The very obscure third volume in the legendary Racional series from Brazilian soul legend Tim Maia – and like the other two, a record that really furthers the rich legacy of music he'd begun at the start of the 70s! There's a very righteous vibe going on here – music that soars for the skies in concept and execution – song mostly in Portuguese, but with a global sense of soul throughout – from the richness of the backings, to the majesty of Tim's vocals – which are some of the greatest on the Brazilian scene of the time. Even the mellower numbers are great – the kind of slinky soul numbers that you'd find balancing out the funky nuggets on a rare groove gem from the US – titles that include "Que Legal", "Nacao Cosmica", "I Am Rational", "E Prciso Ler E Reler", "Lendo O Livro", and "O Supermundo Racional". LP, Vinyl record album

The incredible first album by Tim Maia – Brazil's greatest soul star in the 70s, and for good reason too – given that Tim was one of the few who could match the depth of American soul and funk at the time! Yet the music here is way more than just a Brazilian version of American soul – as Tim brings in some rootsier elements from local musical styles, and even some of the trippier elements that were running through Brazilian music in the wake of Tropicalia – all to make for this heady brew of sounds that's completely unique, and completely wonderful all the way through! There's plenty of tracks here that would fit well alongside both familiar soul, and the modes of funky artists like Marcos Valle at the time – and the set also features work on guitar and backup vocals by Cassiano, who'd soon go onto become a Brazilian soul star on his own. Titles include the break-heavy "Padre Cicero" and "Voce Fingiu" – plus "Tributo A Booker Pittman", "Cristina No 2", "Jurema", "Flamengo", "Corone Antonio Bento", and "Primavera". LP, Vinyl record album

A great step forward for the legendary Tim Maia – working here in a style that's even tighter and more sophisticated than before – yet still equally filled with funk and soul! The arrangements are a bit bigger than before, and the production a bit more professional – but that change only brings Tim into even more heavenly soul territory – with a mix of grooves and strings that lays somewhere between the best early 70s work on labels like Curtom or Motown! Tim's got a new sense of majesty on the album – and also sings in English in a few spots – at a level that makes us wonder why he was never able to crack the American soul market at the time. An essential record from the man who brought American soul music to Brazil – with tracks that include "Over Again", "New Love", "O Balanco", "Reu Confesso", "Preciso Ser Amado", "Amores", and "Do Your Thing Behave Yourself". LP, Vinyl record album

70s soul from Brazil – and a tremendously strong effort from the legendary Tim Maia! This record was Tim's first after an initial run on Polydor – and it shows Maia tightening up his groove even more, but still avoiding the slicker sounds of later years. There's a really focused sound here that's totally great – one that shows that Maia's work was hardly just some happy cross-cultural accident, and instead the careful work of an artist who was out to challenge the best American soul acts of the time! There's a warm little groove to most of the tracks – tripping along lightly in the vein of some of our favorite US mellow soul from the mid 70s – an approach that's mostly soul, but with some funky undercurrents – and often smooth, but never cloying or overly commercial. Titles include "Ride Twist & Roll", "Flores Belas", "Let It All Hang Out", "Sem Voce", "E Necessario", "Leva O Meu Blue", "Pense Menos", and "Musica Para Betinha". LP, Vinyl record album

