The duo of Vinicius De Moraes and Toquinho were already making some great music in Brazil at the time of this set – and for this rare Argentine recording, they were also joined by vocalist Maria Bethania – who makes for a wonderfully charming sound that really sends the record over the top! As on some of the duo's other albums, Vinicius and Toquinho trade vocals back and forth next to guitar lines from the latter – and here they get some great small combo jazz backing by a group that features pianist Mike Ribas – in a style that's leaner and even groovier than some of their other albums in Brazil! Bethanias joins the pair on a number of tracks – and titles include "Testamento", "Samba De Bencao", "Viramundo", "Tarde Em Itapoa", "O Dia Da Criacao", "Como Diza O Poeta", and "Apelo". LP, Vinyl record album

A nicely rootsy little album from Maria Bethania – recorded during a period when some of her music could often sound much fuller and more electric! The album's got subtle help from Toninho Horta, Dori Caymmi, and Guto Graca Mello – all of whom arrange Maria's vocals in a sophisticated singer/songwriter sort of mode – very personal, often spare, and used with a sensitivity to the lyrics that's really wonderful. The Terra Trio also play on the record, and titles include "Ciclo", "Filosofia Pura", "Motriz", "Vinho", "Lua", "Cantar Pra Fazer O Sol Adormecer", and "Rio De Janeiro". LP, Vinyl record album

A great little live set from Maria Bethania – one recorded with the lighter, looser sound she was using in the early 80s – and which stands as a nice contrast to her more dramatic concert performances of the 70s! The music director for the show is Gilberto Gil, and there's a bit of the warmer overtones that Gil was using in his own music at the time – not really the soulful modes, but stronger use of electric keyboards and flowing rhythms that bring in a bit of jazz and a nice sense of fullness. Titles include "Prenda", "Luzes De Ribalta", "Gas Neon", "O Que E O Que E", "Cantico Negro", "Cancao Da Volta", "De Noite E De Dia", and "Nossos Momentos". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Maria Bethania's first albums, and a beautiful set of live recordings – with a vibe that's a lot more uptempo and swinging than some of her later work! The style here almost has traces of bossa – a lighter, groovier feel at times than some of the more emotive modes that Bethania became known for during her run of 70s MPB. Backing here is by the bossa-esque Terra Trio, and they accompany her deep rich voice nicely on tracks like "Marina", "Carinhoso", "Marginalia II", "Ele Valava Nisso Todo Dia", and a great version of Caetano Veloso's "Baby". Very cool cover, too – with a trippy painting that has Maria's nude torso covered with flowers and bugs! LP, Vinyl record album

Maria Bethania recorded some of her best early material in a live setting – and this album is great testament to that fact! Unlike some of her Tropicalia contemporaries – whose live records could sometimes be a bit rough around the edges – Bethania's albums were always very well-put together performances done with tremendous musical backings – all quite sophisticated, sometimes even more so than her studio sessions, and magically recorded in a way that still preserved a strong sense of intimacy in her vocals! Titles include "Ponto De Oxum", "Minha Historia", "Lembrancas", "Rosa Dos Ventos", "Janelas Abertas No 2", "Movimento Dos Barcos", and "Flor Da Noite". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic illustration of the live music tradition on Brazil – one that really arose on records during the 60s, and blossomed strongly on 70s records like this – which feel almost more like an event than a recorded document! The concert features a magnificent meeting of Chico Buarque and Maria Bethania – both very strong talents on their own, balanced in this really great way amidst larger backings from Maestro Gaya – duetting on tunes that really turn into something special from their performance – never a challenge of egos, but instead a wonderful folding of strong ideals. Terra Trio provide the rhythms – and most numbers are Buarque originals – with titles that include "Flor Da Idade", "Vai Levando", "Bem Querer", "Noite Dos Mascarados", "Tanto Mar", "Gota D'Agua", "Com Acucar E Com Afeto", and "Sem Fantasia". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Maria Bethania's first albums, and a beautiful set of live recordings – with a vibe that's a lot more uptempo and swinging than some of her later work! The style here almost has traces of bossa – a lighter, groovier feel at times than some of the more emotive modes that Bethania became known for during her run of 70s MPB. Backing here is by the bossa-esque Terra Trio, and they accompany her deep rich voice nicely on tracks like "Marina", "Carinhoso", "Marginalia II", "Ele Valava Nisso Todo Dia", and a great version of Caetano Veloso's "Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic soundtrack recorded in the immediate post-Tropicalia years – featuring some of the best early 70s work by Chico Buarque, Nara Leao, Maria Bethania, and others! The cover has a mad image with Buarque, Leao, and Bethania in top hats and shiny uniforms – and the music follows up with a similarly lively spirit – samba-esque, with other touches of rock and jazz production that give the work an expansive and trippy feel. Roberto Menescal handled the arrangements – and titles include "Cacada" by Chico Buarque, "Mais Uma Estrela" by Nara Leao, "Soneto" by Orquesta De Cordas, "Soneto" by Nara Leao, "Partido Alto" by MPB-4, "Formosa" by Nara Leao & Maria Bethania, "Baioque" by Maria Bethania, and "Cantores De Radio" by Chico, Naria, and Maria together! LP, Vinyl record album

