40 Year Itch : Brazil '74

If you need a mood enhancer, here's some instant joy courtesy of the glorious Brazilian artists of 1974. 

Rolling Stone ranked this the 6th greatest Brazilian album of all time. It's a trippy album even if you don't understand the lyrics ( about dancing, about aliens, about philosphy etc.) The must-own of the albums in this post.

To these ears, this is a return to the infectious, heavy strumming sounds after the disappointing Novos Baianos FC. This is the final album made with founder Moraes Moreira. If this blog does nothing else it should convince you to buy 1972's brilliant Acabou Chorare.

Album #2 from Secos and Molhados features more dramatic music and the high pitched, womanly, counter-tenor voice of Ney Matogrosso. Is this better than the debut? A common debate among Brazilian music fans. 

Brazilian folk with touches of psychedelia. Beautifully arranged.

Beautiful tunes from the sensual songstress Gal Costa. You won't be able to get "Barato Total" out of your head. 

Samba legend Martinho Da Vila sings about the joy of song in the title cut from Canta, Canta Minha Gente:

Sing, sing, my people, let go of the sadness

 Sing strong, sing loud, cause life is going to get better

Brazilian vocalist Elis Regina makes a lifelong dream come true, recording an album of Tom Jobim songs with their writer, Tom Jobim, in Los Angeles. The sessions on this classic album must have been pure joy . You can hear Elis smiling widely and nearly laughing on "Águas De Março (Waters Of March)". 

The Father of Brazilian Rock , Raul Seixas borrows the Rolling Stones melody from "No Expectations" for one of his biggest hits, the title cut from an album that sold 600,000 copies in Brazil.

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.

[Purchase]

   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.

[Purchase]

   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.

[Purchase]

   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.

[Purchase]

   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.