The rare second volume of Tim Maia's Racional album series from the 70s – even funkier and more harder-edged than the first! The record really follows the heavy soul influence that Tim had been hitting on his early 70s albums for Polydor – a strong dose of American funk and R&B, especially from the east coast indie scene – filtered down beautifully by Maia, one of the few cats in Brazil at the time who really knew how to get the sound right – and how to mix it with the best of his local influences! There's some wonderful grooves here – definitely of the funky Brazilian type you'd know from the Samba Soul generation, but also much more solidly soul, too – given Tim's fantastic vocals, and strong ear for putting over a tune! Titles include "Paz Interior", "O Caminho Do Bem", "Energia Racional", "Que Legal", "Quer Queira Quer Nao Queira", and "Imunizacao Racional". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the funkiest records ever from Brazilian soul legend Tim Maia – and a set that also has him singing a bit of English language lyrics too! The groove here is that classic Maia blend of Brazilian roots with American funk and soul – echoes of forro or samba in some of the rhythms, mixed with psychedelic touches, and some harder-hitting funky lines too – all in a mindblowing blend that's perfectly topped with Maia's vocals – which are every bit as large and powerful as the man on the cover himself! Tim shifts effortlessly between Portuguese lyrics and American English – the latter of which really showcases his love of American soul on the titles"I Don't Know What To Do With Myself", "Broken Heart", and "I Don't Care". The album also features a version of Marcos Valle's "Preciso Aprender A Ser So", plus the cuts "Meu Pais", "A Festa Do Santo Reis", "Nao Vou Ficar", and "Salve Nossa Senhora" – all wonderful, all the way through! CD features the bonus track "Chocolate". CD

Insanely great sounds from the legendary Tim Maia – easily the most soulful singer in 70s Brazil, and an artist with a heck of a strong ear for funk, too! The music here is an incredible hybrid of American soul and Brazilian elements – especially since some lyrics are in English – and the grooves are often mixed together in a sound that's nice and fuzzy around the edges, with some slight psychedelic elements that makes the cuts a perfect fit for this Luaka Bop series! Yet Tim Maia's hardly a guy who can easily fit into any easy slot or series – because as you'll hear on this set, he's got a vibe that's all his own – a really wonderful approach that's different even from some of his hippest contemporaries in Brazil – and which has gone onto have influence on countless other generations of singers and musicians – including his nephew Ed Motta. The package is great – a real visual tribute to the sounds within – and titles include "Que Beleza", "Ela Partiu", "Do Leme Ao Pontal", "Brother Father Mother Sister", "Quer Queira Quer Nao Queira", "Let's Have A Ball Tonight", "I Don't Care", "The Dance Is Over", "Rational Culture", "You Don't Know What I Know", and "Nobody Can Live Forever". LP, Vinyl record album

The incredible first album by Tim Maia – Brazil's greatest soul star in the 70s, and for good reason too – given that Tim was one of the few who could match the depth of American soul and funk at the time! Yet the music here is way more than just a Brazilian version of American soul – as Tim brings in some rootsier elements from local musical styles, and even some of the trippier elements that were running through Brazilian music in the wake of Tropicalia – all to make for this heady brew of sounds that's completely unique, and completely wonderful all the way through! There's plenty of tracks here that would fit well alongside both familiar soul, and the modes of funky artists like Marcos Valle at the time – and the set also features work on guitar and backup vocals by Cassiano, who'd soon go onto become a Brazilian soul star on his own. Titles include the break-heavy "Padre Cicero" and "Voce Fingiu" – plus "Tributo A Booker Pittman", "Cristina No 2", "Jurema", "Flamengo", "Corone Antonio Bento", and "Primavera". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the funkiest records ever from Brazilian soul legend Tim Maia – and a set that also has him singing a bit of English language lyrics too! The groove here is that classic Maia blend of Brazilian roots with American funk and soul – echoes of forro or samba in some of the rhythms, mixed with psychedelic touches, and some harder-hitting funky lines too – all in a mindblowing blend that's perfectly topped with Maia's vocals – which are every bit as large and powerful as the man on the cover himself! Tim shifts effortlessly between Portuguese lyrics and American English – the latter of which really showcases his love of American soul on the titles"I Don't Know What To Do With Myself", "Broken Heart", and "I Don't Care". The album also features a version of Marcos Valle's "Preciso Aprender A Ser So", plus the cuts "Meu Pais", "A Festa Do Santo Reis", "Nao Vou Ficar", and "Salve Nossa Senhora" – all wonderful, all the way through! LP, Vinyl record album

