Cumbia, the music and the dance synonymous with Colombia, has been around almost since Africans were first herded off slave ships at the port of Cartagena, Today, a badge of identity for Colombians everywhere, it is also enjoying a surge of popularity around the world, As some may recall, These two highly acclaimed collections were previously issued by World Circuit as 'Cumbia Cumbia' (1990) and 'Cumbia Cumbia 2' (1993), Combining those two benchmark releases, this new 2CD set brings together thirty of the greatest recordings made by Colombia's legendary label, Discos Fuentes between 1954 and 1988, Selected from thousands of singles, they ran the gamut of Cumbia styles - from powerful salsa influenced groups, through swinging urban big bands, to sixties surf guitar combos and rural percussion/accordion madness, All of them with their rolling tempo, and slinky, sideways 2/4 rhythm, Classic performances from the regions legends, propelled and pulsing with that genre defining rock-steady bass.