All Categories — All Formats  

The start of a legend – and the very first album by Sergio Mendes' Brasil 66 group, proudly brought to the world through the godlike talents of a young Herb Alpert! Sergio was no stranger to the recording studio by the time of this set, but the record marked a real shift in his music – a change from the mostly-instrumental bossa modes he first forged back in Brazil, and a shift to warmer, sweeter pop with a nice sunny California finish – done through unique production techniques and the group's trademark two-lady lead vocals! The sound is tremendous, and is possibly heard in its purest form here – simple, focused, and given that near-perfect A&M sound through Herb's production skills. Titles include the classics "Daytripper", "Aqua De Beber", "O Pato", "Berimbau", "Mas Que Nada", and "The Joker".

The start of a legend – and the very first album by Sergio Mendes' Brasil 66 group, proudly brought to the world through the godlike talents of a young Herb Alpert! Sergio was no stranger to the recording studio by the time of this set, but the record marked a real shift in his music – a change from the mostly-instrumental bossa modes he first forged back in Brazil, and a shift to warmer, sweeter pop with a nice sunny California finish – done through unique production techniques and the group's trademark two-lady lead vocals! The sound is tremendous, and is possibly heard in its purest form here – simple, focused, and given that near-perfect A&M sound through Herb's production skills. Titles include the classics "Daytripper", "Aqua De Beber", "O Pato", "Berimbau", "Mas Que Nada", and "The Joker".

One of our favorite albums by Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 – a perfect bridge between the simple pop of earlier records, and the group's expanding sound as the 70s approached! The warmly glowing Brasil 66 style is still very strongly in place, but the music here is all a bit hipper – tunes that show the growing sophistication of Brazilian music in the post-bossa years – picked up on by Sergio, and reworked for a larger audience in the US! The record's got some incredibly wonderful material – including a sublime cover of "Upa Neguinho", plus versions of "Casa Forte", "Canto Triste", "Lapinha", and "Laia Ladaia", a song that's a perfect fit for the group's unique style! Also includes the dreamy number "When Summer Turns To Snow", and the group's classic cover of "Scarborough Fair"!

A real classic from Sergio Mendes – probably most famous for its funky bits! The record pushes past the formula of the earlier Brasil 66 albums, and goes for a more sophisticated approach that adds in some sweet electric moments, more complicated grooves, and an overall sound that's even hipper than the group's early pop for A&M. The album features an excellent version of "For What It's Worth" that has a tight drumbreak which has been sampled often, as well as a great version of Caetano Veloso's "Lost in the Paradise" which is a good translation of the song to an American idiom! Other tracks include "Viramundo", "Stillness", "Chelsea Morning", and "Sometimes In Winter". A real gem – and one of the group's most overlooked albums!

A groovy bossa gem from the glory days of A&M Records – an ultra-hip group recorded with production by Sergio Mendes! The feel here is a lot like that of Brasil 66 – bossa rhythms, sunny CA instrumentation, and lovely female vocals – in this case sung singularly, by the lovely Gracinha Leporace – aka Mrs Mendes! Instrumentation is arguably even better than on Brasil 66 records – with wonderfully groovy organ lines from Manfredo Fest, who plays Lowrey organ instead of the usual Hammond. A really essential slice of bossa nova – and a record we'd never part with! Filled with wonderful tunes that include "Gentle Rain", "Up Up & Away", "Wave", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Cacao do Sal", "Veleiro", "Saiupa", and "Nana".

A very unique album by Sergio Mendes – recorded in LA in the years before his Brasil 66 albums for A&M – but with a sound that clearly shows him going for the new bossa approach! The album's got some lovely vocals by Wanda De Sah, plus occasional guitar work by Rosinha De Valenca – and backing is by Sergio's Trio, riffing away in a very tight jazzy groove that's right up there with the best of their early albums. Bud Shank also guests on a few tracks with some tasty alto sax solos – and titles include "Let Me", "Consolacao", "Tristeza Em Mim", "Muito A Vontade", "Reza", "Berimbau", and "Aquarius".

One of Sergio Mendes' most dreamy albums – quite different than both his vocal work with Brasil 66, and his smaller combo sides from Brazil! There's still a strong bossa component to the record – but the setting has Sergio's piano lines laid out over larger arrangements with a good jazz component – soloing beautifully with a grace and charm he sometimes didn't have on other projects! Arrangements are by some hip American talents – Clare Fischer, Bob Florence, and Richard Hazard – and the set's filled with bright horns, lush banks of strings, and cascading rhythms – all produced with exceptional sound, so that Sergio's piano goes gliding over the top in a manner that's similar to some of the Luis Eca albums in a similar format. Tracks include "Carnaval", "Boranda", "Nana", and "Bonita".

