In London [Import, Original recording remastered]

Elis Regina | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 21, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Universal Japan
• ASIN: B000060N9O
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #637,041 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Corrida de Jangada

2. A Time for Love

3. Se Você Pensa

4. Giro

5. A Volta

6. Zazueira

7. Upa, Neguinho

8. Watch What Happens

9. Wave

10. How Insensitive

11. Você

12. O Barquinho

Editorial Reviews

Japanese only SHM paper sleeve pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing* SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc* allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. 2009. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPER DIVA'S SCORCHING BRITISH SESSION ! (IN ENGLISH AND PORTUGUESE), January 23, 2006

By 

RBSProds "rbsprods" (Deep in the heart of Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In London (Audio CD)

Five HUGE Stars!! Elis Regina, Brazil's SuperDiva, is stunning in a landmark London studio session. Singing in both Portuguese and English, her astounding singing capabilities carry over in both languages fully displaying her power & technique. This CD should open up her extensive Portuguese discography to those who might have previously been hesitant to investigate what all of the adulation is about. Fear not, her musicianship almost makes words useless. She was simply one of the world's greatest singers and on this CD she's on fire and clearly enjoying herself. It's also clear that Musical Director Peter Knight and the orchestra understood the unique Brazilian popular music (MPB) idiom and provide outstanding support, including strings, giving Elis a more 'continental' sound this time. The predominant beats are either a driving afro-cuban beat or a smoking samba beat on the uptempo numbers, which give different rhythmic frameworks for her to work within.

Elis' vocal twists and turns in "Corrida de Jangada" (Raft Race) immediately sets the tone for the session, showing her articulation speed, power and range, while masterfully playing with the beat. The orchestral arrangement gives an airy, expansive feel to the song, more so than the version on the "Aquarela do Brasil" CD. "Giro" (Turn) shows her total capabilities as she sings solo and with the orchestra in a thrilling performance. "A Volta" (The Return) is pure sensuality that has a very emotional Elis singing in that 'special' voice that she reserves for these sultry ballads: you may have to hose down your CD player on this one. Kudos to the sax and trombone soloists for their soaring cameo contributions.

"A Time for Love, "Watch What Happens", and "How Insensitive" are in wonderfully nuanced English, while "Wave" and "Voce" (You) are in both languages. All are superb performances and it's clear she's not singing phonetically, but from the heart.

Pieces De Resistance: "O Barquinho" (The LIttle Boat) is taken at a unusually fast beat with Elis, riding above the rhythm, creating a wild stretching effect. "Zazueira" is multi-tracked voice as Elis 'sings with herself' using some amazing stratospheric effects. "Wave" is sung in Portuguese, switching to English for the second pass of the bridge and then back to Portuguese. And a fabulous reading of "Upa Neguinho" (Little Black Boy) boils over with an insistent beat that shifts back and forth under Elis' fragmented dynamic reading with those beautiful high notes. WOW, notice how she relentlessly drives the orchestra with her voice and almost flamenco-like hand clapping. What a performance! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Five INTERNATIONAL Stars.

(Note: the liner notes say the musicians gave Elis an ovation after each session. I can see why! There are alternate Regina Portuguese versions of some of these songs on other excellent CDs: "Aquarela do Brasil" (Watercolors of Brazil) and "Como & Porque" (How & Because), which demonstrate her power to recast a song into unique versions. Meanwhile, in the US, Sergio Mendez (& Brazil 66, 67, etc...) was recasting many of these songs into wonderful Americanized versions with the fabulous Lani (Mrs Herb Alpert) Hall starring as Elis Regina. Sadly, Elis' tragic accidental death in 1982 robbed us of at least 20 more years of magnificence and plunged Brazil (and us) into permanent bereavement. Now in 2006 her multiple Latin Grammy-winning daughter, Maria Rita, has Brazil spellbound all over again.)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of her best albums, December 8, 2004

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: In London (Audio CD)

Elis Regina, who died in 1982, was one of Brazil's greatest modern vocalists, and this is certainly one of her finest albums, certainly in the top three of her prolific career. It's swingin'!

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars English arranger does not hip with Elis Regina, May 18, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: In London (Audio CD)

I don't quite understand why this album has been recorded. Arrangements are by Peter Knight and they definitely did not work well with the Brazilian rhythm section. Unfortunately, there is a Johnny Mandel's gem "A Time for Love" but ...

By the way, things began to get wrong from the album title: it was not really recorded in London!