Not the same Maria Rita that rose to international fame in the past decade or so – but an earlier, much more obscure singer with a nicely rootsy vibe – one whose presence in the Brazilian music scene is maybe more welcome to our ears than her famous later namesake! The album came out at the end of the 80s, but has a sound that feels more like the experimental generation of MPB in the 70s – some moments that have the brashness of Gal Costa around her India album, other moments of gentleness that recall the sensitive soul of Joyce, and maybe a few slight touches of the deeper drama of Maria Bethania – and yet, like all of those artists, this Maria Rita is very much her own person – as can easily be heard by the lack of pop production or commercial efforts on this very unique album. Titles include "Cantico Brasileiro No 1", "Cancao Da Gaora", "Lamento Africano/Rictus", "A Cidade", "Melodia De Veludo", and "Trilhas". LP, Vinyl record album

Not the same Maria Rita that rose to international fame in the past decade or so – but an earlier, much more obscure singer with a nicely rootsy vibe – one whose presence in the Brazilian music scene is maybe more welcome to our ears than her famous later namesake! The album came out at the end of the 80s, but has a sound that feels more like the experimental generation of MPB in the 70s – some moments that have the brashness of Gal Costa around her India album, other moments of gentleness that recall the sensitive soul of Joyce, and maybe a few slight touches of the deeper drama of Maria Bethania – and yet, like all of those artists, this Maria Rita is very much her own person – as can easily be heard by the lack of pop production or commercial efforts on this very unique album. Titles include "Cantico Brasileiro No 1", "Cancao Da Gaora", "Lamento Africano/Rictus", "A Cidade", "Melodia De Veludo", and "Trilhas". LP, Vinyl record album

With performances by Nora Ney, Dircinha Batista, Maria Bethania, Os Cariocas, Dolores Duran, Sylvia Telles, and Joao Gilberto. Comes with a nice booklet of notes and photos! LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful work by one of the true geniuses of Brazilian music – an artist whose career started in the bossa nova generation, then stretched out with an amazing sense of scope and sound! All of Edu's early gems are here – in a set list that includes the classic "Upa Neguinho", plus recordings with Tamba Trio on "Reza", "Boranda", "Arrastao", and "Cancao Do Amanhecer" – and vocals by Joyce on "Rei Morto Rei Posto", Dori Caymmi on "Desenredo", and Maria Bethania on "Pra Dizer Adeus" – as well as the cuts "Memorias De Marta Sare", "Lero Lero", and "Quase Sempre". LP, Vinyl record album

The first-ever record in the Luaka Bop legacy – a massive collection of Brazilian grooves that still serves as one of the best introductions to the music we can think of! Most of the artists here are the bigger names of the MPB generation of the 70s – but many are still very under-represented in the US market – which makes the collection of work here completely essential. The styles range from samba soul of Jorge Ben to the lyrical poetry of Caetano Veloso to the soulful drama of Milton Nascimento – and titles include "Ponta De Lanca Africano" and "Fio Varavilha" by Jorge Ben, "Cacada" by Chico Buarque, "Quilombo O El Dorado Negro" and "So Quero Um Xodo" by Gilberto Gil, "Quiexa" and "O Leaozinho" by Caetano Veloso, "Sonho Meu" by Maria Bethania & Gal Costa, "Caixa De Sol" by Nazare Pereira, and "Anima" by Milton Nascimento. LP, Vinyl record album

Light and lively work from the great Gal Costa – a set that's light years away from her Tropicalia experiments of a decade before, but which is equally beautiful in its own sort of way! First off, Gal's vocals are amazing – more expressive and dynamic than in the early days – with a range of different emotions that comes off wonderfully, and without some of the heaviness of some of her contemporaries – such as Maria Bethania. The arrangements, while not entirely tropical, mix together jazz choro modes with more contemporary touches – providing a surprisingly strong, sparkling backdrop for the lyrics! The album features a nice remake of "India", plus the tracks "Forca Estranha", "Olha", "Meu Nome E Gal", "Balance", and "Samba Rasgado". LP, Vinyl record album

A hip collection of some of Gilberto Gil's best compositions – performed by Gil and some of the best talents of his generation. The material is mostly lifted from other LPs on Philips in Brazil, but the whole set works very well together, due to the strength of Gil's writing. Titles include "Lugar Comum" by Joao Donato, "Louvacao" by Elis Regina & Jair Rodriguez, "Ladainha" by Nara Leao, "Expresso 2222" by MPB 4, "Preciso Aprender A So Ser" by Maria Bethania, "Mancada" by Claudette Soares, "Procissao" by Quinteto Violado, "O Sonho Acabou" by Alcione, and "Copo Vazio" by Chico Buarque. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest albums ever from Caetano Veloso – a rare all-English language set, recorded in London during the years of his exile! The post-Tropicalia set is a fair bit different than any other Veloso album we can think of – not just because of the English language, but also because the approach is somewhat gentle, and almost folksy at times – a real change from his experimental modes of the late 60s, and easily his most personal statement to date. The tunes are incredibly beautiful – filled with themes of loss and longing that no doubt come from his separation from Brazil – and although a few tunes feature light strings from Phil Ryan, most of the backings are relatively light, and almost acoustic. Titles include the classics "Shoot Me Dead", "If You Hold a Stone", "Maria Bethania", "In The Hot Sun Of A Christmas Day", and "London, London" – plus a cover of "Asa Branca". LP, Vinyl record album

A very nice set of work from this older Brazilian composer – featuring performances of his songs by Maria Bethania, Joao Gilberto, Pery Ribeiro, Doces Barbaros, Trio De Ouro, Francisco Alves, and others! LP, Vinyl record album