Sergio Mendes ~ Brazil

Pais Tropical (1971)

Another Mendes album I somehow missed. This is where he introduced the Brasil '77 version of the band. Karen Philipp is still fortunately around, though her sidekick is now Gracinha Leporace, also known as Mrs. Mendes. So he traded out Herb Alpert's wife for his own.

The music here is a return to the Bossa Nova Easy Listening of Ye-Me-Le and prior. The folk rock experiment of Stillness didn't pan out as hoped. All the same, one can hear Mendes starting to jones for his homeland more and more. Something that he fortunately exploited further on his masterpiece Primal Roots.

In the end, it's better than Love Music, but it's still a bit too contrived for me to get too excited about. The fact that there isn't that one heart melting track works heavy against it. The cover of J.J. Cale's 'After Midnight' would have to be considered ill-advised. Overall it's an average effort for Mendes.

Source: 1971 A&M (LP). Flapback cover.

8/28/26 (review)
 

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Ye-Me-Le (1969)

I've gone on plenty about Mendes in these pages. As the last five years have flown by I'm now of the mind that if you're new to collecting records, Mendes should be of the first ones you buy. They're readily available, very cheap, and brilliant musically. This is the fourth German edition I've found for Mendes, the others being Equinox, Crystal Illusions, and Primal Roots. And they all sound terrific. Ye-Me-Le is the last of the classic era Mendes albums for me to acquire, this one coming from a local vintage shop. The music is as expected, soft Bossa Nova covers of famous songs, plus a smattering of originals. Beautiful really. 

Ownership: 1969 A&M Germany (LP). Acquired in 2024.

9/8/24 (review)

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (1966)

I told myself that the next clean copy of this album I find then I'm buying it. And this certainly fit the bill. It's a 25 minute album, and is mostly fluff. But the best kind of fluff. Really captures the 1966 ethos, a most creative year that seems to serve as an island unto itself. Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 is the dictionary entry for Bossa Nova.

Ownership: 1966 A&M mono (LP). Acquired in 2024.

7/12/20; 6/14/24 (review)

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Stillness (1970)

One of the classic era Mendes I still didn't have. While Mendes' 60s works are ubiquitous, once the decade flipped over, his sales clearly must have gone down, as not all of his albums are as readily available. In addition, Mendes was messing with the formula a bit here. Less of the easy listening bossa nova - or even the psychedelics of Crystal Illusion - and more of the earthy folky sounds of the 1970 pop era. It's all very well done, perhaps a bit too serious, and none of the hair raising inner-child melodies of the past. 

I may try for this title again in the future.

Former ownership: 1970 A&M (LP). Acquired in 2023. Downsized in 2024.

3/19/23 (review)

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Fool on the Hill (1968)

After hearing Equinox, I made the decision to hear all the Mendes albums, as long as they were in good enough shape. Brasil '65 is great and Equinox is very good, but the Herb Alpert album lost me (reconciled since). Fool on the Hill sits between the latter and Equinox in terms of quality. It really should have been better, as it isn't quite as cover heavy and features indigenous Brazilian songwriters. I wasn't convinced after the first side, but the flip sold me. In particular I fell for - of all things - 'Scarborough Fair'. I'm a fan of the song as it is, but the bossa nova version is just too much to resist. I can listen to Lani Hall (Herb Alpert's wife) and Karen Philipp all day long. Pizzicato Five and Stereolab made a career out of borrowing from this group. 

Ownership:

1968 A&M (LP). Gatefold. Acquired in 2020.

1968 A&M (reel to reel). Acquired in 2024.

12/19/20; 6/22/22 (review)

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Look Around (1968) 

Look Around is the album between Equinox and Fool on the Hill, and is at the height of Mendes popularity. He wasn't in any mood to experiment at this point, and kept that gravy train going at full blast. This is square on Bossa Nova influenced Easy Listening music. There are no mind melting tracks like what you would find on Crystal Illusions, Primal Roots, or even Brasil '65. But it sure is enjoyable for late night listening. Not real fond of the Beatles cover here, but most of the album contains originals, and pleasant at that. And Mendes covering Bacharach's 'The Look of Love' isn't even fair. Like Metallica covering Budgie, the ingredients are too stacked in its favor to be anything but great. 

