Customer Reviews

Love Music

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's interesting to read the reviews of this album here, as they seem mostly to be from people who either discovered Sergio with this album or were not that familiar with Sergio's breakthrough group, Brasil '66. Among diehard Brasil '66 fans, the two Bell albums (this and "Vintage '74") represent a transitional sound, and for many fans of this ilk, not a completely satisfactory one.

I for one "followed" Sergio throughout the many stylistic changes of his career and while "Love Music" was obviously an attempt to re-establish Sergio on the Top 40 charts (sadly, it failed miserably--"Love Music" the single only "bubbled under") after his increasingly poor selling last Brasil '66 and Brasil '77 albums for A&M, it's still a worthwhile melding of Sergio's propulsive rhythm section blended with a now younger and more soul-inflected vocal sound due to the introduction of sunny-voiced Bonnie Bowden. As long as you don't expect "another" Brasil '66 record.

While Brasil '66 is noted for its sophistication and multi-cultural genre busting efforts, "Love Music" is basically good, old fashioned MOR adult contemporary clothed in some exotic percussion. The arrangements are uniformly lush (Alcivar's especially, as he attempts to introduce some unusual harmonic touches in otherwise straightforward tunes like "Where is the Love?"), the vocals smooth, but the overall impression is (at least for a lot of Brasil '66 fans) a little bland. Part of this is due to the fact that there are no Brasilian tunes on this album, virtually the only time in Mendes' career that this happened. It seems Mendes himself recognized he had lost something of his calling card, because by the time he released "Vintage '74" a year later, it included two "new" Jobim compositions, as well as "Voce Abusou," which had recently been a big hit in his native Brasil.

All in all, if you're expecting the dynamic vocals of Lani Hall, Janis Hansen and/or Karen Philipp, with that incredible Brasil'66 rhythm section, you may be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you're fond of expertly produced and arranged "easy listening" music, albeit with some great percussion, you'll probably love this album.

In my opinion, this is the best album of the awesome group of Sergio Mendes (and Brasil '65, '66, '77, '88, '99 and 2000) whose music was greatly influenced by Bossa Nova legend, the late Antonio Carlos Jobim. I had it in an album format when it first came out and have been wishing to have it on CD but it was so rare and not available until 2003. At long last, the wait was over...thanks to BMG-Japan!

The material selected in this recording is so impressive from James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," Burt Bacharach/Hal David's "Walk The Way You Talk" to Paul Williams' "I Won't Last A Day Without You." Most of these songs were listed on Top 40 Pop Chart. What made these songs more special are their unique interpretations, the perfect blend of the ladies' lush vocals and the invigorating and vibrant rhythms that are so typical of Sergio Mendes' innovative arrangements. Adding to the beauty of the songs are the flawless arrangements on strings, horns and woodwinds by a fine jazz/composer/arranger and one of my favorites, Tom Scott; and another great talent, Bob Alcivar, who did the fabulous rhythm section arrangements.

The tracks (in order of my favorites) are the following:

"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" - a love song composed and sung originally by my all-time favorite singer/songwriter/guitarist James Taylor. Gracinha Leporace's rendition is so wonderful and with her enthralling voice, she made this song as the best interpretation by a female vocalist. Of course for male vocalist, James Taylor's original is still the greatest. I heard another version from Kevin Mahogany and it's also awesome. And most recently a very nice version from David Sanborn's latest CD "Closer" with vocals by Lizz Wright.

"Hey Look At The Sun" - Words and Music by Angelo, vocals by Bonnie Bowden. A beautiful love song that is so full of enthusiasm and bright hopes!

"Walk The Way You Talk" - Well, what can I say? It's a Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition! You can't go wrong with this song, or any song that is written by this great songwriting team. You'll love it.

"I Won't Last A Day Without You" - I'd say this is an overly heartwarming song! Words and music by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams. Vocals by Gracinha Leporace. Some of the artists who recorded this lovely song are Paul Williams and the Carpenters.

"Put A Little Love Away" - Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, vocals by Bonnie Bowden. The words and music are awesome and the arrangement is flawless.

"You Can't Dress Up A Broken Heart" - Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. This song speaks clearly of a shattered heart that can't be fixed or dressed-up no matter how much you try.... Ouch! :(

"Killing Me Softly With His Song" - Written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox and was made popular by Roberta Flack who also sung "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love," a duet with Peabo Bryson.

