.

Started as a session vocalist for freestyle and New York house acts, then wrote and sang backing for Menudo and the Latin Rascals.
Shifted from freestyle to salsa after 1992, blending in R&B and urban influences.
Signed with Ralph Mercado's RMM Records; the Spanish-language debut Otra Nota (1993) launched his salsa career.
Released English-language self-titled album (1999) with the US Top 5 single "I Need to Know"; it was certified triple platinum.
Known as the top-selling salsa artist of all time; has won four Grammy Awards, eight Latin Grammy Awards, and 29 Lo Nuestro Awards.
Has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide as of 2014.
Acted in films including Carlito's Way, Man on Fire, and El Cantante (2007).

Critics gave mostly positive reviews and praised Marc Anthony's singing
Achy Obejas of the Chicago Tribune named it Anthony's best album and heard Cuban influence in the rhythms and harmonies
Tom Moon of The Philadelphia Inquirer rated it 3.5 out of 4 stars, noting R&B influence on the salsa tracks and some showy tunes
Ernesto Lechner of the Los Angeles Times gave two out of four stars, calling the arrangements unbearably soapy
Knight Ridder's Fernando Gonzalez gave a B- and found the arrangements had few surprises
Time magazine named it the eighth best album of 1997

Terry Jenkins of Allmusic gave 4.5 out of 5 and praised Anthony's vocals, though it did not quite match Todo a Su Tiempo
Lechner later called the album poppish and said it did not measure up to most rivals in its category

Debuted at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart in the week of 22 November 1997 and stayed there three consecutive weeks
First Anthony album to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 74
Fourth best selling Latin album of 1998
Certified gold in the United States for shipping 500,000 units
Sold over 400,000 units as of 2000
Won a Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards

The lead single "Y Hubo Alguien" was the first music video made for the album, filmed in New York City.
The video for "No Me Conoces" was directed by Benny Corral, shot in Mexico, and featured Anthony's future wife Jennifer Lopez as a supporting actress.
At the Madison Square Garden concert, RMM executive Ralph Mercado presented Anthony an award for selling over 350,000 copies just before release.
After disputes with Ralph Mercado over business practices, Anthony left RMM, which was the last time he worked with that label.
A remastered edition came out on 9 September 2003 from Universal Music Latino.