****Excellent***Good**Fair*Poor : VIDEOCASSETTES

“The Return of Ruben Blades.” Sony. $29.95. The 85-minute video claims to be a documentary about the return of Ruben Blades, salsa’s biggest crossover sensation, to his recording and movie career after graduating from Harvard Law School in 1985. What we really get is more a home movie of rambling Blades interviews filmed in his native Panama interrupted by New York performances--the quality of which vary. At times, the choruses sung by Blades’ group, Los Seis Del Solar, sound ragged and harsh in such songs as “Buscando America.” But Blades, who’s redefined salsa lyrics with Latin America’s great literary ideas and political passions, comes through with vocals that are alternately nostalgic, passionate and even touchingly elegant when he duets with Linda Ronstadt on “Silencios.” Information: (212) 757-4990. ** 1/2