Insanely great sounds from the legendary Tim Maia – easily the most soulful singer in 70s Brazil, and an artist with a heck of a strong ear for funk, too! The music here is an incredible hybrid of American soul and Brazilian elements – especially since some lyrics are in English – and the grooves are often mixed together in a sound that's nice and fuzzy around the edges, with some slight psychedelic elements that makes the cuts a perfect fit for this Luaka Bop series! Yet Tim Maia's hardly a guy who can easily fit into any easy slot or series – because as you'll hear on this set, he's got a vibe that's all his own – a really wonderful approach that's different even from some of his hippest contemporaries in Brazil – and which has gone onto have influence on countless other generations of singers and musicians – including his nephew Ed Motta. The package is great – a real visual tribute to the sounds within – and titles include "Que Beleza", "Ela Partiu", "Do Leme Ao Pontal", "Brother Father Mother Sister", "Quer Queira Quer Nao Queira", "Let's Have A Ball Tonight", "I Don't Care", "The Dance Is Over", "Rational Culture", "You Don't Know What I Know", and "Nobody Can Live Forever". LP, Vinyl record album

Tim Maia in concert – captured relatively recently, but in a setting that recalls his greatness from previous decades! That legendary Maia voice hasn't lost any of its punch – and really soars soulfully amidst the album's lively arrangements – backings so well-recorded, we'd almost swear they were done in a studio! Titles include "Baby", "Telefone", "Sossego", "Gostava Tanto De Voce", "A Festa Do Santos Reis", "Me De Motivo", and "Um Dia De Domingo". CD

A great one from Brazilian soul singer Tim Maia – an album that's sung almost entirely in English, and which shows Maia really maturing into one hell of an international star! The set's got some great mellow grooves – tracks that would be right at home in the New Jersey scene of the early 70s – especially given their laidback execution, and honest, heartfelt lyrics – as well as the relatively spare, stripped-down instrumentation – which really leaves a lot of room for Tim's great vocals! Guitar is used wonderfully – in that spare-tripping style you'd find on obscure harmony soul singles of a few years before – and titles include "To Fall In Love", "With No One Else Around", "To Fall In Love", "I Love You Girl", "Let's Have A Ball Tonight", and "Day By Day". Amazing package, too – comes in a hardcover book-style jacket, with a bonus 45 page book that also includes full color images, with lots of vintage photos, plus notes on the record in Portuguese! The whole thing's sort of an update of the old Abril Cultural style of the 70s – brought into the CD generation. CD

An all-star tribute to the great Tim Maia – with Jorge Ben, Luiz Melodia, Sanda De Sa, Leny Andrade, and Ed Motta! CD

An ambitious larger production from the team of Edu Lobo and Chico Buarque – the famous stage musical O Grande Circo Mistico, based on the poem by Jorge De Lima, and featuring a range of top-shelf performers that includes Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Milton Nascimento, Jane Duboc, Zizi Possi, Simone, and Tim Maia! The work has a serious style that's in keeping with some of Lobo's more contemplative work of the 70s – but also has some of the more dynamic horn arrangements that were also showing up in his work. And as you'd guess from the title, there's a bit of a "circus" feel in the air – but one that's musically playful, and never too kitschy. Titles include "Meu Namorado", "Sobre Todas As Coisas", "Na Carreira", "O Circo Mistico", "A Bela E A Fera", "A Historia De Lily Braun", and "Beatriz". LP, Vinyl record album

The 3rd, and last, volume in this stunning songbook series of work by the great Vinicius De Moraes. This one's got a huge batch of big names, and features Tim Maia & Os Cariocas teaming up on "Tem Do", Tom Jobim & Chico Buarque dueting on "Sem Voce", Caetano Veloso singing "Canto Triste", "Joao Bosco" performing "Medo De Amar", Egberto Gismonti backing Joyce on "Derradeira Primavera", Jobim & Gal Costa doing "Janelas Abertas", and Os Cariocas grooving on "Aqua De Beber". Great stuff, and 19 cuts in all! CD