The cover is stunning. Late 60s fashion at its zenith. These albums would be worth quite a bit of money if they didn't sell so many of them in the first place. Of course I'm keeping it. And the fact that I mentioned Metallica and Budgie in a Mendes review makes me really happy.

Ownership: 1968 A&M (LP). Gatefold. Acquired in 2021.

6/26/21 (review)

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '77 - Primal Roots (1972)

This album is a huge departure from anything I've ever heard Mendes perform. Gone are the soft pop songs, and its place is a serious fusion of Brazilian folk styles. Considering that all of Side 2 is made up of one track called 'The Circle Game', you know we're thousands of miles away from Ipanema. The minute I heard the incredibly breezy 'After Sunrise' with its female la-la-la's I was triggered by a long time memory. I can remember looking for this song at some point in my life, and could never find it. It comes from something I saw on television or video, but I cannot remember what it was. I have a guess, but I'll keep that to myself for now. And the side long track is brilliant, filled to the brim with great ideas, and never lags. It's not fair to compare Primal Roots to his other work, because it's just a different animal all together. This album puts the previously reviewed Love Music into perspective. That album followed this, and is a reaction to it most likely. One serious, one complete fluff. Easy recommendation to Mendes fans, and even progressive rock and fusion collectors.

Ownership: 1972 A&M Germany (LP). Acquired in 2021.

4/19/21 (review)

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '77 - Love Music (1973)

Speaking of ill-advised covers. And, in this case, I don't necessarily mean exclusively the physical package. I finally found the Mendes album that's not for me. No Bossa Nova here, not even original songs. All English language pop covers - some more known than others. Ugh - this one is way too Vegas-stagey for my tastes. OK, this one goes. I definitely preferred the follow-up Vintage '74 to this.

Source: 1973 Bell Germany (LP)

4/1/21 (review)

 

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Crystal Illusions (1969)

The opener is inauspicious, and it reminded me of some of the duff tracks from Fool on the Hill. Things get on track with the Portuguese sung 'Viola'. After which, Crystal Illusions finds its groove, 'Song of No Regrets' reminds me of Burt Bacharach's 'Alfie' and is very solemn and moving. 'Salt Sea' is a stunner, the kind of song that turns me into a ball of mush. What a beautiful track. Not to be outdone, the closer of the side is 'Empty Faces', which adds some Bossa Nova to the same formula. Just breathtaking really. 'Pretty World' opens side 2 magnificently and is the kind of composition one would think only Bacharach, Hal David, and Dionne Warwick could have come up with. 'Dois Dias' is the other Portuguese track, and is oddly like 'Viola' in that it's not one of the highlights. 'You Stepped Out of a Dream' is way too saccharine, and one gets diabetes just listening to it. Then comes the closer, something entirely new for Mendes (I think). At close to 8 minutes, will it be prog? Haha, well no. It's the second half of the track that gets really interesting. There's an electric piano jam that recalls late-era Doors (a jam on a Mendes album? Who knew?), followed by some disorienting strings that is very psychedelic. Overall, a superb effort and a nice thick German copy too. This is my second favorite to date with only Brasil '65 topping it. Let's see if either get bettered (Primal Roots ended up being my favorite).

Ownership: 1969 A&M Germany (LP). Acquired in 2021.

3/29/21 (review) 

Home Cooking (1976)

Picked this up with the Vintage 74 album. Ha - I guess this is the album that sees Mendes turn funk. Has some really good grooves, especially the A side instrumental closer 'Shakara'. All the same, Mendes is a pop artist professional so he's not going to let things get out of hand. Unfortunately. Plenty of Easy Listening and light Bossa Nova as well. The lady at the counter (she likes to comment on the album covers apparently) really got a kick out of the steaming oven on the back. Just as tabasco sauce is pretty wimpy compared to what's on the market, so goes Home Cooking. Good enough though. Keeper.

