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.

40 Year Itch : My Latin Blood; My Soul Captive

[Purchase]

On May 23, 1973 Secos And Molhados ( The Dry and The Wet) entered the studio Prova to record their debut album which would become such a sensation in Brazil it would sell 300,000 copies in the first two months...well on its way to to selling more than a million copies.

Those who remember my naming the Novos Baianos album Acabou Chorare as the best of 1972 probably won't be surprised how much I like this 13-song effort. You'll hear a uniquely Brazilian take on glam rock with some passing references to Crosby Stills Nash and Young.

Years before Kiss wore their black and white face paint on stage, Secos e Molhados performed "Sangue Latino" ( "Latin Blood") on Brazilian TV...in an unforgettable performance.



The lyrics:


I swore lies
And I go alone
 I assume the sins
 Uh! Uh! Uh! Uh!
 The northern winds
 Do not move mills
And I have left
It's just a whimper
 My life, my dead
My crooked roads
My Latin Blood
 Uh! Uh! Uh! Uh!
My soul captive
 I broke treaties
Betray the rites
 I broke the spear
 I launched into space
A cry, a rant
 And that matters to me
It is not to be won
My life, my dead
My crooked roads
My Latin Blood
My soul captive





Also remarkable is the sopranino voice of Ney Matogrosso whose career would last far longer than the band that launched him.

The Brazilian Rolling Stone magazine ranks Secos e Molhados #5 on their list of the Top 100 Brazilian albums and Ney Matogrosso as the #3 greatest singer.

The Brazilian Top 5

1.Acabou Chorare - Novos Baianos (1972)
2. Tropicália ou Panis et Circencis - Tropicália (1968)
3. Construcão - Chico Buarque (1971)
4. Chega de Saudade - João Gilberto (1959)
5. Secos e Molhados - Secos e Molhados (1973)