Classic AOTW Bossa Rio - Alegría! (BTS 17)

Bossa Rio
Alegría!
BLUE THUMB BTS 17



Also released on CD as a Japan Mini LP in 2006.

Tracks:

Side A:
[1] SPINNING WHEEL (3:05)

(David Thomas)

[2] ZAZUEIRA (3:08)

(Jorge Ben)

[3] GIRL TALK (2:55)

(B. Troup, N. Hefti)

[4] THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES (3:02)

(B. Weisman, D. Wayne, M. Garrett)

[5] WHAT A PITY (QUE PENA) (2:59)

(Jorge Ben)

Side B:
[1] WITH YOUR LOVE NOW (3:20)

(M. Valle, P.S.Valle, N. Gimbel)

[2] OPEN YOUR ARMS (3:44)

(D. Caymmi, E. Souto, P. Tapajos, J. Livingston, R. Evans)

[3] ELEANOR RIGBY (3:25)

(Lennon, McCartney)

[4] DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART (2:28)

(B. Bacharach, H. David)

[5] BLACKBIRD (3:10)

(Lennon & McCartney)

(uncredited on the LP)
BOSSA RIO is:
Vocals: Gracinha Leporace and Pery Ribeiro
Flute: Pery Ribeiro
Drums: Ronald Mesquita
Piano: Osmar Milito
Organ: Manfredo Fest
Bass: Octavio Bailly,

PRODUCED BY: SERGIO MENDES FOR

SERRICH PRODUCTIONS

ENGINEER: DICK BOGERT
RECORDED AT: A&M RECORDS
ORCHESTRATED AND CONDUCTED BY: MIKE WOFFORD
ORGAN COURTESY OF THE LOWERY ORGAN CO.
Design & Photography by Tom Wilkes & Barry Feinstein
for Camouflage Productions

BLUE THUMB RECORDS, INC., 427 NORTH CANON DRIVE,
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF., 90210. This album is available on 4 and 8
track stereo tape, reel to reel and cassette. Printed in U.S.A.

Though we don't often do non-A&M albums in our Album Of The Week threads, it's not without precedence. This album, produced by Sergio Mendes, was a follow-up to the A&M BOSSA RIO album, was recorded at A&M Studios, and produced a couple of radio-friendly tracks, namely "With Your Love Now" and "Blackbird". So it seems fitting that we give it some space here at A&M Corner.

I remember hearing both of the above-mentioned tracks on the radio, and given the sound of the group being just about identical to the prior album, assumed it was another A&M release. It was quite a surprise to pick up the album, see "Blue Thumb" as the label, but see Sergio Mendes still listed as the producer. It still felt like an A&M album though, with the fonts, typesetting, album design, all fitting within the classic A&M mold.

I never picked up the Japanese CD of this title, as I had a fairly good needle-drop from vinyl, which serves to this day.

Harry

Did anyone here ever grab this when it was out on CD? I've never even found an LP of it yet. I do have a miserable needle drop of it for now, so I at least know what it sounds like.

I have a pretty good needle-drop of it. My recollection is that Paula sent me her ultra-clean copy to be transferred to CD-R. My own album is a bit more noisy. So with the clean LP version, I wasn't in a rush to spend 30+ dollars on a Japanese CD. These days, it seems like the Japanese themselves are sourcing more and more stuff from cleaned-up LPs when they put out this music that's more obscure.

Harry

That makes me a bit wary of ordering one. The Manfredo Fest album Brazilian Dorian Dream was just released on CD, and now you have me wondering if it's a needle drop or not. I can do my own needle drops (provided I could ever find the album). If I buy a CD, I might still prefer LP, but I do expect the CDs to be from a master tape and be free of all the groove wear and grunge in the grooves!

Of course I have no idea where they sourced this particular album, but we've heard other examples of the Japanese putting needle drops on CDs. It goes way back to those Roger Nichols singles tracks, and then there are the few Carpenters rarities in the Single Box that came from vinyl. Both of those examples had to do with singles, and we know that those masters were stored differently and could be hard to find. Full album master tapes should be easier to locate.

Harry

That's good to know. Thanks.

Harry

Do you have the albums he cut for dmp Records? They're good demo material in addition to being great music. Braziliana is my favorite of those.

Jungle Cat features the title cut as another remake from his Brazilian Dorian Dream album, and some other gems. Good discs if you can still find them! He also did a couple on Concord, IIRC. His son Phil (?) Fest makes an appearance on one or more of these discs also.

Outside of that, I really don't know many of his recordings. The Os Sambeatles album does sound interesting! It's probably not as nod-inducing as that Gary McFarland album Soft Samba...

You know, I never really understood those lines either, but your question got me listening again, and I think I've got it. Try these:

"Endless day, endless night
Things not so bad, you are here. life is right."

Harry