Ownership: 1976 Elektra (LP). Gatefold. Acquired in 2021.

1/31/21 (review)

Sergio Mendes and Brasil 77 - Vintage 74 (1974)

As promised, I've been picking up Mendes albums as I see them in the thrift bins. This is actually one of his rarer titles. And with "electric fuzz guitar" listed on at least two tracks, and it's from 1974, I thought Mendes might have tried his hand at deep funk or something. Uh... no. Arguably he's no longer performing Bossa Nova anymore but rather straight up Easy Listening music. To my ears, Mendes has gone full on Burt Bacharach here, which is A-OK in my world. Pleasant female vocals over complex 60s era pop songs. It's a bit squishy in the middle, but since I can be nostalgic that way, I found this album to be pleasant, yet hardly revelatory. The older lady at the cash register (who's probably younger than me lol) thought the cover was cute. So there, it's a cute album. Not for fans of Kluster.

Ownership: 1974 Bell (LP). Gatefold. Acquired in 2021.

1/30/21 (review)

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Equinox (1967)

You may recall my notes on the Brasil '65 album from last summer, and my own primordial background with Bossa Nova. This isn't really that much different, more stylized and slick perhaps, but still very enjoyable on the whole. I found this better than the more popular in-between Herb Alpert Presents album. Also, for the first time, I'm picking up some Stereolab here. Wouldn't be surprised to read that Mendes was an influence for the Groop.

Ownership: 

1967 A&M Germany (LP). Acquired in 2020.

1967 A&M (reel to reel). Acquired in 2024.

11/27/20 (review)
 

The Sergio Mendes Trio - Brasil '65 (1965)

The cover hypes/screams that this album is "The Greatest New South American Arrival Since Coffee!" Haha - well you know, they might have a point... Especially in 1965.

On rare occasion I travel to Sao Paulo for business. Fortunately the hotels we are allowed to stay at are quite luxurious, and this is exactly the type of music they pipe into the lounge and the restaurant. In fact, some of the music comes right off this album. I suspect it's what a tourist, or what the hotels think a tourist, might want to hear while there. I mean you can't expect them to play Modulo 1000 or Lula Cortes e Ze Remalho. Or Sepultura.

Bossa Nova pop such as this has to be some of the easiest music on the ears. The beautiful female vocals, the soothing rhythms, the soft textured acoustic guitar, the lovely piano, and the flute. It's - forgive me - So Nice.

Ownership: 1965 Capitol (LP). Acquired in 2019.

5/24/19 (review); 11/28/25

5/24/19 (new entry)

Manfredo Fest ~ Brazil

Brazilian Dorian Dream (1976)

My only encounter with Manfredo Fest prior was the hyper obscure EP that I - more or less - rediscovered about seven years ago. Dutifully added it to Discogs, and some economics flunkie sold it for $15. When the next $1000+ copy moves, I'm sure he'll feel smart. Which is why I stopped adding things to Discogs. Too many slow brains out there to trust with these sort of rarities. Triggers me. If only Carolina Soul had a copy first. Here's my review of that EP, and my experience with it, and how it started my Unknown Vinyl Records blog (which I've fallen terribly behind on, and I have so much more to add there). Discogs shows an ownership of 2. The smart person that grabbed the $15 copy (I presume). And me. Those might be the only two copies left on the planet.

