El Inicio - Record Store Day Black Friday 2026

This Record Store Day Black Friday release is scheduled for Friday, 27 November 2026.

Click Notify Me for an alert when it becomes available online.

El Inicio uncovers the earliest recordings of Ruben Blades, captured in Panama during the late 1960s before his rise to salsa superstardom. Featuring 10 rare tracks with Los Salvajes del Ritmo, Nacho Molino y su Conjunto, and Orquesta Dimeños, this collection reveals the roots of Blades' signature storytelling, genre-blending style, and powerful vocals. Expertly restored and remastered by Frank Merritt at London's The Carvery Studio, the album is pressed on 160g colored vinyl and includes new artwork built around a previously unseen archival photo. A historic release documenting the first chapter of one of Latin music's greatest innovators.