Favorite Sergio '80s/'90s Album

[Harry]

Let's see what fans' favorite latter-day Sergio Mendes album is.

 

[Harry]

I've asked myself a hard question here! Initially I thought I might prefer BRASIL '86 - I remember how much that album thrilled me upon first hearing it, but lately I seem to be gravitating toward ARARA. Though BRASIL '86 is a fine album, there are a few tunes on it that just sound like '80s pop. Lani's appearance certainly gives this album an edge, but there's something I like about ARARA as a whole. It flows better, and has a more Brazilian feel to me.

Harry
NP: "Some Morning", Sergio Mendes from ARARA ("...Spring is on the way!...)

 

[Mr Bill]

for some reason I still prefer his "return debut" and voted for that one -- I'm partial to "Rainbow's End.". There are plenty of tracks on the others I enjoy -- the new version of "Ma(i)s Que Nada," "Olympia" (which I know is despised by many) and some tunes off Arara.

--Mr Bill

 

[jfiedler17]

I gotta go with "Confetti," if only because of "Alibis" and "Real Life." My two favorite Sergio songs of all-time, with or without Brasil '66. ("Like a Lover" or "So Many Stars" would have to be the third, though.) Truly phenomenal '80s pop singles. Great songwriting, and immaculately produced.

 

[Captain Bacardi]

I went with Brasileiro simply because I didn't care for any of the "pop" stuff that he was doing during this era, plus Brasileiro had some incredible musicians on it, particularly Hermeto Pascoal, among others. "Sambodouro" was my favorite tune on this album.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Dave]

Never Gonna Let You Go, Gonna Hold You In My Arms Forever...

Currently only own the '45', but I guess you know which Latter Day Mendes LP is my Fave! :twitchy:

Dave

 

[snapcrotch]

'Sambadouro' is one fine easy-glide ride. My personal fave is the next track after it, 'Senhoras Do Amazonas'. Yes, 'Brasiliero' is my all-round, favorite post-'80 Sergio, and one I've recommended to many (but do they ever listen to me?).

 

[JMK]

I had the same split-vote as Harry, between Brasil '86 and Arara, but I opted for Arara for a very sentimental reason--it was the "house music" at Treasure Island in Las Vegas the week my wife and I were there for our honeymoon. Sergio was the soundtrack of our many trips through the hallways, lobby, casinos, etc. And I never got tired of hearing it!

 

[Rudy]

I had to vote for Brasil '86, since it's the only post-Brasil '66 album I've ever connected with musically. Oceano did to some extent, and I'd rank it second. Arara--no offense--was engineered poorly: it's a headache-inducing train wreck of sound (like an overly bright Brit Pop sound, not to mention a very "digital" sound). And when it sounds that bad, I have no desire to listen to it. I should see if it was ever on vinyl--that might take the edge off and make it listenable.

 

[Mr Bill]

Reviewing my collection I'd almost reconsider my vote and go with '86 or Arara for almost the same reasons as the others. But I'll stick with his return LP, at least to give a "John Edwards" caliber LP a fighting chance.

--Mr Bill
making an allusion to an FAO verbotten subject in the SMB66 forum and smiling about it. (okay, and winking)

 

[Brasil_Nut]

There's merit to be had with all of them, save for Confetti, which did little for me (save for "Kisses" -- a great vehicle for Gracinha and the only song on the album that sounded like a real "Mendes " tune!)

My favorite is Arara hands down.

As I began to get seniority with my airline, I was seeing Mendes performances in different parts of the world. In those days, his European and Asian concerts centered around songs which had been hits for these countries. For instance, it wasn't unusual to hear "Bim Bom" in Osaka, or "For Me" in London.

He had performed "Take This Heart" and "Surrender" in a Blue Note performance, so I was thrilled to find them on Arara. In addition to "Fato Consumado" (from Horizonte Aberto), he'd been performing "Balafon" for years. I had always wished he'd record both songs. Once again, I wasn't disappointed with the release of Arara (or Horizonte Aberto for that matter!)

Besides, this was one of Kevin Lettau's earlier appearances on a Mendes album...a definite plus for me.


Jon

 

[Harry]

Good to see some support for ARARA - an album that gets little attention, and almost no discussion.