Which gets us to Brazilian Dorian Dream, which is by far the most known and popular of Fest's albums. I was sold on its contents in about - oh - 25 seconds. Starting off like every album that features The Northettes, Fest proceeds to bring out the Mini Moog and electric piano, the rhythms go on fire, and Roberta Davis provides the beautiful airy wordless vocals. It is about perfect, and it only gets better from there. Have to think that Sergio Mendes' Primal Roots had a role in the sound displayed here. Someone astutely compared this album to Cortex's Troupeau Bleu, where there are many similarities. Which recalled my own observation of Cortex reminding me some of Cos, taking us back to our Canterbury roots. This isn't a Canterbury album of course, but it has that feel-good optimistic sound, with brilliant songwriting. Perhaps had Fest added an electric guitar, or a flute, then Brazilian Dorian Dream would have gone to even a higher plane. I'm more than happy to be on the mountain he scaled as it is.

Ownership: 2020 Far Out (CD). Booklet has only the original liner notes. Taken from vinyl but it does sound good. Acquired in 2026.

3/16/26 (review)

3/16/26 (new entry)

Astrud Gilberto ~ Brazil

Look to the Rainbow (1966)

Cool, another Astrud Gilberto album I didn't have, and in great condition. All of these are costing me 69 cents each, which makes me even happier. Starts off almost serious, though the uplifting sweet vocals of Gilberto will never allow the clouds to gather. She's gaining confidence as a singer, and the arrangements haven't been over saturated yet like on Windy. She sounds more fragile than ever here. You can just picture the drunks proposing marriage to her at the local lounge. As usual, the Portuguese numbers add more flair to the proceedings. A few folks pointed out that B1 is the origin of Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' track. Yep, it's true. The piano riff is the exact same. Imagine Blackmore and the boys in the green room spinning Astrud vinyl for inspiration. Haha. 

Ownership: 1966 Verve (LP). Mine's the mono pressing, unlike the cover presented.

12/3/25 (acquired / review)
 

The Astrud Gilberto Album (1965)

Astrud Gilberto's debut album is Bossa Nova perfection. Easy listening music that is truly timeless. Her delicate and innocent voice brings out the testosterone in traditional males like me. You just want to wrap your arms around and protect her from the harsh world around. It's all fantasy of course. Which is what this album brings - a world of fantasy. We all need an escape and that's what music does best. It's vice free, and allows us to go to all sorts of places in the safe confines of our home. Perhaps it was my business travels to Sao Paulo, but there's something very romantic about Brazil in the 60s. And even as late as the 2010's, the luxury hotels were preserving that culture as best they could. If you don't get all soft in the middle listening to this, then you may have died inside. No time like the present to revive. This album will resuscitate you.

Ownership: 1965 Verve (LP) Mono.

5/5/25 (acquired); 9/5/25 (review)

Windy (1968)

I couldn't pull this out of the thrift shop bin fast enough just hoping the vinyl wasn't trashed. And it wasn't! As noted prior, I'm buying anything with the Gilberto name on it, especially Astrud. And she's covering The Association's 'Windy'? That's not even fair. That's like adding Nolan Ryan to the 1927 Yankees roster. And yet... I didn't get much out of this album. Way too saccharine and over produced. Gilberto's chilling and innocent voice does best in a mixed emotion state. Here it's all rainbows and unicorns - and lots of strings to sink the mystique. Ah well, I didn't figure she'd bat a thousand (it's baseball metaphor season apparently). 

Source: 1968 Verve (LP)

10/10/24 (review)

Now (1972)

What can I say? Astrud is my kind of girl. Her sweet vocal styling makes me melt. Usual mix of covers and originals along with Portuguese and English vocals. Easy listening Bossa Nova music as if we never left 1966. Fine with me. Any chance we go to a neon motel with "COLOR TV", a swimming pool, and a coffee shop?

---11/24/25

I didn't mention that a couple of the cuts have fuzz guitar, quite a surprise at this late date. Final track 'Daybreak' is stunning and you'll be humming that tune long after your listening session. I find her music perfect for CD, so I'll be acquiring those as I go. Though I won't sell the first two LPs.

Ownership: 2022 Octave Lab / Perception / Today (CD). Booklet with original lyrics and liner notes in Japanese.

