Ed Lincoln - Ed Lincoln [1966 Musidisc] 320 kbps - 72 mb (reup)

So much of what is contained on this really fun slice of mid-60's MPB can be sensed by the LP cover. What a great cover! I must have spent the past 2 or 3 years trying to decide what I really think of this set. At first I thought it just a sweet little record with a slightly comical edge, almost a novelty record. A nice pop vibe and an almost light-weight and humorous recording, but I've since grown to really fall in love with this latin gem.
Ed Lincoln has a warm, jumpy organ style & has put together a nice Rock/Soul/Jazz slice of MPB. Groovy would be a good word for this album. Upbeat & light-hearted too. I won't hype this and call it the greatest record ever out of Brasil, but it is a very good little record with a nice, fun vibe & every track is a winner. Also, this one is fairly rare & out of print. This was up on the Loronix site for a while, but since that page is missing in action I chose to give this another shot at being heard. As always, enjoy!

P.S. Many thanks to Quimsy's Mumbo Jumbo blogspot for this lovely share!
One last thing. The length of this is only 29 minutes. I really marvel at the tightness of the compositional style and production of classic 60's/70's MPB. Twelve songs in less then a half hour is very punchy Pop songwriting! How many artist can you think of today who can deliver 12 songs in such a "to the point" way? Very few, if any!

Toquinho - Toquinho [1970 RGE] 320 kbps - 97 mb

What more do I need to say about this very fine guitarist other then that he would go on to collaborate with the mighty Vinícius de Moraes to become the duo of Vinícius & Toquinho, who released many fine albums during the 70's. I'll remind those new to this page about the importance of Vinícius de Moraes, who wrote the play "Orfeu da Conceição" that would later become the film Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro). There is no greater break out moment for the popularization of Brasilian song then the very important international film sensation "Black Orpheus" from 1959. It introduces us to not just the talents of Vinícius de Moraes, but Antônio Carlos Jobim, Luiz Bonfá & Bola Sete as well. This very fine document finds Toquinho working with Jorge Ben on a few outstanding Pop numbers, "Que Maravilha", "Zana" & "Carolina Carol Bela", but also leans towards classical styles on many numbers to show off Toquinho's learned skills on the guitar. I really enjoy this early look at this talented artist. A sweet album from 1970. This would sit nicely next to "Jorge Ben (1969)" or "Samba é de lei" by Os Originais Do Samba as a point in time. This is a little slow in spots and leans towards the classical a bit, but wins out for me as a very nice start to the 70's in Brasil. Enjoy!

P.S. Really nice mix of Classical meets MPB. The Pop numbers are great and the classical pluckings of Toquinho are majestic!

Trio Mocotó - Muita Zorra! [1971 Forma] 320 kbps - 71 mb

I remember when I started really falling in love with the music of Brasil in the late 90's this was one of the first LP's that made me a big fan of 70's MPB. This one is the Japanese remaster from the short lived Forma label. 11 tracks that spin beautifully at 32 minutes. This one just breezes by. My favorite record of the Forma imprint hands down! Not one bad number on this masterpiece. One can easy see why this band was Jorge Ben's band circa 1969-1971. There are many things in common with this band & Os Originais do Samba who also backed Jorge Ben during the same era. I adore this recording, but also really enjoy the 1975 LP which has a slightly better sound then this set. I find the LP cover of this record kinda funny. Look closely at their faces. They seem to be looking out at a mass of screaming girls and the two guys on the ends seem a little worried about pleasing all those girls while the guy in the center looks ready to jump them all. Very funny! I had this up on this page a few years back, but decided to post it again. A very solid spinner. For those of you who are just discovering the charms of 70's MPB, enjoy.

P.S. Some words that I can add to describe to this excellent session are, funky, soulful & rockin'. So don't miss this gorgeous listen. If I have to sum up what I think of this recording I would say that it spins so well that one could easily spin it twice.

Os Originais do Samba - Alegria de Sambar [1975 RCA Victor] 320 kbps - 102 mb

1975 must just be the most perfect time for Samba Pop in Brasil and this record is proof of that fact. What a great band! At the peak of their powers and amazingly recorded by RCA Victor studios. I'm very impressed with the way RCA Victor records its artist like this group and others on that label. Such depth of fidelity here that it's slightly mind-blowing. This may or may not reveal itself on the first listen, but after a few spins it really opens up sound-wise. 1975 is a peak year in MPB. Grab this and see what I speak of. May this put a smile on your grumpy butt. A big, big thank you to Zecalouro @ Loronix for this share. Since Loronix seems to be out of business, then I'll host those posts that I've suggested at this point. R.I.P. Loronix.

P.S. Since these guys sing in six part harmony they kind of remind me of "The Beach Boys", just a little more macho.
For those that get what's going on here in this era of Brasilian popular song, this record is "The BOMB". The cuica player of this band is rough and ready and the choral singing here is super outstanding. The engineers over there at RCA Victor are Albert Einstein brilliant. So says my ear.

