Customer Reviews

Fascination: The Best of Elis Regina

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This is an essential collection of recordings from 1965-1978. "The Best of Elis Regina", as it says on the box, is an astonishing review of this great singer's range and development over those years. For one who is just beginning to fathom all of the available recordings, as I am, this collection is invaluable. And the music is wonderful. I believe she was one of the greatest singers there ever was. Her phrasing and musical instincts were without equal. This collection preserves her great artistry. I highly recommend it for any basic collection.

Elis Regina is in my opinion together with Clara Nunes THE greatest Brazilian singer of all times. They had an unrivalled power of heartfelt delivery in their singing. Even more remarkable about Elis Regina was her ability to handle a song by famous or less famous Brazilian MPB songwriters like Ivan Lins, Milton Nascimento and Joćo Bosco in such a way that it sounded like her own creation. This compilation is a very good one, I would say it is even slightly better than the other "A Arte De", although I have both of them to fill up the missing ones. As an introduction this one is hard to fault and it has the advantage of containing the unbelievably beautiful "O Rancho Da Goiabada" as a cherry on the cake. Don't forget to check out Clara Nunes as well.

This is an excellent collection of Elis' music. Her voice... well, you'll just have to listen. I have no idea what the heck she is saying and I'm absolutely entranced. I can play some of these tracks over and over and over. The fire and emotion, the intimacy, the great brazilian vowel sounds. Sometimes you get all of this in the same sentence. There are a couple of slow parts, like the medley towards the end, that I just skip over. The rest is great. Also try Elis and Tom and Acquarela do Brazil.

Elis was and always will be wonderful voice to hear.
Only the person who copies the titles should be careful...hehehe It's not "Rfancho da Goiabada" and but "Rancho da Goiabada"; it's not "Crooida de Jangada" but "corrida de Jangada" and so.

This a compilation and I am not a fan of collections which distorts the real meaning of the originals. Anyway, here you'll find the great Brazilian master in a big variety of ensembles which covers Brazilian samba and pop music from the 60/70s and even jazzy Bossa Nova ensembles. For those who want to know the best of the best in Brazilian vocals. Though all sung in Portuguese I tell you you'll get moved.