Brazuca Sounds

In episode #31 we continue our series celebrating albums released 50 years ago. Tom Zé's third self-titled album came out in May 1972, and although it is not his most famous album, it really opened the door to his more experimental endeavors later on in his career. This album confirmed that Tom Zé was probably the most irreverent and creative artist in Tropicalia and beyond, however in 1972 h...

In episode #30 we listed fundamental albums of samba-rock from Trio Mocotó, Bebeto, Luiz Vagner, and Marku. Samba-rock blended samba elements with the guitar and other electric instruments and is mostly associated with São Paulo in the 1970s - and expanded to cities such as Porto Alegre (as it has been known as "swing") and Rio de Janeiro (where they called "sambalanço"). More like a dance style t...

In episode #29 we talk about some of my favourite Brazilian albums released recently: Amaro Freitas' "Sankofa" (pictured), Pedro Sá's "Um" and Orquestra Afrosinfonicas's "Orín, a Língua dos Anjos". We also present some other jams such as Macaco Bong, Oruã, Juliana Linhares, Juçara Marçal and the Brazilian legends Mundo Livre S/A. This episode is a blend of MPB, jazz, afro beats, psychedelic pop, i...

In episode #28 we discuss the making of "Clube da Esquina" released in March 1972. Considered one the best albums of Brazilian history, Milton Nascimento decided to come up with a collective effort of musicians signed as a duo with 19-year-old prodigy Lô Borges. It is a double LP impossible to define in one genre: folk, MPB, rock, psychedelia, prog, classical, indigenous. Clube da Esquina is every...

In episode #27, we celebrate Brazilian female singers such as Flora Purim, Joyce, Célia, Wanderlea, and Claudia. We also bring some more obscure names such as Dila, Silvinha, and Elizabeth. Brazil always had a large tradition of female superstars, so for this episode, I've decided to put a spotlight on some great singers that are not as recognized as they should be.

In episode #26, we bring ten brilliant albums that more or less tell the history of samba in Brazil. Arguably the most popular music genre in the country, this podcast presents the great song-writers from the early era such Cartola, Nelson Cavaquinho, and Dona Ivone Lara followed by the great composers of the 1960s and 1970s, Paulinho da Viola and Martinho da Vila, all the way to the samba divas s...

In episode #25 we discuss the making of Caetano Veloso's album "Transa" released in January 1972. This is his second album recorded in London, while in exile following his prison by the military regime in Brazil. However, unlike the obvious sadness of Caetano's self-title LP of 1971 ( Brazuca Sounds #17 ), Transa is the culmination of all his new influences living abroad. The reggae on Portobello...

In episode #24, we talk about the life and music of João Donato, Eumir Deodato, Egberto Gismonti, and Hermeto Paschoal. Each one of them achieved greatness beyond the Brazilian frontier and, in fact, they're all likely more successful worldwide rather than in their own country. These four artists blend Brazilian rhythm with psychedelia, funk, jazz, and experimentalism. As they all have a long...

In episode #23, we continue our conversation celebrating albums released 50 years ago in 1971. From the classics of Tim Maia, Gal Costa, and Marcos Valle, Ivan Lins, to obscure gems such as Antonio Adolfo e a Brazuca and the magnificent Claudia.

In episode #22 we discussed Chico Buarque's eighth album, "Construção", released 50 years ago by Philips in December 1971. Considered by many the best Brazilian album of all time, it was Chico's first studio record after returning to Brazil following a period living in Europe due to the Brazilian dictatorship. Perhaps not by consequence, it is Chico Buarque's more political r...

In episode #21 we discussed the album "Negro é Lindo", released by Philips in November 1971. It was Jorge Ben's third and last studio album recorded with Trio Mocotó as his backup band. An ending to a trilogy, the arrangements are more centered on the acoustic guitar, possibly the fruit of his partnership with Paulinho Tapajós, who directed Ben’s recordings between 71 and 75, includi...

In episode #20, we continue our conversation about Som Livre from Brazuca Sounds #19 . After releasing a generation of newcomers, such as Novos Baianos, and Alceu Valença , SOM LIVRE decided to invest in high-profile names like Rita Lee, Tim Maia, Jorge Ben, and Marcos Valle. Producer Lincoln Olivetti had a tremendous impact on Som Livre from the late 70s until the mid-80s when its iconic SOM LIVR...