Antônio Carlos & Jocafi - Ossos do Oficio [1975 RCA Victor] 320 kbps - 128 mb

Another fantastic outing by the duo of Antônio Carlos & Jocafi. 1975 finds this team in fine form. The rapport between these artists & the RCA Victor studios is a such a delight. These artists are the height of Brasilian Pop and they're beautifully adorned by the engineers at RCA Victor. Listen for the clarity of recording here. The bass work & choral singing are spectacular.
12 songs in 30 minutes is quite a feat! The pacing & quality are outstanding on this set. Friends of this page who enjoy a nice mid-70's example of MPB will find much to enjoy here. This one goes out to my DJ friend Paul who loves to snatch up these lovely pieces of vinyl before they disappear from God's good Earth. Get this Paul. More then enough RCA goodness here to make this worth your purchase. This sounds great with headphones! Thank you Zecalouro of Loronix for this lovely share. I'll host this, since Loronix seems to be no more. R.I.P. Loronix.

P.S. There are some serious clues about Pop excellence abounding in this era of recording. Listen to not just the warmth of the bass guitar, but the depth, clarity, tempo & agility of the pace setting of the bass playing. Another clue is the depth of fidelity on an instrument like the cuica. You really have to know how to record to get all of these non electric instruments to sound good. Such is the genius of RCA Victor!
Has anyone heard anything by these artist from 1976 or 1977?

The Goal Of This Page.

I've spent the past few years posting these Samba Showdowns to take a focused look at MPB & Samba in the 70's. It's true that I like certain LP's more then others & have drawn from some LP's endlessly, but that is my style. I've never offered any volume without adding a few tracks from LP's that we've never heard before, but I do like the production & fidelity on some records more then others. It's been said that I repeat some LP's too much. Well, that's an insight about not being foolish enough to leave behind any good track off of a masterwork. If I introduced anyone to a few good albums & focused on how good they are by dipping back repeatedly to certain LP's on my compilations, then that is what will tip a DJ off to not sleep on such records. I'm more focused on continuity & in reality no 24 tracks has ever been heard in that combination before.
This page is here to look at key albums from the 70's & I feel that I've done a nice job of introducing the world to a few gems from this lovely movement. In truth, I was ready to stop at volume 12, but I listened to my inner guidance which informed me that there is nothing wrong with focusing on the LP's which I enjoy the most. This page is devoted to the LP & one's I like to call a "SOLID LISTEN". So why would I not draw heavily from the LP's that I post? This series is nothing more then an experiment in continuity. I hope you've enjoyed discovering a few great albums of the 70's in Brasil. Thanks for tuning in & hey, hop on a plane and go visit sunny Rio or Bahia.

P.S. I'm sitting on in the area of 3000 Brasilian discs & trust me when I tell you that it takes time to sort through that many titles.
I can only digest so many discs at a time and I will not lie when I say that I may study a group of discs very deeply over a few year period. It's taken me several years of study before a disc like "E Lá Vou Eu" by João Nogueira will suddenly open up like a flower & reveal its profound beauty & brilliance. So please know that there's an organic rhythm to my efforts here. It takes time for a gringo like me to fully discover this lush, tropical landscape.

St. Julian Samba Showdown by Justin Thyme (2006) 320 kbps - 174 mb

St. Julian Samba Showdown by Justin Thyme (2006)

01. O Rei Do Calango (Calangotango) - Abaetê (1977)
02. Conceição da Praia - Antônio Carlos & Jocafi (1971)
03. Rock De Minas Gerais - Arnaud Rodrigues (1976)
04. Negra Brecho - Azambuja & Cia (1975)
05. Camisa 10 - Brasilian Singers (1974)
06. Lenda Das Amazonas - Burnier & Cartier (1976)
07. Mambembe - Chico Buarque (1972)
08. De Noite Na Cama - Dóris Monteiro (1971)
09. Bezouro Mangangá - Eliana Pittman (1972)
10. Barao Beleza - Elza Soares (1972)
11. Com Que Roupa - Gilberto Gil (1991)
12. Laborio - Giovana (1975)
13. Sabia, Diga La - Jaime Alem & Nair Candia (1974)
14. O Ronco da Cuica - João Bosco (1976)
15. Não Põe A Mão - Manoel Conceição (1975)
16. Não Tem Nada Não - Marcos Valle (1973)
17. Você Não Passa De Uma Mulher - Martinho da Vila (1975)
18. Bola Preta Pra Mim - Miltinho (1969)
19. Partido Alto - MPB-4 (1972)
20. Malvadeza Durao - Nara Leão (1965)
21. Foi Um Rio Que Passou Em Minha Vida - Paulinho da Viola (1969)
22. Levante A Cabeça - Som Nosso (1977)
23. Xamego De Ina - Trio Mocotó (1971)
24. Samba Pra Vinícius - Vinícius & Toquinho (1973)