Los Shakers formed in 1963 in Montevideo Urguay,at first they played at the Hot Club , (jazz and
avant garde place) to join the james, in early '64  after they listened Beatles they decided to
change their music, instrument  to be beat combo. Soon after they moved to Argentina.

Following article  is English translation of  Los Shakers article on their webpagesEnglish translation by:  Marcelo Sommariva

 In 1964, Argentina's musical environment was completely dominated by the "New Wave"- pop singers singing catchy songs, making a big impact but disappearing as quickly as they came. They were the product of record producers of that era, with some honorable exceptions. In this region "Beatlemania" didn't find a worthy representative.
   The first band that tried to fill this emptiness was "Los Buhos" (The Owls), but their lack of composing and instrumental skills led them to remain on the fringes.
Nevertheless, on the other side of De la Plata river in Uruguay, two brothers and two friends, all talented musicians that found an escape in the Jazz sessions at the Hot Club of Montevideo, had found in the Beatles what they where looking for, an expression of genuine music that represented them.
   They were, Hugo and Osvaldo Fattoruso, Pelin (Roberto Capobianco) and Caio (Calos Villa). They were very young, the youngest was just 16 years old. When they saw "A Hard Day's Night" they decided to form a band which they called "The Shakers".
   They started to play in the bars of Montevideo's and Punta del Este, with  huge success, they also recorded a few songs in very primitive conditions.
Then they got a contract with Odeon from Buenos Aires. Odeon  brought them to Buenos Aires where they recorded some records that failed to make much of an impact. Then they had incredible success with a single featuring two of their own compositions, "Break it all" and "More". This made the difference.
The sound was Beatles-like, but not an ordinary or rough copy, instead a copy of superior quality, superior than many of the foreign singers of that era. Added to this, was the quality of their own compositions, their own songs were of a surprisingly
high quality. At the same time they recorded an album with their own songs, "The Shakers", which included their latest hits, plus they began making live presentations and television appearances in Argentina and overseas. They recorded an album which was released in the USA (Break it all) and another one in Argentina (Shakers for you), comprised almost completely of their own songs, plus they released several singles with their songs and covers from The Beatles.
  Slowly they started to get worn out, mainly from the number of live presentations that they did and also for another important reason, the lyrics. Although the quality of their music was high, the English lyrics were of a doubtful quality, sometimes even bad, and with the evolution of rock in Argentina, they started to be left out by the bands that decided to gamble and sing in Spanish.
  That was the way Argentine national rock went, and The Shakers were left out, partly by their own decision.
  The Shaker's last album (with their original members) was a masterpiece, they called it La conferencia secreta del Toto's Bar (The  Totos' Bar Secret Conference), this was inspired in its lengthy name by "The Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hears Club Band".
  Afterwards,  an album by the name "The Shakers" came out , but without Hugo and Osvaldo Fattoruso, who were involved in other projects in popular music in Rio de la Plata and in radio.

The Shakers (1965)

This was the album with the most marked Beatle resemblance that they recorded. Apart from "It's my Party" and "Keep on searching", all the other songs are their own ( the majority by Hugo-Osvaldo, that was the way the two brothers Fattorusso used to sign). This lp was also their biggest hit.

Songs: English translation (original Spanish title)

1 Break it all (Rompan Todo)
2 What love (Qué amor)
3 Babe, yes, yes (Nena, sí, sí)
4 Didn't go (No fuimos)
5 Everyone run (Corran todos)
6 I am thinking (Estoy pensando)
7 It's my party (Esta es mi fiesta)
8 Keep on searching (Sigue Buscando)
9 For you, for me (Para tí y para mí)
10 I'm running for the streets (Corro por las calles)
11 The long night (La larga noche)
12 Give me (Dame)
13 Babe, dance shake (Nena, baila shake)
14 Don't ask me love (No pidas amor)
 
 

This excellent album wasn't released in Argentina, but instead in USA, Australia (note - the Australian issue was released by Raven in the 1980s) and other English speaking countries. Technically it is impeccable, with stereo sound of high quality and with songs from the first album and some from singles, better interpreted and edited.

Songs

1. Break it all
2. What a love
3. Only in your eyes
4. Don't ask me love
5. Do not disturb
6. Give me
7. It's no bad
8. For you, for me
9. Ticket to ride
10. Thinking
11. Won't you please?
12. Forgive me

For You(different cover of Boliviane issue)

Shakers for you (1966)

This shows an evolution in the musical level of the group. Basically it gathers songs closer to "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver", but also shows influence of other British and American bands of that era, and two exquisite songs from the bossa-nova era, sung in English: "Never, never" and "I'll always wait for you".The guitar solos are much more elaborate. The song "I hope you like it"  is to "Shakers for you", what the song "Tomorrow never knows" is to "Revolver", a bizarre melody, tapes recorded backwards, crushing rhythm, a kind of experiment, a huge breakthrough for the national rock of that era.
 

Songs: English translations  (original Spanish title)

1. Never, never (Nunca, nunca)
2. The boy and I (El niño y yo)
3. Listen to my words (Escucha mis palabras)
4. Looking for trouble (Buscando dificultades)
5. Too late (Demasiado tarde)
6. Let me tell you (Déjame decirte)
7. Do you have any money? (Tienes algún dinero?)
8. You'll find a girl (Encontrarás alguna chica)
9. Smile again (Sonríe otra vez)
10. Darling come back (Vuelve mi amor)
11. I'll be always wait for you (Siempre te esperaré)
12. I hope you like it (Espero que les guste)
 

La conferencia secreta del Toto's Bar  (The Totos' Bar secret conference) (1968)
 

For many people this was the major rock work of the 60's era in this part of the world. The recording and release of this album was very troubled, mainly due to the record company. First the record company pressured  the band to include more hits.
    In spite of the high musical quality of the songs, they were not to the commercial expectation of the record company. Then, even during the recording of the album the
group had already determinated to dissolve. Finally, the launch of the disc was postponed to the beginning of 1969, by then, the band had already split up.
   It was launched without any publicity, but in the select  rock scene of the era, it was always praised and loved.

Songs : English translations (original Spanish title)

1. The  Totos' Bar Secret Conference/Aunt Clementina (La conferencia secreta del
Toto's                                   Bar/Tía Clementina)
2. Candombe (Candombe)
3. I used to watch TV Tuesdays 36 (Acostumbro ver TV los martes 36)
4. Rainbow shape (Una forma de arco iris)
5. Always you (Siempre tú)
6. B.B.B. Bang  (B.B.B. Bang)
7. I remember my world (Yo recuerdo mi mundo)
8. Oh, my friend (Oh, mi amigo)
9. The pine and the rose (El pino y la rosa)
10. Mr highway, the enchanted (Señor carretera, el encantado)
11. Longer than "el ciruela" (the plum) (Más largo que "el ciruela")

Hugo continue his musical life. To know his lately works go to http://www.candombe.com

To know more about  South American's '60s rock go to The Ultimate South American Psychedelic Garage Beat