Catavento- Milton Nascimento
Skinhead Girl- Symarip
Samba De Orly- Chico Buarque
Which Of Us Is The Fool- Robert Palmer
Blood In My Eyes- Bob Dylan
Izaura- Joao Gilberto
The Free Slave- Roy Brooks
About seven years ago, I spent a few months bingeing on Brazilian/Tropicalia music. Before David Byrne released "Beleza Tropical" in 1989 my knowledge of Brazilian music stopped at Sergio Mendes and the oft-covered "Girl From Ipanema." The Tropicalia movement itself, was nowhere on my radar. Since Byrne's release, I had gradually discovered other artists and their music, with Caetano Veloso and Milton Nascimento being two favorites. But it was about seven years ago when I discovered the real deal.
Going through some old hard drives took me to a folder of about 60 Brazilian records I hadn't listened to since that binge, and so I have been bingeing again. Nara Leao, Chico Buarque, Secos & Molhados, Tim Maia, Joao Gilberto. All wonderful music. I created a Weekend Mix back then, which went over like a lead balão. But I've been enjoying these records so much, I couldn't resist sharing a few songs this week.
That Roy Brooks track which closes this mix, opens up my "Jazz Record Of The Week," which like the "Reggae Record Of The Week" will change...uh...every week. For those interested, reggae changes on Monday, jazz on Friday.
So let's see, that's reggae, jazz and Tropicalia. For the five of you still reading, maybe you'll enjoy the Robert Palmer track and Dylan tracks. The Palmer is here because it was at a Robert Palmer concert in 1982 where I first heard "Izaura." He covered that Gilberto track shared in this mix and it took 25 years for me to track it down, with help from my friend cmealha. The Dylan is from "World Gone Wrong" which held up suprisingly well.
To all my readers in California---
I hope you have been spared. You have been on my mind 24-7.
18 comments:
I've been a big fan of Flora Purim most of my adult life, and subsequently went down the Brazilian bunny hole several years ago with Airto, of course, Jose Neto, Fourth World, and many others discovered via Burning Wood.
BTW, thanks again for the Jazz/Reggae ROTW
Randy
P.S. If you would happen to still have that Brazilian weekend mix, you've got my number.
I also got into Brazilian music about 10 years ago. If you can find the compilation Samba Soul 70! you will not be disappointed.
Mike
2024 is gone. Now is 2025.
Thank you for reminding me of the Robert Palmer track. He was one of the best.
Been on a deep dive of Brazilian music for over a decade. Love Nascimento, especially Clube de Esquina and Geraces. If anyone is interested, I've been posting a ton of albums (all old ones) on a blogsite that I kinda inherited from the guy who founded it - Kingston to Rio is the name of it. Send me an invite request at pmacneworleans@gmail and I'll get you into it.
Also, for those of us who are Brazilian music fans, look up a group called Os Tincaos. Amazing vocal mix of gospel/soul/samba. They started recording in the late 60s, issued just a few lps and disbanded without ever really achieving the success they deserved. 2 of the 3 guys die and a couple of years ago, someone unearths a never released lp by the group, and the one surviving member starts booking shows. This time the music starts to finally gain traction, and the new lp even was named Brazilian album of the year in a few trade mags and the NY Times even wrote a piece on the group.
Looking forward to this mix. Bring it on, whatever is interesting to your ears!
And regarding Robert Palmer, once he moved into his "Simply Irresistable" phase, almost nobody knew what wide-ranging music tastes he once had. I have a boot of a show he did in Boston in April 1986 (glad to share with you Sal if you don't have it) that has the most diverse setlist I've ever seen.
That Palmer track is from what is, for me at least, his very best. Play every song, never need to skip a track, maybe play it again. I have all his stuff and a live LP radio promo, and it's all good. Great artist, and yes, quite diverse taste, even after Simply Irresistible. He still did an occasional Caribbean/African thing, plus jazz (Don't Explain, Riding High), Soul (Don't Explain, Rhythm & Blues), and Blues (Drive).
I couldn't agree more. There are no bad Robert Palmer records. Only good ones and great ones.
Man, you weren't kidding! Just got through the 1973 Os Tincoas record. Stunning! Thanks for that. Looking forward to the rest of the limited catalogue.
saw him the tour before he broke. maybe 10 piece band. when introduced there were almost same # of countries represented. Bryan Ferry cool attitude is an ongoing effort. Robert never tried he just was
Thanks for the recommendation - I did manage to find a copy and will be listening later today.
I've been listening to the "World Gone Wrong" album all week. It really does hold up. It has been difficult and stressful these past several day here in Los Angeles. Thank you for thinking of us, Sal. It's much appreciated.
Sal - listening now and "Izaura" by João Gilberto is a real treasure for me - instant new favorit (from '73, ha!). The mood of the song reminds me of another one you introduced me to via a SOTW mix 14 years ago (yeah, I've been reading and enjoying this blog that long, and a half-decade before that too I believe!!) - Poinciana by Ahmad Jamal.
In fact, that latter song opened up a whole appreciation of Ahmad Jamal for me - I'd never heard of him before you put him in that mix. (Sorry, jazz heads!)
Thanks for always hipping us to new sounds, even if they came out some time ago, in some cases.
That first David Byrne compilation had almost as much of an impact as Graceland leading me to Indestructible Beats of Soweto. It was a year or two ago I got heavily into Brazilian music, happily so. So much great music in so many genres to appreciate. Some day: classical.
Great tunes! Any chance you could repost the older set that you teased, since its original host is apparently long gone? (https://burnwoodtonite.blogspot.com/2018/02/tropicalia-com-queimando-madeira.html)
I will try to reconstruct it for you. All of my files before 2020 are gone, but I should still have most of the playlist. Stay tuned...
Okay, the zip for the Trop mix is active.
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