"Where Is The Love?" - Written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter, this song was originally recorded by Roberta Flack who also sung the hit song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" from Clint Eastwood's movie "Play Misty For Me."

"Love Music" - Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. Has a very lively rhythm and great arrangement.

"I Can See Clearly Now" - A song written by Johnny Nash that has vibrant and bubbly beat.

There are a lot more Sergio Mendes classics you might want to check out such as "Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 Greatest Hits" which has a nice repertoire of standards, and "Equinox" which includes the hit songs "Wave" and "Watch What Happens." Very highly recommended! I would give more than five stars to all these CDs. Timeless music to listen and enjoy for a lifetime.

Musically speaking this a cohesive and delightful selection of songs played by the master Sergio Mendes and his great line-up. Absolute ear candy!! What takes away from this music is the horrible mastering job. I paid over $30.00 for this cd, and it sounds like it was dubbed from overmodulated tapes....it's hard to listen to ...it sounds like the worn vinyl counterpart sitting in my sisters album case. This is not fair representation for Sergio Mendes who would have a fit if he knew his music was being heard like this. Very poor for a (remastered) ha! ha! Japanese import..shame on BMG!! I intend to get a refund on this one!

We have been searching for the CD version of the album by Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 for years. We purchased the original album but have only been able to listen to a phonotape copy of it. The CD version restores full sound to the smooth music and sublime vocals. The group's renditions of "Where is the Love" and "We Need More Love Music" claims these versions as unique and truly belonging only to Brasil 66. For Valentine's Day, I can't think of a better gift.

Originally world initial released in CD format by Japan's Arista in 2003 using the K2 24bit mastering, this 1973 Sergio Mendes and Brazil '77 album is really a gem. It included :

1. Where is the love

2. Put a little love away

3. Don't let me be lonely tonight

4. Killing me softly with his song

5. Love music

6. You can't dress up a broken heart

7. Hey look at the sun

8. Walk the way you talk

9. I won't last a day without you

10. I can see clearly now

Most of the songs are covered version of the hits in that period, but Sergio's version of these songs are fantastic, it gives a new look to "Where is the love" and "Love music". My favourite track is "Put a little love away", Bonnie Bowden's voice is as sweet as honey.

Sergio Mendes & The Brazil 77 came on the heels of his highly popular Brazil 66 group.Only difference was they were

covering more earthy R&B orientated material from the early

1970's such as "Where Is The Love","Don't Let Me Be Lonely

Tonight",and Johnny Nash's classic "I Can See Clearly Now".All

are done in Mendes's classic latin-pop style except I must say

Johnny Nash's original is so illuminating that it sort of

wipes the floor with this one.The title track-a little Stevie

Wonder and a little Donny Hathaway,is the best track on this

album and one will also note the addition of two famous future musicians-Paulo Da Costa on percussion and Laudir Olivier(from

the second generation Chigaco)conga drums.Part of a series of worthy successors to the Brazil '66 material!

I first heard "Love Music" on an AM radio station while still in high school and was blown away. I quickly became a Sergio Mendes fan soon after. The beautiful voices of both Bonnie Bowden and Gracinha Leporace are a real treat to this album. The exciting beat and lyrics to "Love Music" are irresistible. I love Bonnie's singing on "Put A Little Love Away. But my absolute favorite from this album is "Hey Look At The Sun" - beautiful flute and string arrangement behind the dreamy voices of the two females. I always played this song when I did some long-distance driving.

I look for Sergio "Where is the love" for long time, and finally got it. I love this music. It isn't labelled as the best, for me it is the best (just without Masquenada). Maybe this is also Sergio's best line-up.

Suprisingly I also love "Put A Little Love Away", "Killing me softly...", "I won't last a day without you". I don't see any reason for not have this album. Whether you're a fan or not, you'll love it..

I like the CD selections,but if you listen close enough,you won't appreciate the STEREO EFFECT,it's more on the MONO EFFECT!

Been searching for this in cd form for 20 yrs. Finally got it and it was worth it. Wonderful music that you want to try and sing along with. It's in my car and plays everytime I drive, almost as much as I played the record (yes, that's right) in the 70s.