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Quirky Brazilian rock from the late 70s – a bit arty at times, and more straightforward at others – almost post-glam sliding into new wave, if we can bludgeon about so many terms so loosely! There's probably a fair bit of wit in the lyrics here – which we can't get due to our lack of Portuguese – and lead singer Billy Bond seems to be a fairly flamboyant and dynamic type, almost reminding us a bit of the more dramatic New York rockers in the pre punk years. Titles include "O Rape", "Sao Paulo By Day", "Mandrake", "Boeing 723897", "Golden Acapuldo", and "Aeroporto De Congonhas".

Just over 40 tracks on 3 CDs!

Certainly one of the greatest albums by this excellent (and oft-overlooked!) group from the 70s! The band of young Bahians deliver a great mix of tracks tinged with bits of rock, funky samba, and even a few psychedelic influences – with alternating male and female vocals, and some excellent songwriting that places the record right up there with some of the best work by Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil from the same time! We love this one to death, and find it to be one of the few records by the group that we return to again and again – a real post-Tropicalia classic that's filled with great songs. Tracks include "Preta Pretinha", "Besta E Tu", "A Menina Danca", "Swing De Campo Grande", and "Tinindo Trincando".

Three incredible albums from Marcos Valle – quite different than his 60s and 70s records, but really wonderful too! These 80s sets have Valle coming off of a brief stretch working in the US on soul music – particularly some sublime efforts with Leon Ware for Elektra Records – a great influence on the sound of the music here, as Marcos has picked up a cool, soulful vibe that's a surprisingly great addition to his repertoire! Most tracks often have a groove – kind of a sweet 80s extension of the complicated funk modes that Valle used a decade before – and there's a tight, hook-heavy groove to some of our favorite numbers – almost like the best modern soul of the 80s from the US, but with Portugese lyrics! All albums were only issued in Brazil – and from what we know, the Tempo Da Gente album is reissued here for the first time ever! 3CD set also features 3 bonus tracks – "O Sequestro", "Bicicleta", and "Beta Menina".

Funky soul from the great Marcos Valle – a great blend of mellow grooves and upbeat tunes recorded at the same time Valle was working in the US with Leon Ware! The style here is very similar to Ware's 2 albums for Elektra – both of which feature work from Valle, and include tunes that are also done here in Portuguese versions! Marcos makes a real departure from some of his earlier work here, and emerges as a surprisingly great soul star with plenty of talents for penning two-step tunes and keyboard-heavy tracks that glisten with a sweet California groove. A few tracks recall some of Valle's Odeon work – like the baroque instrumental "Camina Grande" – but we're most partial to the soul tracks that dominate the record, and which include "Bicho No Cio", "Pecados De Amor","Garimpando" and "A Paraiba Nao e Chicago".

Just over 50 tracks on 4 CDs!

Funky, soulful, and totally wonderful – a wicked late 70s live set from Jorge Ben – and one of his few post-Philips albums that really holds the energy from earlier years! The date's a live one, and the group grooves in a style that's got plenty of Africa Brasil touches – mixed with some other soulful and funky modes too – always great for Jorge's wonderful vocals, especially on some of the earthier tracks. Titles include "Troca Troca", "Bom Dia, Boa Tarde Boa Noite Amor", "A Banda Do Ze Pretinho", "Denize Rei", "Berenice", "Amante Amado", and "Era Uma Vez Treze".

Late 70s funky soul from Jorge Ben – not as totally all-out funky as his classic work from earlier in the decade, but still pretty darn nice! The tracks bounce along with a tight samba soul approach that's built very much on Jorge's earlier experiments – handled with a bit more modern soul on the arrangements, but in a way that only makes the grooves come across more directly – in ways that are a bit like that of some other Brazilian artists who shifted so soul at the time, including Marcos Valle. Titles include "Salve Simpatia", "Ive Brussel", "Waldomiro Pena", "Adelita", "Occulatus Abis", and "Menina Crioula".