Tremendous work from the mighty Ed Motta – an artist who never lets us down, and who just keeps getting better as the years move on! Back in the 20th Century, Ed asked us to move his records from our Brazilian section to Neo Soul – a move that was wise on his part, as Motta has become a soulful giant with really international appeal – a true global underground superstar, and a music maker that no home should be without! Motta's songwriting, production, and overall presentation is amazing – and he's moved far past the 70s heroes that first inspired him – including his uncle Tim Maia – to a point where a set like this is fantastic from start to finish, with a richness that belies all the focus and concentration that Ed brings to his work. Titles include "Tolerance On High Street", "Of Good Strain", "Gaslighting Nancy", "Safely Far", "Newsroom Customers", "Slumberland", "Confrere's Exile", "Quatermass Has Told Us", and "Shot In The Park". CD

A brilliantly baroque Brazilian soundtrack – one of those early 70s gems that's filled with loads of excellent tunes! The album features arrangements by Dory Caymmi, Luiz Eca, and Waltel Blanco – all working with a set of unique artists to craft some totally great tunes done in the cool criss-crossing of styles that was taking place in Brazilian pop at the end of the 60s. Tunes go from lofty to intimate at the drop of a hat – as sweet voices come into play with well-crafted orchestrations and light percussion. Titles include "Bachiana No 5" by Joyce, "Branca" by Luiz Eca, "Joao Coragem" by Tim Maia, "Coroado" by Denise Emmer & Marcus Pitter, "Ondas Medias" by Umas & Outras, "Minhas Tardes De Sol" by Regina Duarte, and "Irmaos Coragem" and "Porto Seguro" by A Banda Das Cores Magicas. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Joao Gilberto, Marcos Valle, Elizeth Cardoso, Dick Farney, Tim Maia, Ze Keti, Kolores Duran, Maria Creuza with Toquinho & Vinicius, Chico Buarque, Taiguara, Doris Monteiro, Agostinho Dos Santos, Paulinho Da Viola, and Tito Madi. LP, Vinyl record album

Classic work from one of Brazil's greatest soul singers of the 70s – an album of rich feeling that's a wonderful bridge between American soul music and some of the sophisticated song stylings of the MPB generation! Cassiano's somewhere in the territory of contemporary Tim Maia – but is a bit smoother and more sophisticated – more of a mature soul mode next to Maia's rougher funk – served up here with impeccable arrangements that really draw from all the best changes in Brazilian music during the early 70s. The album includes the funky "Central Do Brasil", the extended midtempo groover "Onda", the semi-hit "Hoje E Natal", and the cuts "De Bar Em Bar", "Ana", "A Lua E Eu", and "Salve Essa Flor". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible stuff – an instant classic, and a record that will blow your mind! Ed Motta is known to most as one of Brazil's leading soul singers – a nephew of Tim Maia, and the one true heir to the unique Brazilian soul sound that Maia formed in the 70s. And while we've loved Ed's records of the past few years, this one is head and shoulders above anything else he ever recorded – a fantastic batch of warm jazzy soul tunes, recorded with a laidback style that recalls the best sound of 70s mellow soul. Although Ed's a major star in Brazil, he's also got impeccable taste – and for years has been a connoisseur of 70s soul jazz, underground funk, and some of the more groundbreaking work on the current global groove scene. This brilliant album's a tribute to all of that music, and far more – as Ed reaches for a whole new sound – one that may not net him any gold records in Brazil, but which will forever deepen our respect for and love of his work! The record's got an amazing use of Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer piano, jazzy rhythms, and even a touch of strings – and it fits together wonderfully as a suite of songs that are sophisticated, soulful, and touched with a warm brilliance we never expected! Titles include "Sus-Tenta", "Um Dom Pra Salvador", "Doce Ilusao", "Cervejamento Total", "Papuera", "Malumbulo", "Valse Au Beurre Blanc", and "Linduria". CD

