Nuclear Valdez - I Am I (1989)

Nuclear Valdez is an American rock band from Miami. The band members all are of Latin descent (Hispanics) and were born outside of the United States.
Rock band Nuclear Valdez was formed in Miami in 1985 by singer/guitarist Froilan Sossa (aka Fro Sosa) and bassist Juan Diaz. They gigged around building a grassroots following and linking up with lead guitarist Jorge Barcala and drummer Robert Slade LeMont.
Contrary to a common assumption, their moniker had nothing to do with the Exxon oil tanker disaster, but was simply a joking nickname for a former coworker of Diaz's with an explosive temper. The band signed with Epic Records at the end of the '80s and released their debut I Am I in July 1989. I Am I's ringing guitars and earnest political themes quickly linked them with socially conscious rockers like the Alarm, with whom they would soon split a stage on an early episode of MTV Unplugged. Lead single "Summer," a soaring commentary on the Cuban revolution of 1959 (Diaz, Barcala, and LeMont are all Cuban-American), received substantial MTV airplay but was not a chart success.
The children of Cuban refugees hailing from Florida, Nuclear Valdez was an anomaly, playing guitar-based rock & roll in an area better known for dancebeat music. Led by lead singer/guitarist Froilan Sossa, Nuclear Valdez churned out a fairly potent mix of rock tinged with folk and ethnic elements on their 1989 debut I Am I. Lyrically, the band often addresses the plight of ethnic minorities in South Florida as on the bracing singles "Summer" and "Where Do We Go from Here." Unfortunately, the lyrics are often clumsy and a bit heavy-handed, which dilutes their message. There's no shortage of melody, however, as the band ranges from the bluesy "If I Knew Then," to the hip-swaying shuffle of "Eve," to the lovely, folk-tinged "Run Through the Fields." I Am I is an intriguing record that hints at further growth.

01.  "Summer" - 4:47 
02.  "Hope Backing" - 4:4
         Vocals – Gia Ciambotti
03.  "Trace The Thunder" - 3:12 
04.  "If I Knew Then" - 5:16 
05.  "Unsung Hero  (Song For Lenny Bruce)" - 4:12 
06.  "Strength"  (Froilan Sosa) - 5:08 
07.  "Eve"  3:31 
08.  "Apache"  (Froilan Sosa) - 4:01 
09.  "Run Through The Fields" - 4:06 
10.  "Where Do We Go From Here" - 3:44 
11.  "Rising Sun" - 4:12

all songs written-by Nuclear Valdez except where notice.

Nuclear Valdez
Froilan Sosa - Vocals / Guitar / Keyboards
Juan Luis Diaz - Bass
Robert Slade LeMont - Drums
Jorge Barcala - Lead Guitar
Rafael Tarrago - Lead Guitar

Credits
Art Direction – Stacy Drummond
Mastered By – Vlado Meller
Photography By – Lou Salvatori
Executive-Producer – Don Rubin, Michael Caplan
Producer – Richard Gottehrer, Thom Panunzio

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – CBS Records Inc.
Copyright (c) – CBS Records Inc.
Copyright (c) – Epic
Recorded At – A&M Studios
Mixed At – A&M Studios
Mastered At – CBS Studios, New York

Notes
Recorded By, Mixed By – Thom Panunzio
Genre:  Rock
Length:  47:23
© 1989

Label - Epic Records