A lost bossa classic from Wanda De Sah – aka Wanda Sa, the wife of Edu Lobo, and a singer who worked with Sergio Mendes in his pre-Brasil 66 days! The album's got a wonderfully laidback feel – languid, yet jazzy, with the feel of some of Astrud Gilberto's best work on Verve, yet with vocals that are possibly better – thanks to Wanda's pedigree in Brazilian pop. Recordings were done in California, not Rio – and arrangements are handled by the great Jack Marshall – who's got a strong ear for keeping things interesting with a mix of strings, Latin rhythms, and Capitol pop shadings. Titles include "Aqua De Beber", "Ho Ba La La", "Sweet Happy Life", "The Dreamer", and a great version of "Aruanda".

A very unique album by Sergio Mendes – recorded in LA in the years before his Brasil 66 albums for A&M – but with a sound that clearly shows him going for the new bossa approach! The album's got some lovely vocals by Wanda De Sah, plus occasional guitar work by Rosinha De Valenca – and backing is by Sergio's Trio, riffing away in a very tight jazzy groove that's right up there with the best of their early albums. Bud Shank also guests on a few tracks with some tasty alto sax solos – and titles include "Let Me", "Consolacao", "Tristeza Em Mim", "Muito A Vontade", "Reza", "Berimbau", and "Aquarius".

A sweet little pairing of the keyboards of Sergio Mendes and the early arranging styles of Dave Grusin – and a set that's quite different than some of Sergio's vocal albums with Brasil 66! The style here is all instrumental – and Mendes plays both piano and electric piano, plus a bit of harpsichord too – working with a hip LA group that features Grusin on organ, Tom Scott on flute and soprano sax, and John Pisano on guitar – plus a bit of Brazilian percussion from Joao Donato and Moacir Santos! The result is a heavenly 60s groove – some slight larger backings, plus great work from the jazzy group at the core – and titles include a stunning version of "Ponteio" – plus other Brazilian groovers like "A Banda", "Veleiro", and "Tempo Feliz". There's also a few tracks of US material like "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Comin' Home Baby", done with a nice bossa groove!

A lost bossa classic from Wanda De Sah – aka Wanda Sa, the wife of Edu Lobo, and a singer who worked with Sergio Mendes in his pre-Brasil 66 days! The album's got a wonderfully laidback feel – languid, yet jazzy, with the feel of some of Astrud Gilberto's best work on Verve, yet with vocals that are possibly better – thanks to Wanda's pedigree in Brazilian pop. Recordings were done in California, not Rio – and arrangements are handled by the great Jack Marshall – who's got a strong ear for keeping things interesting with a mix of strings, Latin rhythms, and Capitol pop shadings. Titles include "Aqua De Beber", "Ho Ba La La", "Sweet Happy Life", "The Dreamer", and a great version of "Aruanda".

An all-star effort from Sergio Mendes – one that follows nicely on the comeback energy of his previous Timeless set! Like that one, this album has Mendes dipping heavily into contemporary soul modes – picking up a bit of R&B, bits of hip hop, and bits of a few other styles – then folding them back into music from his Brazilian roots! The blend is almost a 21st Century update of the mix of soul and bossa that Sergio forged in the 70s after his initial Brasil 66 work on these shorts – and the balance struck here is surprisingly strong – possibly even better than the sound of Timeless. Guests include Will I Am, Siedah Garrett, Ledisi, Carlinhos Brown, Vanessa Da Mata, Gracinha Leporace, Natalie Cole, and Lani Hall – and titles include "Catavento", "Morning In Rio", "The Look Of Love", "Dreamer", "Lugar Comum", "Odo-Ya", "Waters Of March", and "Funky Bahia".

One of Sergio Mendes' most dreamy albums – quite different than both his vocal work with Brasil 66, and his smaller combo sides from Brazil! There's still a strong bossa component to the record – but the setting has Sergio's piano lines laid out over larger arrangements with a good jazz component – soloing beautifully with a grace and charm he sometimes didn't have on other projects! Arrangements are by some hip American talents – Clare Fischer, Bob Florence, and Richard Hazard – and the set's filled with bright horns, lush banks of strings, and cascading rhythms – all produced with exceptional sound, so that Sergio's piano goes gliding over the top in a manner that's similar to some of the Luis Eca albums in a similar format. Tracks include "Carnaval", "Boranda", "Nana", and "Bonita".

A great little live set from Sergio Mendes and his Brasil 65 group – a pre-Brasil 66 combo that features Wanda De Sah on vocals and Rosinha De Valenca on guitar! The style here is more traditionally Brazilian bossa than Sergio's later work on A&M – a fluidly jazzy groove captured with a good sense of intimacy despite the live setting – and issued by Atlantic as a nice antidote to some of the more watered-down bossa work on the US market! The vocals are wonderful – often spare and a bit more fragile than the two-voiced sound of A&M – and titles include "Tem Do De Mim", "Noa Noa", "Caminho De Casa", and "Arrastao".