The hippest installment so far in the Brazilika series – a mad mix of musical styles from Finders Keepers mainman Andy Votel – all in a freaky, funky, fuzzy blend of sounds! The tracks here are much grittier than the work we're used to hearing from the Far Out label – as Votel's dug through the 60s and 70s vaults of RGE/Som Livre Records to come up with rare Brazilian rock, funk, and other heavy styles from back in the day! As with Votel's reissues on Finders Keepers, there's a sound here that's informed by beathead record collecting – a love of older grooves directed by current musical developments – all with a definite ear for the wilder side of the sound spectrum. Most tracks have a pretty heavy groove – and the styles run from psychedelic rock through Tropicalia-inspired tunes, to post-bossa, Bahian sounds, and more. Titles include "Funga Funga" by Trio Soneca, "Careta" by Betinho, "Modulo Lunar" by Os Brazoes, "Terra Livre" by Abilio Manoel, "Os Bichos" by Trio Soneca, "De Vera" by Novos Baianos, "Ciladas" by Pery Ribeiro, "Se Voce Pensa" by Moraes Moreira, "Flores Belas" by Tim Maia, "1974" by Gerson Conrad & Zeze Motta, "Gamboa" by Brazilian Octopus, "Deixe Entrar Um Pouco D'Agua No Quintal" by Os Mutantes, "Periscopio" by Azimuth, and "Gotham City" by Os Brazoes. CD

Brazilian funk, Brooklyn style – and one of the hippest collections of Brazilian grooves we've ever heard! The collection was put together by New York DJs Sean Marquand and Greg Caz – and it's got a wickedly funky vibe that comes from plenty of 70s samba soul! The style here is really different than other Brazilian Beats titles from Mr Bongo – as the work here is all classic, and chosen from a really fresh perspective – the new wave of interest in this music that's been bubbling up from the American underground, with a completely different perspective on the grooves from older scenes in Rio, Tokyo, or London! Most tracks here should be new to your ears – and although some of the tracks here have been reissued before, but they really come alive in different ways, thanks to the depth and careful pacing of the set. 22 tracks in all – with titles that include "Cafua" by Nonato, "Taieiras" by Ely Camargo, "Jeep" by Erasmo Carlos, "Cobra Criada" by Joao Bosco, "E Necessario" by Tim Maia, "Marcas" by Quarteto Uai, "Skim Dum Dum Dum" by Ana Rosely, "Black Soul Brothers" by Miguel De Deus, "Mais Kriola" by Helio Matheus, "A Festa" by Silvio Cesar, "Tava Mas Nao Tava" by Edson Frederico, "Uma Rosa Pra Dita" by Os Increveis, "Aleluia" by Robson Jorge & Licoln Olivetti, and "Beija-Flor Suite" by Chalo Eduardo. LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic from the great Ivan Lins – a set recorded at a time when he was fast becoming a big name on the global scene, not just in Brazil – thanks to his wonderful sense of songwriting and lyricism! The album's almost a celebration of all that Lins had done so far – put together with close collaborators Gilson Peranzzetta and Vitor Martins – and done with lots of great help from famous guests who include MPB4, Erasmo Carlos, Nana Caymmi, Tim Maia, Elis Regina, and Patti Austin. The arrangements are wonderful – sophisticated and offbeat, and every bit as compelling as Lins' work from the 70s – and titles include "Abre Alas", "Comecar De Novo", "Novo Tempo", "Formigueiro", "Dinorah Dinorah", and "Juntos". CD

The first album by Marisa Monte, and the start of a fantastic run of records – really strong work that had Monte emerging as maybe one of the strongest new acts in Brazil at the time! The set is live, which is unusual for a debut – and that also makes for energy that's a bit more raw and spontaneous than you might guess from some of Monte's later, more sophisticated production – especially when the singer hits some sharper edges that almost feel punkish at points. The small group features Roberto Alves on piano – and the set list includes a version of Os Mutantes' "Ando Meio Desligado", plus "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "Speak Low", "Comida", "Negro Gato", and a nice remake of "Chocolate", an old Brazilian soul song by Tim Maia. LP, Vinyl record album

