Long before the latin invasion, Gloria Estefan was truly the one woman that crossed over.

Some pop efforts already broke in the Top 40, but this is the album that really started it all for her.

Gloria has written the # 1 hit ANYTHING FOR YOU and the sadness-tinged CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM YOU.

She rocked the dancefloors with RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU and 1,2,3.

She will prove you to be more than just a crossover artist when you listen to the sophisticated GIVE IT UP (great sax solo...).

Just for the record: this CD in europe was re-released in 1988 under the title ANYTHING FOR YOU, with a couple of extra bonus, the 12" versions of RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU and LET IT LOOSE.

Gloris Estefan rose to superstardom with LET IT LOOSE. I remember seeing the video for BETCHA SAY THAT. Big hits from the album are CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM YOU,RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU,ANYTHING FOR YOU and 1-2-3. I WANT YOU SO BAD is not to be confused with the same title on Heart's BAD ANIMALS album,released in 1987 just like this album. This is the next to last album bearing the artist Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine. This album was produced by Gloria's husband Emilio Estefan & The Jerks(obviously some buddies of his). Gloria's Epic Records labelmate Michael Jackson had a hit album in '87 also,BAD.

After the introduction of "Eyes Of Innocence" & the success of "Primitive Love", Gloria Estefan and Gang had a very difficult challenged to overcome, prove that "Conga" wasn't a stroke of luck!, and they're weren't just flavor of the month, "Let It Loose" prove many critics wrong, their third delivery outsold the first two LP, had 4 top ten singles + one top 40, and sold over 4 million copies. If that's not enough, "Anything" became their first #1 single in the Billboard 100. To listen to this album nowadays is difficult because, you have to understand, that the Miami Sound Machine tried to fit into the scene of pop music of the late 80's, with that brought to the attention, many songs, specially the ones that didn't became singles like "Give It Up, Surrender, Love Toy" sound extremely dated, with synth's and calypso beats, and really simple lyrics, that tried to alienated her latin spirit away. Surprisely the song that sound less dated than anyone in the Record is the most latin flavored one "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" and the message was clear, this song made to the top 5, and was the first single, and the strongest in the whole album. "Betcha You Say That" became the sad 2nd single, a song that failed the top 10, because it was simply boring, without innovation and pretty away from the style of Estefan, it was no mistake this was her most poppy AC attemp, but it failed, the third single "Can't Stay Away From You" her first ballad of this album to be release, is a nice easy goin track, but as many songs in this record sound dated and without strong feelings, the 4th single "Anything" their first #1, is a timeless Estefan classic, and it will sound in radio waves from years to come, because, it's reunites everything a song should have, a great hook, great lyrics, timeless music, and amazing memorable vocals, great message, great song. The last single "1-2-3" made it into the charts with a slightly different remix, this song is the most easy goin' and radio friendly of all, no wonder it was a hit, party stomper by those days, a none release song "I Want You So Bad" made recall Donna Summer's sexy songs, but it's no lie, that Gloria is more friendly, than sexy vixen, so with all that in mind, "Let It Loose" made it big with the four singles that became top 10. but the half of the album sound dated, this is a most have for any fan of Gloria or the late 80's, but if you're casual listener buy the Greatest Hits.

Latin meets pop in this borderline "greatest hits" collection. Miamai Sound machine at it's finest.

I like this album because it features my favorite song "Can't Stay Away From You" and I also love "Rhythm is Gonna Get You". This album features many hits and is great to dance to and I love it. Gloria Estefan is a Latin Diva. I recommend this album.