A sublime selection of grooves from the legendary A&M Records – and a key document of the way the label helped shape the sound of Brazilian music in the 60s! Far more than any other American imprint, A&M had a key dedication to bringing Brazilian sounds to the US – not just through work by artists like Sergio Mendes, Edu Lobo, Bossa Rio, and others – but also through the way it introduced Brazilian songs, arrangements, and instrumentation to work by other singers too! This package brings together some of the best of those moments – great music mostly from the late 60s – showing not just the presence of Brazilian music on the label, but the strong influence of bossa nova as well. Titles include "Old Devil Moon" by Bossa Rio, "Dindi" by Claudine Longet, "Fool On The Hill" by Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66, "One Note Samba" by Chris Montez, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Roger Nichols, "Fly Me To The Moon" by Chris Montez, "Day By Day" by Bossa Rio, "Misty Roses" by The Sandpipers, "The Girl From Ipanema" by Chris Montez, "Up Up & Away" by Bossa Rio, "Mas Que Nada" by Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66, and "Our Day Will Come" by Roger Nichols Trio.

A groovy bossa gem from the glory days of A&M Records – an ultra-hip group recorded with production by Sergio Mendes! The feel here is a lot like that of Brasil 66 – bossa rhythms, sunny CA instrumentation, and lovely female vocals – in this case sung singularly, by the lovely Gracinha Leporace – aka Mrs Mendes! Instrumentation is arguably even better than on Brasil 66 records – with wonderfully groovy organ lines from Manfredo Fest, who plays Lowrey organ instead of the usual Hammond. A really essential slice of bossa nova – and a record we'd never part with! Filled with wonderful tunes that include "Gentle Rain", "Up Up & Away", "Wave", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Cacao do Sal", "Veleiro", "Saiupa", and "Nana".

A very cool group that's as groovy as their name! The Jumping Jacques were a 60s French vocal group who took elements of other French groups – like The Swingle Singers or Les Double Six – and worked in a mode that was very mod, and very 60s! The tunes on the set sparkle with inventive vocal pyrotechnics – dipping bass parts, floating soprano lines, skipping scatting tenor and alto bits – all coming together in a lovely blend of male and female vocals, dancing lightly with all the charm of Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66. Most tracks are non-verbal – in that the vocals are working in more of a scatting instrumental mode, jazzily grooving on a set of original tunes by leader Jacques Hendrix. Very cool, and very much in the mode of mid 60s Michel Legrand soundtracks, The Gimmicks, and other bits of European grooviness! Titles include "Let Them Eat Cake", "Gossip & Chatter", "Someday We'll Know", "Somehow I Feel I Must Be Dreaming", "Offbeat Fugue", and "Love Me Now".

The sounds of The Beatles – completely transformed – as a handful of tunes by John Lennon & Paul McCartney, and a few by George Harrison too, are taken up by the A&M Records crew of the 60s and 70s! We're huge fans of A&M, as the label's always had a way of taking already-great music, and making it even better – through inventive arrangements, cool studio production, and an ultra-stylish way of putting over a record – all of which really comes through here in the collection's transformative batch of tunes! Some of the singers are surprising choices, but really make the music come across wonderfully – and the overstuffed set features 26 tracks that include "Good Day Sunshine" by Claudine Longet, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Punch, "All My Loving" by The Sandpipers, "Blackbird" by Punch, "Ob La Di Ob La Da" by Nick DeCaro, "Get Back" by Billy Preston, "Something" by Claudine Longet, "Don't Let Me Down" by Dillard & Clark, "For No One" by Liza Minelli, "Yesterday" by Chris Montez, "She's Leaving Home" by Julius Wechter & Baja Marimba Band, "Day Tripper" by Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66, "Golden Slumbers" by Claudine Longet, "Hey Jude" by Shango, and "Come Together" by Brothers Johnson.

A wonderful compilation – with a really unique sound! The compilers have gone for the sort of tracks that have provided an inspiration for some of London's more spacious soul artists of the past few years – and they've carved out a special slice of tunes from the cusp of the 70s, right at the point when hippie freedoms were sneaking into soul, folk, rock, and funk – in rare instances creating a fantastic blend of moods and modes, tunes that deliver that rare sound known in the underground as the "folk funk experience". The package is different than most funk compilations you'll buy this year – with a laidback groove that features lots of acoustic guitar, hand-played percussion, and even some nice touches of strings in just the right parts. The familiar mixes with the obscure – and the result is one of the tastiest listens our ears have heard in a long time! Titles include "You" by Bill Withers, "Play With Fire" by Barbara & Ernie, "And That's Saying A Lot" by Christine Perfect, "Les Fleur" by Minnie Riperton, "Milk & Honey" by Bonnie Dobson, "For What It's Worth" by Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66, "Reach For The Truth" by Linda Lewis, "Make Music" by Rena Sinakin, "I Have Seen" by The Pedllers, "The Dolphins" by Al Wilson, "Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love" by Odyssey, and "Aht Uh Mi Hed" by Shuggie Otis.