Customer Reviews

A Todo Vapor

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One of the best records of the tropicalia era. A supple, gorgeous live album; one of Costa's finest albums. The first half features Costa's youthful, sparrowlike voice is at its softest and best, accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and the applause of her entranced audience. Midway through the album, a lively -- though slightly comedic -- Cream-like heavy rock/jazz accompaniment kicks in, while Costa keeps crooning. Features an excellent selection of early tropicalia and plaintive ballads -- altogether, a cool tour through the stylistic range of Brazilian MPB. HIGHLY recommended!

This live album from her early years is actually one of my favourites. It begins with an extended set of acoustic ballads where the bossa nova style is still very present in Gal's delicious vocals. This first part of the concert features gems as "Antonico" and "Sua estupidez". Then, in the middle of the album, there's a radical shift -an electric guitar appears on stage, introducing a wild set of songs which mix rock, blues, psychedelia and Brazilian folklore, where Gal sings crazily. The last song, "Luz do sol" (from Pinto/Wali, which has nothing to do with a ballad with the same name written by Caetano Veloso and also sung by Gal Costa in a later album) is fabulous. This album is a gorgeous sample of what Gal was doing before her more market-oriented days, when her singing was more spontaneous and moody.

This show was recorded during Gal Costa's early period, so it is quite honest and not too overproduced. Her songs here are very sweet and beautiful.

This 1971 concert album captures the young Gal Costa at the peak of her powers. The first half is acoustic, the second half is an electrified acid rock extravaganza. An amazing record from the heady days of Brazil's "tropicalia" scene. Highly recommended.

"A Todo Vapor" translated "going fully ahead", says enough about the best Brazilian singer of today. Fast songs, good lyrics, no pretention whatsoever, I had the good luck to see her perform, she robbs the hearts of the audiences. I have an old LP, her songs having to do with the famous "Carnaval do Brasil", which should make a perfect match for the lovers of "A Todo Vapor". You just 'have' to dance with the happy music. A great lady!