The name of this blog is…
// October 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // 1960s, 1970s, Brazil, South America
Some friends and I are involved in a ‘mix club’ where we upload mp3 compilations every once in a while. I got the name of this blog from the last mix I made. It’s a Brazilian compilation of some of what I think is the best music you can find, period. Don’t expect Bossa Nova or Samba pure, expect a mixture of Jazz, Rock, Soul, Funk, Folk, Psychedelia, Samba, Bossa – all mixed up in the big melting pot that is Brazilian culture. Most of it was recorded more than 30 years ago. Please feel free to pass it on or let me know how you enjoyed the mix. The link is at the bottom of the page. Well, here’s the email that I included with the mix for the club:
I first got into Brazilian music a couple of years ago when a friend of mine passed some Caetano Veloso onto me. Known as the Brazilian Dylan, his body of work is huge and very strong – and I encourage you to go into plenty of detail if you like what you find here. The track included is from his exile album recorded in London. Guess he didn’t like the weather there, and probably felt a little homesick, as the song – and album it’s from – is quite melancholy.
Encouraged by this discovery, I went through my usual routes of discovery on the internet, and found some amazing websites and primer lists. Joe Sixpack’s amazing website has a wonderful list that will serve as a good primer for anyone who wants to look further. The Jorge Ben recommendations were taken from there – he’s amazing, soulful, melodic. The music washes over you like a warm bath. Brazil’s McCartney to Caetano’s Dylan. Lyrically not quite as good as Veloso, but musically amazing. Baden Powell was also taken from there – not the scout founder – he made an album with singer/lyricist Vinicius De Moraes full of wonderful songs. Mysterious, enigmatic – the female backing and orchestral accompaniments are stunning.
Rateyourmusic.com is also a wonderful website, full of user-generated lists that you may want to spend some time poring through. The Rolling Stone Brazil list is a brilliant introduction. You’ll find most of the albums that these tracks are taken from on there. Highlights include Novos Baianos’ stunning ‘Acabou Chorare’, Elis Regina & Tom Jobim’s ‘Elis e Tom’, Chico Buarque’s ‘Constucao’, Milton Nascimento’s ‘Clube Da Esquina’ and Secos e Molhados’ ‘A Volta de Secos e Molhados’.
Finally, I’ve tried to separate the mix into two parts. ‘Nocturnal’ and ‘Celestial’. The ‘Nocturnal’ is just a cute, fancy way of saying that this music shows the more upbeat, partying side of Brazilian music, the ‘Celestial’ side shows the more mysterious, melancholy, magical – celestial side of the music.
Well I hope you all enjoy. It’s been a wonderful ride getting to know this music. And really, it is right up there with the virtually the best of Western music. Please let me know what you think, as it gives me great pleasure to know that I’ve passed on something that has made a difference to someone else.
Download link
Here is the list of files how it appears in the zip:
01 – Novos Baianos – Tinindo Trincando
02 – Os Mutantes – A Minha Menina
03 – Erasmo Carlos – De Noite, Na Cama
04 – Tim Maia – Ela Partiu (Bonus)
05 – Antonio Carlos Jobim & Elis Regina – Aguas de Marco
06 – Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben – Quem Mandou (Pe Na Estrada)
07 – Marcos Valle – Garra
08 – Secos & Molhados – Amor
09 – Tom Ze – Mã
10 – Chico Buarque – Construcao
11 – Jorge Ben – Errare Humanum Est
12 – Baden Powell & Vinicius de Moraes – Canto de Ossanha
13 – Caetano Veloso – London, London
14 – Gal Costa – Vapor Barato
15 – Milton Nascimento – Tudo Que Você Podia Ser
16 – Lo Borges – Canção Postal
17 – Quarteto Novo – Algodao
18 – Egberto Gismonti – Magico
