Customer Reviews

Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nine years old and seat-belt-less, my face pressed to the vinyl backseat of our new 1968 Pontiac Executive, driving from Huntsville, Alabama to Downey, California. THIS was the 8-track tape my father had with its new "continuous loop" autoplay feature. I know and love every single note, and the Joker.... is ME!

I have been listening to this as long as I remember. My mother had it on LP. I have wanted my own copy for years. I am now plying it for my children. It has an incredibloe beat. My five-year-old daughter and I find ourselves singing along.

The world always sounds like a wonderful place when you're listening to Brasil '66. This was their first album, a stripped down version of their later sound with just a jazz piano, a Brazilian rhythm section, and some wonderful voices. Mendes was a jazz musician when he conceived of this album, and it makes no concession to rock and roll other than a cover of "Daytripper." It's firmly rooted in the pop tradition right down to the cool album cover, in which the musicians wear suits and ties in a jungle setting.

Special favorites are "The Joker," a sultry version of Henry Mancini's "Slow Hot Wind" and the driving "Berimbau" which starts strong and only picks up the pace. This album is like a cool breath of fresh air. You'll never get tired of listening to it.

After years of searching for this Cd I finally found it! Over the years I found several CDs of Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 containing only "Greatest hits", wondering why this and "Equinox" haven't been issued on CD. Today I recieved both and I am delighted! Great music, it's a joy to listen!!!

First of all, let's correct some bias on reviewing Brazilian music: this NOT a Jazz Samba album. Music industry has historically and wrongly labeled Samba and all Brazil music as JAZZ. However, this categorization is only true for Jazzy Bossa Nova. Example: listen to Joćo Gilberto and you will hear Bossa Nova but not necessarily Jazz. Sergio Mendes is an interesting case of an artist who plays easily on both languages - samba and jazz samba. This album was a smash hit from the 60s but, most of all, it is excellent samba without being jazz. You'll hear samba even listening to typical American or rock material like Rolling Stones' "Daytripper" or "The Joker". This album also features the first international success of the today famous "Mas Que Nada". If you don't have any Sergio Mendes buy at least two albums: this is one of them. The other Mendes essential one you'll also find here @ Amazon!All stars! Buy now!

The combination of the greatly underrated vocals of Lani Hall and the sensuous Latin/Brazilian rhythms make this album a classic. I never get tired of listening to it!

Loved this when it was on an LP and lost it .Now I have it again and I play it every day in my car.

This album is one of my top three favourite albums of all time! It combines the fabulous fun of Mas Que Nada with the sultry sexiness of A Slow Hot Wind and the passionate pathos of The Joker (is me)! If you have to buy one Bossa Nova record this is the one. All songs are excellent but apart from the aforementioned three check out the swinging Daytripper - amazingly enough Sergio and the Gang's cover is BETTER than the Beatles original. Rio in 1966 must have been one hell of a town!

When I played this album for the first time, I fell in love with it. My favorite cuts are Mas Que nada, Going out of my head, and daytripper.

This is SIMPLY THE BEST! Absolutely wonderful full blooded latin jazz. I LOVE THIS. Believe me it's worth EVERY PENNY it costs! Cheerio