Certain Smile Certain Sadness

Walter Wanderley, Astrud Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto & Walter Wanderley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000DBYU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,410 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

When Astrud Gilberto (wife to the great singer and guitarist João Gilberto) sang the now-classic "The Girl from Ipanema" in 1964, she'd had no formal vocal training. It mattered little, as her laid-back sensuality overflowed through the song and propelled her on to several more musical projects. This 1966 collection with the small combo of organist Walt Wanderley, guitarist João Gilberto, bassist José Marino, and Claudio Slon on drums features Gilberto's reposed voice in such a seductive, warm light, one thinks they've died and gone to drink martinis in a Rio lounge. The album includes a mix of classic bossa nova tunes ("So Nice" and "Call Me") sung in both English and Portuguese. Astrud was as cool as a cucumber and her untrained, nonchalant grace gave her singing its unique charisma. It wasn't until the late 1980s that the world heard this sort of passive, detached persona again in the bewitching vocals of Cesaria Evora, proving once again that style and delivery are just as important as distinct vocal tone. Astrud Gilberto taught us great singers aren't made on a voice alone. --Karen K. Hugg

Product Description

Digitally remastered reissue of this 1966 album. Astrud Gilberto, The Girl From Ipanema, who brought the nonchalant 'Vaga' vocal style of the Brazilian New Wave to international attention and launched a thousand indie-girl records collaborating together with the space age bossa sound of the immortal Walter Wanderley, Brasil's finest organist/arranger and his excellent trio. This is a must have for all fans of Bossa Nova, Jazz, and Brazilian music of all types. Rev-Ola. 2006. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second Only to Getz/Gilberto; Maybe Even a Tie., April 29, 1999

By 

James Bunnelle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Certain Smile Certain Sadness (Audio CD)

After several second-rate Astrud compilations, Verve has finally reissued her one recording with the Walt Wanderly Trio, with bonus tracks and 20-bit digital mapping that results in great clarity and seperation of sound. The six tracks from these sessions tacked on to the end of BEACH SAMBA was a cruel and unusual teaser for Astrud fans, not to mention the smattering of tunes that ended up on various compilations. But one no longer has to spend a small fortune ammassing the tunes from these compilations in order to reconstruct a piecemeal version of the album, because Verve's "By Request" series has finally come through. In my opinion, this is the greatest summer/springtime record of all time: the echoing organ, the percussion, Astrud's vocals--one can't help but picture a polka-dotted beach ball bouncing around on South American shores. Astrud's voice, while never technically stunning and more Chet Baker than Ella Fitzgerald, serves as a stunning counterpart to the small combo's rhythmic drive. Honestly, at times you'd think it was a nonet rather than a trio due to the rich production style that sounds much more like Joao Gilberto's recordings for World Pacific than the subsequent West-Coast influenced Getz recordings. The majority of the tunes are uptempo, with only a couple of ballads thrown in for balance. The Portugese cuts are excellent ("Nega Do Cabelo Duro", "Voce Ja Foi Bahia"), as well as "Goodbye Sadness (Tristeza)" and the minor hit "Call Me". For the price, this is a magnificent bargain. Now if Verve would only put out a remastered version of the recording she did with Jobim (apart from the antiquated, horrible-sounding SILVER COLLECTION disk), all would be complete.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Charming Lady of Bossa Nova with no Bossa Nova, November 19, 2004

By 

Carlos from Rio "Carlos from Rio" (Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Certain Smile Certain Sadness (Audio CD)

One thing must be said about this album: it is not a standard Astrud Gilberto's as everyone got used to listening to. No great Jazz arrangers and no Bossa Nova!

Just because she's backed by the famous Walter Wanderley combo: he was one of the Masters of Samba as played in the organ. He plays Samba but not Bossa Nova in a jazzy way.

A great album, no doubt. The same cool little voice and the same good taste in repertoire which includes the track 'Goodbye Sadness' which stands for 'Tristeza' - a samba standard in Brazil which is credited erroneously as being a composition by Edu Lobo although the real one was Haroldo Lobo.

Ms. Gilberto also sings another beautiful cool Samba rendition of 'Tu Mi Delirio' a wonderful bolero by the great Cuban writer, Mr. Cesar Portillo de La Luz.

Program also offers some bonus tracks - notably 'Who Needs Forever', her great rendition of this great song with arrangement by Quincy Jones and with a spectacular saxophone performance by Zoot Sims. This track comes from the original Quincy Jones' soundtrack of movie 'The Deadly Affair' and this soundtrack CD is also available here @Amazon. This soundtrack CD includes two different though similar renditions of 'Who Needs Forever' by Ms. Gilberto.

If you are a big fan of jazzy Quincy Jones, go on and take this great must-have album. Then you'll gain the wonderful Ms. Gilberto's two renditions of 'Who Needs Forever' plus a big bonus - the complete soundtrack of another movie 'The Pawnbroker' - another great great great Quincy Jones sountrack.

Ok. Hard to make up your mind, no?

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect blend of Astrud & Walter Wanderley, June 16, 2000

By 

Barbara J. Major "bjbear71" (Upper Darby, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Certain Smile Certain Sadness (Audio CD)

The person who stated that the guitarist on this album is Carlos Lyra is WRONG. I am Claudio Slon's discographer and I confirmed with him that the guitarist on the album was really Joao Gilberto. No one has made mention the fact that this album is comprised of all Walter Wanderley arrangments and they are SUPERB. Definitely one of the best U.S. albums either he or Astrud made. Especially listen to "Tristeza" & the "Summer Samba" arrangement that begins in 3/4! Fantastic album.