Brave New Cattle

Ze Ramalho : The Devil's Fight with the Owner of Heaven

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 In 1979, the Brazilian songwriter Ze Ramalho released A Peleja do Diabo com o Dono do Céu (The Match of the Devil with the Owner of Heaven), his second solo album. Now, I am always at a disadvantage discussing Brazilian rock and folk stars because I know absolutely no Portuguese. I've always been attracted by the feel of the music and had at best a cursory sense of what the lyrics mean. The title track begins with lyrics that translate "With so much money spinning in the world /Who has, asks a lot; who does not have, ask for more".

Ramalho is a big reader, an intellectual and a fan of Bob Dylan. He's recorded both "Knockin On Heaven's Door" and "Mr Tambourine Man". He's also skilled at wordplay, taking musical influences from the Northeast part of Brazil and incorporating them into his music. He may best be known for his  biting social criticism.

The biggest single from the album translates into "Brave New Cattle". It calls out apathetic Brazilians for  letting their freedoms be curtailed by dictatorial government of Ernesto Geisel. Geisel led the military regime from 1974 to 1979, only to succeeded by another general, João Figueiredo:  

The people flee from ignorance 
Though they live so close to her 
And dream of better times gone 
Contemplate this life in a cell

For perspective, in the United States the lyrics that moved us the most in 1979 were "Never gonna stop, give it up, such a dirty mind /I always get it up, for the touch of the younger kind /My, my, my, aye-aye, whoa! M-m-m-my Sharona".

I want to add this comment to the post because it adds so much context. I am learning as I explore 70's music and am always willing to bow to someone who knows more about any subject:

Hi, great to know that you appreciate Brazilian music. Brave New Cattle was a big hit at this time along with other great songs from Zé. BTW, I think you will also love the first record "Zé Ramalho". "Avohai" and "Chão de Giz" were also hits in Brazil. Zé is actually from the Northeast from the country and there you also find great artists like Alceu Valença (one of my favorites), Geraldo Carneiro, Elba Ramalho, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and lot more. Also, the guy with the black hat was "Zé do Caixão" "Coffin Zé" a famous actor in Brazil with his terror movies.

Best of Brazil 1978

Zé Ramalho :Avôhai

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Arguably the best Brazilian album of 1978, Zé Ramalho's solo debut starts off with "Avôhai", a song inspired by an experience Ramalho had after taking psilocybin mushroom. He says he looked at the sky and saw the "shadow of a gigantic spaceship", and a voice whispered "Avôhai" in his ear. Keyboardist Patrick Moraz of Yes supplies the otherworldly the cosmic keys. If your Portuguese is lacking, you will still get off on the upbeat,  lightly psychedelic, uplifting feel of the album. That is, if you can find it!

Maria Bethânia (with Gal Costa) :  Sonho Meu ( My Dream)

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The only album from 1978 to make Rolling Stone's list the 100 Greatest Brazilian Music Records, Maria Bethânia's seductive Alibi is the first million seller from that country. Though the arrangements may seem dated today, this collection of songs, written by the likes of her brother Caetano Veloso, Djavan and Chico Buarque, are beautiful and sung with feeling by Bethânia. "Sonho Meu" appeared on the David Byrne compiled Brazilian compilation Beleza Tropical.

Chico Buarque : Calice ( feat. Milton Nascimento)

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Released as Brazil's censorship was finally softening, Chico Buarque takes a direct shot at the military dictatorship with "Calice", a word that can be translated to mean "Shut up". Another song that was featured on the Beleza Tropical compilation.

Tom Zé :  Menina Jesus

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The good people at Seattle's Light in the Attic Records have re-released this overlooked masterpiece by the sometimes zany, often emotional singer/songwriter. No wonder David Byrne dedicated an entire Brazil compilation to this wonderful artist. 

Milton Nascimento : Maria Maria

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A reader told me I missed a great one and I have to agree. The Nascimento and friends sequel Clube da Esquina 2 comes six years after the original. It's going to take me a while to get into this remastered at Abbey Road but every review I've read says it's worth it.

Jorge Ben : Cadê O Penalty

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Jorge Ben begins to explore  his brassy and funky side after joining the Som Livre label. While most of the song's deal with romance, Ben fans will be glad to know there's a futbol tune in there too: "Cadê O Penalty" (Where's The Penalty). Something fans of Croatian futbol might be asking this week. 

Elis Regina : O Trem Azul (The Blue Train)

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Many fans consider Elis Regina to be Brazil's most talented female singer and her 1978 album Vento de Maio her peak. Difficult to find ( the link above is to her final live performance of one of the most famous songs from Vento de Maio). 

She would die of a drug overdose in 1982.

1973: The Best of Brazil

   The post Tropicalia years offer some of the best music to ever come out of Brazil. While our 1973 retrospective offers a few familiar names from our look at  what happened in 1972, most of the albums we want to focus upon came from a new batch of veteran musicians.

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   Light in the Attic recently reissued this funky gem from Rio singer-songwriter Marcos Valle. The Moog features heavily in Previsao Do Tempo which promises to spray bursts of tropical sunshine  (with veiled political commentary )  into your dreariest Autumn and Winter days.

[out of print]

   The "coolest" of Brazil's bossa nova musicians and singers, Edu Lobo expands on the form with a wide array of new ideas and arrangements. The album is impossible to find which is nothing short of criminal. Hope Light in the Attic is paying attention.

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   In 1973 the " Father of Brazilian Rock" , Raul Seixas, released his debut album named after a Tarzan war cry.

   Although the album has achieved legendary status, a surprising number of songs are straight-ahead rock and rollers. It's the slower tunes that will stick with you. The late, mystical musician has achieved cult like status in his hometown city of Sao Paulo where his birthday is celebrated with parades featuring Seixas look-a-likes.

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   There is no limit to the talent of Milton Nascimento who in just a few years would be performing with Wayne Shorter, Paul Simon and even Duran Duran. Lyrics are buried in the mix ( to avoid military censorship ) on this sumptuous album (translation : Miracle of the Fishes) which blends elements of jazz, rock and MPB.

   My favorite album of  the entire year of 1972 is Os Novos Baianos's Acabou Chorare. So there was no way to personally avoid a let down on the follow-up Novos Baianos F.C. Still better than 68% of the music released in 1973.

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   Playful, far out, sometimes sounding deceptively simple, Tropicalia master Tom Ze's fourth album may have been mostly ignored upon its release. Since the David Byrne compilation Brazil Classics 4: The Best of  Tom Ze, this artist's work has been gaining new listeners who are instantly rewarded with a new flavor of ear candy.