Harry
NP: "Balafon" - Sergio Mendes

 

[Mike Blakesley]

I like all of these albums. My least favorite of them is probably OCEANO, and that may be just because I haven't listened to it enough. The song "Rio De Janiero" off that one kicks, though!

I had to vote for BRASILEIRO. I really liked ARARA when it came out, but it hasn't stood the test of time for me. The others are too uneven. There are songs I like on all of the records, but if I want to listen to one of these all the way through, I'll pull out BRASILEIRO more often than not. My favorite song on it is "Lua Soberana" (probably spelled wrong, but you get the idea) it sounds like it could have come from the PAIS TROPICAL era.

 

[Brasil_Nut]

I like all of these albums. My least favorite of them is probably OCEANO, and that may be just because I haven't listened to it enough. The song "Rio De Janiero" off that one kicks, though!

I recall being so excited when Oceano was released...and the disappointment of listening to it all the way through. Like you, I loved "Rio de Janeiro" and expected it to set the tone for the rest of the CD. Unfortunately, it didn't.

Repeating the same songs with different singers got really old, really fast. Definitely not the same thing as opening and closing an album with "Stillness" or the reprise of "Promise of a Fisherman".

I had to vote for BRASILEIRO...My favorite song on it is "Lua Soberana" (probably spelled wrong, but you get the idea) it sounds like it could have come from the PAIS TROPICAL era.

"Lua Soberana" is sensational, isn't it? I love the Brasil '66 sound of "Sambadouro" and "Pipoca" as well as the funky sound of "Kalimba". I voted for Arara, but Brasileiro would definitely be my second choice!

Jon

 

[Aqua do Brasil]

There's merit to be had with all of them, save for Confetti, which did little for me (save for "Kisses" -- a great vehicle for Gracinha and the only song on the album that sounded like a real "Mendes " tune!)

My favorite is Arara hands down.

As I began to get seniority with my airline, I was seeing Mendes performances in different parts of the world. In those days, his European and Asian concerts centered around songs which had been hits for these countries. For instance, it wasn't unusual to hear "Bim Bom" in Osaka, or "For Me" in London.

He had performed "Take This Heart" and "Surrender" in a Blue Note performance, so I was thrilled to find them on Arara. In addition to "Fato Consumado" (from Horizonte Aberto), he'd been performing "Balafon" for years. I had always wished he'd record both songs. Once again, I wasn't disappointed with the release of Arara (or Horizonte Aberto for that matter!)

Besides, this was one of Kevin Lettau's earlier appearances on a Mendes album...a definite plus for me.


Jon

Dear Jon,

I agree with you about ‘KISSES’, is the only Mendes orientated tune on the album, with a fine orchestration by Dave Grusin.
In my opinion, the Confetti album ((nice cover art, by the way) is a marketing album following the Sergio Mendes succesful A&M homecoming
1983 album.
The production, the sound the arrangments are professional and wellcrafted, with topflight performing musicians but it’s not a entity, I think it’s overproduced without the particular ‘Sergio Mendes Trademark Magic’.

It’s has some moments, with the song ‘Alibis’ and 2 other tracks on the album with the lovely talented Siedah Garret as vocalist, the great Phil Perry on vocals and Terry Bozzio (from the Capitol 80’s group MISSING PERSONS) in a masterful percussion performance.

MARKETING and recorded music; IMHO not always a succesful combination!!

All the best

 

[HiFiEER]

Post Deleted

 

[Harry]

Don't worry Kenny, few of us have ears like Rudy, so unless you do too, you'll probably enjoy the ARARA album. As for Kevyn Lettau's participation, it's pretty much as a member of vocal groups and duos. Look for her work in the 'middle' of the album as the first few tracks don't include her at all, nor do the last two, an instrumental and a solo vocal by Angie Jaree on "The Island" sounding for all the world like Gloria Estefan. But the middle tracks feature Kevyn and Gracinha Leporace doing theheavy vocal duties.

After finding this website back in 1997 and discussions of Mendes rekindled my interest in things Sergio, I found ARARA in a used record store's CD section along with BRASILIERO. Being the A&M geek that I am, I naturally gave preference to ARARA, and was quite pleased with my purchase that day.

Hey, even if you don't like the album, at least you'll have to concede the one thing that Sergio finally got right on this album - the spelling of "Mas Que Nada"!

Harry
NP: "Some Morning" - "...spring is on the way!..." - Sergio Mendes from ARARA