I very much think that it was uncanny how
Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, Volume 2 (Yes,
that's the actual title, including the "COMMA"...!)
was released in such close proximity to his First Effort... (with "Lonely" George McCurn's one LP, sandwiched in-between)
I, in short, decided to go with "Green Leaves Of Summer", as it seems to be a bit of at least one step away from the "Mariachi Theme", which Herb wanted to continue trading his "Tijuana Brass" legacy on, while at the same time, being a serious and romantic figure in effectively expressing himself in the music world... He wanted to up his "Party Atmosphere" and did so, but at the same time, managed to also show another side of his career, which a few tracks on
The Lonely Bull hinted having, though here came to full-flower...
Likewise, listen to tracks like "Marchin' Through Madrid", "El Presidente", "The Great Manolete", "Surfin' Senorita" and "Swinger From Seville", and you'll get the gist of the 'Ameri-achi' elements, which "The TjB" was really about... While, "A-me-ri-ca", "More" and "Green Leaves..." shows Alpert as a serious contender for the future of the Pop Instrumental stylist in the then-current landscape of the American Music World...
As for "Spanish Harlem", that is a very obvious track for Second-Place, counterbalancing the Interpretation of an Original song, then-currently sung by Ben E. King, while adding the "incidental Latin flavor", which it lacked... (Though Herb or SOME trumpeter surely added a very "authentic Bravado" to the
Sonny Charles & The Checkmates version of it...)
Really wish there were some votes, or a vote for "Spanish Harlem"; it is underrated...
Dave