Amazing music from Nara Leao – all of her classic albums for Philips from the 60s, packaged together in one sweet set – along with a bonus 2CD set of rare material, a booklet, and lots of bonus tracks as well! Nara during this time was a completely unique singer – an artist with roots in bossa, but inflected with a folksy depth, and more than enough sophistication to help make her a key figure in the Tropicalia movement as well! This package brings together everything that makes Leao so wonderful – dark albums from the mid 60s that really set a whole new tone for MPB – a few live performances that show Nara's collaborative and spontaneous side, and some important late 60s material that already show a tremendous evolution as an artist. Each album is in its original artwork, with bonus tracks on individual CDs – and albums include Nara (1964), Opiniao De Nara, O Canto Livre De Nara, Show Opiniao, 5 Na Bossa, Liberdade Liberdade, Nara Pede Passagem, Manha de Liberdade, Vento De Maio, Nara (1967), Nara Leao (1968), and Coisas Do Mundo. Plus, the bonus 2CD set features lots of obscure cuts from singles and other unusual sources – 33 more numbers that include duets with Maria Bethania, Chico Buarque, Quinteto Violado, and Fagner – and lots of other solo tracks too.

Standout samba from Elza Soares – a cracker of an album from the mid 70s, and exactly the best sort of record to get you started appreciating her talents! Elza's got a great blend here – some of the soulful elements of her samba contemporaries, mixed with a bit of the fullness of Brazilian divas from years back – never as overblown as romantic pop, but filled with a great sense of feeling that really works nicely with the grooves! Instrumentation is tight, and right on the money – warmed up a bit by the production, which also deepens the soul – and titles included "Louvei Maria", "Partido Do Le Le Le", "Desabafo", "Bom Dia Portela", "Pranto Livre", "Nao E Hora De Tristeza", and "Giringonca". CD also features 3 bonus tracks – "O Mundo Fantastico Do Uirapuru", "Salve A Mocidade", and "Festa Do Cirio De Nazare".

Freaky funky sounds from The Gentlemen – a Brazilian combo from the early 70s, and one who work in a really dark mix of modes! At some level, the group feel a bit like some of the 60s Jovem Guarda groups – in that they have a bit of an influence from Anglo rock, particularly the more garagey variety. But they're also trippier too – and have that great post-Tropicalia Brazilian mode of reaching out for plenty of styles at once – to really mix things up in a freaky, fuzzy brew! Basslines are especially great – very pronounced, even on the mellower tracks – and there's some cool fuzz on the guitars to keep things from every sounding too clean or polished – particularly on some of the longer tracks, which feature great psych-styled jamming with the organ as well! Titles include "Vazio", "Sorriso Selvagem", "Vestido Branco", "Uma Voz Outra Voz", "O Embarque", "Eu Juro", "Isso E Amor", and "Agora Estou Livre".

Jazz versions of classics by Antonio Carlos Jobim – all done by a group arranged and directed by guitarist Mario Adnet, and featuring guest work from Joyce, Helio Delmiro, Romero Lumbambo, and others! The sound here is really fresh – not merely just a reworking of Jobim's original ideals, but a recasting of them in lightly arranged modes that often take on the shapes, colors, and textures of work by Moacir Santos – styles that are warm, but often have some sharper edges underneath, thanks to great interplay between the instruments. Bits of horns, guitar, piano, and percussion all come together with a tremendous sense of grace – and titles include "Tema Jazz", "Sue Ann", "Domingo Sincopado", "So Danco Samba", "Paulo Voo Livre", "Polo Pony", and "Bate Boca".

Freaky funky sounds from The Gentlemen – a Brazilian combo from the early 70s, and one who work in a really dark mix of modes! At some level, the group feel a bit like some of the 60s Jovem Guarda groups – in that they have a bit of an influence from Anglo rock, particularly the more garagey variety. But they're also trippier too – and have that great post-Tropicalia Brazilian mode of reaching out for plenty of styles at once – to really mix things up in a freaky, fuzzy brew! Basslines are especially great – very pronounced, even on the mellower tracks – and there's some cool fuzz on the guitars to keep things from every sounding too clean or polished – particularly on some of the longer tracks, which feature great psych-styled jamming with the organ as well! Titles include "Vazio", "Sorriso Selvagem", "Vestido Branco", "Uma Voz Outra Voz", "O Embarque", "Eu Juro", "Isso E Amor", and "Agora Estou Livre".