In episode #19, we talk about the Brazilian biggest record label Som Livre. Founded in 1969 as a vehicle for Globo TV's soap opera soundtracks, it gradually started to release new talented artists such as Novos Baianos, Azymuth, Guilherme Arantes, until it quickly became a Brazilian phenomenon in record sales. We explored some of the great records released during Som Livre's first incarnation, und...

In episode #18, we talked about Brazilian psychedelic-folk artists out of the Brazilian Northeast states of Pernambuco, Ceará, and Paraiba. The region is mostly known worldwide because of Bahia (Caetano, Gil, Tom Zé, Gal Costa, Bethania), nevertheless, in the mid-to-late 1970s artists came from all over the wilderness, such as Alceu Valença, Zé Ramalho, Belchior, and Fagner. They all came to produ...

In episode #17 we tell the story behind Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil's self-titled albums released 50 years ago in 1971. Recorded at the same studio, with the same producer, for the same music label, both album covers were also made by the same photographer. Caetano and Gil were both living in Chelsea, London (UK) in exile following their prison by the military regime in Brazil. The nostalgia a...

In episode #16, we discussed some of the Brazilian rare albums released only on vinyl. Jorge Ben's "Live in Tokyo"; Arnaud Rodrigues' "O Som do Paulinho", Naná Vasconcelos' "Nana, Nelson, Novelli", and some real obscurities gems released by Nonato Buzar, Impacto Cinco, and Dom Mita, we went deep inside Brazil's crate collection. F ollow our playlist "Soundtrack: Brazuca Sounds" , but u nlike other...

In episode #15, we talk about three Brazilian vocal groups: Trio Ternura, Trio Esperança, and Golden Boys. All centered around family members, more or less like a Brazilian proto-version of the Jackson 5, these three groups showcased a variety of backgrounds and genres.

In episode #14, we talk about João Gilberto's self-titled album released in 1973. The Architect of Bossa Nova, according to the New York Times "his work became a sign of the relative prosperity, optimism, and romance of Brazil in the late 1950s, and thereafter an ideal of musical restraint and mystery." Joao Gilberto (1973), also known as the "white album", for his more experimental tone, is João...

In episode #13 we celebrate Erasmo Carlos' 80th birthday telling the story behind his album "Carlos, Erasmo", released in 1971. A transitional album in his career, Erasmo was moving from being a rock n' roll Jovem Guarda star to becoming a great lyricist, influenced by Folk, MPB, and Soul. "The other Carlos" when compared to his writing superstar partner Roberto Carlos,...

In episode #12, we continue our conversation about the Black Rio movement from Brazuca Sounds #11 , with some of the Best Funk Albums That You Never Heard of. Black, soul, and funk-influenced records, from obscure classics such as Waltel Branco's "Meu Balanço" (photo) to DJ favorites, like Evinha's debut "Cartão Postal". We also discussed albums released by Tony Bizarro...

In episode #11 we discussed the beginning of the Black Rio movement sparking funk and soul in the 1970s. Alongside Tim Maia, other names such as Dom Salvador, Toni Tornado (aka the Brazilian James Brown), and Gerson King Combo (the Brazilian...well...James Brown) put together a collection of songs influenced by the American Soul and Funk that would influence generations to come, especially a group...

In episode #10 we celebrate Roberto Carlos' 80th birthday discussing his self-titled album released 50 years ago in 1971. After a short transitional period of immersing himself in Soul and Funk music, this is the record that would set the tone for the rest of his career. From being a Brazilian Elvis to a full-blown version of a Brazilian Sinatra, or simply, O Rei (The King). Follow our playlist on...

In episode #9 we talk about the record label Underground, an obscure subsidiary for Copacabana Discos in the 1970s. While Copacabana was making tons of money with albums from their corny radio-singers cast, Underground has been founded as a subsidiary to release what the record executives considered "experimental" music. Funk and soul artists such as Marku (photo), Miguel de Deus, sa,ba-...

In episode #8 we discussed how the military government in Brazil that forcibly took power in 1964 influenced Brazilian music. The regime applied high officials to work as censors, and many songs would not get permission to be recorded or were forbidden for playing on the radio and TV. Chico Buarque, Gilberto Gil, Adoniran Barbosa, were all censored. The levels of censorship varied, normally associ...

In episode #6 we listed three of our favourite Brazilian albums of 2020: Kiko Danucci's "Rastilho" (photo), Matheus Aleluia's "Olorum", and Zé Manoel's "Do Meu Coração Nu". We also presented some other favourites such as Liniker, Boogarins, Sessa, Bixiga 70, and Academia da Berlina. This episode is a blend of MPB, afro beats, psychedelic pop, instrumental...