Early soul material from the great Ed Motta – a record that really has the Brazilian singer hitting his stride! Ed's a singer that we've loved for many years, and await eagerly for each new record – but this early 90s set is one of his first great musical moments, a set that has him really finding his voice, and following strongly in the Brazilian soul tradition of his famous uncle, Tim Maia! And although Motta had worked in some more beat-heavy, poppy modes on previous records, this one has a much richer vibe – and shows the love of older 70s styles that would reemerge later on his seminal AOR set – done here with leaner, more stripped down modes that are mighty nice. The songwriting is great – and Motta's voice, as always, is incredible – and the instrumentation features a fair bit of Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano, which really further the warmth of the vocals. Titles include "Bem Longe", "Agora Que O Dia Accordou", "Entre E Ouca", "A Vontade", and "Se Ate As 11". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark record from Brazilian soul singer Ed Motta – the set that really got him the attention he deserved – and put him right up there in a soul music pantheon next to his famous uncle, the great Tim Maia! The set's not Ed's first, but it's the one where he really found his groove – channeling his love of 70s soul, fed by work as a famous record collector, into a more contemporary style that had Motta maybe hitting neo soul modes a bit before some singers in America! At this point, Ed's still singing in Portuguese, but already with a really universal sense of soul – on titles that include "Vendaval", "Fora Da Lei", "Daqui Pro Meier", "Luna E Sera", and "Dias De Paz". CD

A now-legendary soundtrack for the internationally acclaimed film City Of God – one that features some incredible new Brazilian funk by the team of Antonio Pinto & Ed Cortes – plus a good smattering of older numbers from the 70s Samba Soul generation, the inspiration for the sound of the film! The set's as great as any of our collections of classic Brazilian funk from years back – overflowing with wild percussion, mad guitars, and choppy rhythms that never let up. Original tracks include "Meu Nome E Ze", "A Transa", "Estoria Da Boca", "Funk Da Virada", "Vida De Otario", and "Morte Ze Pequeno" – plus older tracks that include "Na Rua Na Chuva Na Fazenda" by Hyldon, "Metamorfose Ambulante" by Raul Seixas, "Nem Vem Que Nao Tem" by Wilson Simonal, and "No Caminho Do Bem" by Tim Maia. CD

The first album by Marisa Monte, and the start of a fantastic run of records – really strong work that had Monte emerging as maybe one of the strongest new acts in Brazil at the time! The set is live, which is unusual for a debut – and that also makes for energy that's a bit more raw and spontaneous than you might guess from some of Monte's later, more sophisticated production – especially when the singer hits some sharper edges that almost feel punkish at points. The small group features Roberto Alves on piano – and the set list includes a version of Os Mutantes' "Ando Meio Desligado", plus "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", "Speak Low", "Comida", "Negro Gato", and a nice remake of "Chocolate", an old Brazilian soul song by Tim Maia. LP, Vinyl record album

Tremendous work from the mighty Ed Motta – an artist who never lets us down, and who just keeps getting better as the years move on! Back in the 20th Century, Ed asked us to move his records from our Brazilian section to Neo Soul – a move that was wise on his part, as Motta has become a soulful giant with really international appeal – a true global underground superstar, and a music maker that no home should be without! Motta's songwriting, production, and overall presentation is amazing – and he's moved far past the 70s heroes that first inspired him – including his uncle Tim Maia – to a point where a set like this is fantastic from start to finish, with a richness that belies all the focus and concentration that Ed brings to his work. Titles include "Tolerance On High Street", "Of Good Strain", "Gaslighting Nancy", "Safely Far", "Newsroom Customers", "Slumberland", "Confrere's Exile", "Quatermass Has Told Us", and "Shot In The Park". LP, Vinyl record album