3/18/24 (LP acquired / review); 11/24/25 (CD acquired / update)
 

The Shadow of Your Smile (1965)

Albums like this connect with my inner six year old I think. I was less than one years of age when this was released, but it was just this kind of music that I would hear when with my parents at some restaurant or cocktail party (Dad was in sales, so picture that scene for 1970). I was exposed to the adult world early in life, which was unusual for its day. So in my naive little world, beautiful sweet females dominated the music scene, and it was Astrud Gilberto leading the way. Not that I had any idea of that back then, or even until very recently. Her voice and this music goes deep to the core and I feel it like a cat who hasn't seen his former owner in five years. Favorite track from this set: 'Fly Me to the Moon'. When Jet Setting had real meaning. Sigh.

Ownership: 1965 Verve UK (LP)

7/18/19 (acquired / review); 1/13/21

7/18/19 (new entry)

Antonio Carlos Jobim ~ Brazil

Wave (1967)

Classic Bossa Nova album with soothing acoustic guitar, flute, strings, trombone, etc... Some would even call this easy listening music, but there's far more at play than that would imply. It's easy on the ears that's for sure. If only Astrud Gilberto was singing, but nonetheless, an excellent example of its kind.

Former ownership: 1967 A&M / CTI (LP). Green photo gatefold original (Monarch press, not in Discogs today). Most of the covers have a red photo. Acquired in 2025.

2/4/25 (new review)
 

Tide (1970)

Nice Half-Speed Master version of Jobim's 1970 instrumental Bossa Nova album. It's for sure cocktail / saccharine but it definitely soothes the nerves. And Jobim is the author of Brazil's most famous song 'The Girl From Ipanema', which makes its presence here as well. My Bossa Nova collection is still pretty light, so a keeper for now.

Ownership: 1983 A&M (LP). Gatefold. Beautiful reissue with superb sound. Part of A&M's Quiex series. Acquired in 2021.

1/13/21 (review)

12/10/21 (new entry)

Phil Moore III and the Afro Latin Soultet ~ USA ~ California

Afro Brazil Oba! (1967)

Somewhere at the crossroads of Burt Bacharach and Sergio Mendes you will find the sound of Phil Moore III and the Afro Latin Soultet. From the former you get the beautiful songwriting, deceptively simple yet complex all the same. The album tells us they're introducing Leni Groves (who was 19 if going by the liner notes). They might as well be saying "introducing Dionne Warwick". Once you hear her voice you'll know what I mean. From the latter you get the unmistakable soothing sounds of Bossa Nova. But instead of piano, Moore brings in this creaky organ that he probably picked up at a church salvage sale. The mix is irresistible. 

Ownership: 1967 Tower (LP)

Typically I would place albums like this in the journal section. But there are no reissues as I create this entry. It's worth calling out for that. Albums like this typically find their way onto CD in Japan, where music like this is highly revered. It appears the album remains largely undiscovered.

10/12/24 (review / new entry)

Chick Corea and Return to Forever - Light as a Feather. 1973 USA

I bought my first Return to Forever album while still in high school in the early 80s (Romantic Warrior - still have that copy), because of Al Di Meola's involvement + it looked like a cool prog album. In college I filled out the heavy fusion back catalog from the band. But I never did bother with the first two Chick Corea named albums, figuring without the guitar, they wouldn't be of much interest to me. And my instincts proved correct - for that period of my life. In hearing the album for the first time, it's hard to tell if this is an American group, or one from Brazil. This has all to do with Flora Purim's vocals and the bossa nova-ish rhythms. Corea jams on his electric piano and Stanley Clarke is doing his thing on the bass. I've been on a big Brazilian kick for a few years now, and Light as a Feather scratches that itch one more time. Big changes were coming for Return to Forever, but I very much enjoyed this lighter side of the group. Keeping this one.

Ownership: LP: 1974 Polydor. Single sleeve. Thrift shop find (2021). Looking at the label, it appears to be a pressing from 1974, one year after its initial run. 

7/6/21 (LP 2.35); 3/23/23 (new entry)