Crystal Illusions

Sergio Mendes, Sergio Mendes, Sergio Mendes & Brasil'66 | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 26, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1969
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B000HEV82S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,815 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #68 in Music > World Music > Latin Music > Samba

Editorial Reviews

Exclusive Japanese CD pressing of this 1969 album comes house in a miniature LP sleeve. A&M. 2006. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One for the Purists, June 17, 2003

By 

Thomas L. Bennett (Indented Head, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crystal Illusions (Audio CD)

The Brasil '66 repertoire is riddled with contradictions.

Each of the legendry group's albums has its triumphs, its hidden treasures and its disappointments.

Crystal Illusions is no exception.

Track one is an uninspired cover of the Otis Redding classic "Dock of the Bay".

I rate it the only disappointment on this disc and believe that it should have been left to the man whose ownership of it is so complete that alternative versions have been rendered irrelevant.

From track two onwards Mendes and company return to what they do best - smooth, classy and stylish treatments of Latin American ballads and dance music.

Such songs as "Viola" and "Salt Sea" are among the hidden treasures of this album - compositions of subtle nuance that take shape and meaning over the course of repeated listening.

The album's triumphs include the Bergman classic "Pretty World" (OK maybe it's not a classic but it should be!).

The star cut on this generally impressive set is the title track - the Edu Lobo composed "Crystal Illusions"

It's sustained rhythmic re-interpretations of the main theme reaches a hypnotic crescendo that is delivered with power and grace.

This album does not suffer the uninitiated or the ignorant gladly.

It is only for those already in touch with the Swinger from Rio and au fait with the trademark way that Mendes and the group deliver their Bossa Nova message.

Like all previous and later offerings from Brasil'66 Crystal Illusions is riddled with its contradictions.

But it's also sprinkled with tonnes of magic. Of course, FIVE STARS.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite all time albums, April 5, 2007

By 

Bill (Norfolk VA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crystal Illusions (Audio CD)

I have always enjoyed this recording. The orchestrations by Dave Grusin are fantastic and shows why he was in demand for movie and television scores. The song selection is very eclectic from easy tempo to fast tempo, from soft to dramatic. The selections "Dock Of The Bay" and "Pretty World" got the most airplay as singles but one could sometimes hear "Crystal Illusions" in it's entirety on AM radio. "Viola" is a beautiful tune with a romantic flair. It contains a lot of basic percussion and guitar and Grusin's arrangement fits it beautifully. "Dois Dias" harkens back to "Roda" from "Look Around" with it's fast tempo. "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" might have been a good choice for a single with it's uptempo beat but it languished as an album cut. "Song Of No Regrets" and the title cut both have a very dramatic flair to them and, along with "Salt Sea" and "Empty Faces," have lyrics by Lani Hall. Lani was writing lyrics starting with the album "Look Around." Lani continued writing lyrics for some of the Brazillian writers but more appeared on this album that any of the other Brasil'66 recordings.Even though "Dock Of The Bay" and "Pretty World" got a tremendous amount of airplay in 1969, both failed to chart into the Top 40. The latter is my favorite selection from the album. It combines the key elements of all the member's instrumentation and Grusin's backing arrangements. I still have the LP record of this and now that it is on CD, my Brasil '66 collection,with the exception of "Stillness" is complete. This is a good solid purchase.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CRYSTAL ILLUSIONS - A MASTERPIECE OF SOUND, June 17, 2003

By 

William L. Phipps (Tuckahoe, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crystal Illusions (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful cd, and I am thrilled that it has been reissued in Japan with glorious sound. Lani Hall really comes through on this cd with a lovely solo on Song Of No Regrets. Mendes has never really given her the credit she deserved. Other standout tracks include a new take on You Stepped Out Of A Dream, and a lovely version of Nascimento's Empty Faces. The title track is a wonderful showcase for all the members. As usual, Dave Grusin's orchestrations shine. In conclusion this cd makes a wonderful addition to anyone's collection.