Tropicalia S/D, Classic or Classic, etc.

Did anybody else buy that Tropicalia box set? It was the first Costa, Gil, Veloso and Mutantes albums, along with the Tropicalia compilation, boxed together with a booklet.

Joyce & Nelson Angela and the s/t Arthur Verocai both are very similar to this.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/dre400/e420/e420463223h.jpg

here's a yousendit of what I think is the best track, "Elaeu"

http://s27.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1ER1QRCEAAYWJ3PDMWH0PPN00Z

(ps, did you ever get in contact w/my friend?)

http://www.slipcue.com/music/brazil/aa_imagesbrazil/aa_comps/68_tropicalia.gif

or here maybe?

http://www.slipcue.com/music/brazil/aa_imagesbrazil/caetano/veloso_68.gif

And I sure wish someone would do an English-language bio of Elis Regina, who's incredibly uneven as a recording artist, but certainly great and worthy of a book? But it's so tough selling those kind of books--I know that the bossa nova book by Castro didn't sell all that well, under 10,000 I think, ditto the excellent Cuba book by Ned Sublette (my friend at A Cappella edited those). And I've worked as a publishers' rep for music-book houses, so I know it's tough myself. Has anyone pitched that 33 1/3 series books on, say, "Gilberto Gil" (1968) or "Elis and Tom" or "Africa/Brasil"? Those all seem worthy. I'm just such a fan of this stuff, and so convinced it's something Americans should be much more aware of, both for musical reasons and for perspective on how bad things can be in a society obsessed with "order" and all that...and too bad that Perrone book is OP, too.

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf400/f414/f41436lfm5j.jpg

i want the other mercury one

Shakey had requested both of the Gal Costa albums, that's why I ysi'd it.

A Night in 67 (Uma noite em 67) (Brazil, 2010)
Directed by Ricardo Calil, Renato Terra.
Brazil’s music “festivals” of the mid-1960s were boisterous, televised competitions akin to American Idol today. One such show in 1967 was a particularly raucous affair that sparked a revolution that forever changed Brazilian music. Captivating archival performances by Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Os Mutantes and Chico Buarque—alongside contemporary interviews from the key players—helps recreate the night when the still-forming Tropicália movement was introduced to the public. DigiBeta, b/w & color, in Portuguese with English subtitles, 85 min.

Has anyone seen this? It was shown in Los Angeles last year, and is gonna be shown in DC next weekend. parts of it seem to be on Youtube without English subtitles.

no but would watch a DVD

At one point the whole thing was on either youtube or vimeo or something. I watched most of it and it was pretty cool.

I will keep an eye on youtube and vimeo, thanks for the tips!
From my blogged Pazz & Jop '14 comments:
Tom Ze, Vira Lata na Via Lactea: Tropicalia maestro & friends in fine vox, tight & tuneful, unfazed by maze(gtrs snares etc customize it). Not one of his big avant etc projects, but contemplative and witty, in that seemingly casual, but always on point A-to-Ze way.
I've seem him called the Beefheart of Brazil(!), but in sets like these, if there must be a comparison, Cole Porter as quirky socio-poitical (incl sexual politics) pop-rocker (of Brazil!) would be a relatively closer fit.

I know this Arthur Verocai album isn't properly tropicalia, but fuuuuuck it's good.

Have somehow missed out on him. Will check him out

http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2013/11/arthur-verocai-a-brazilian-original

Me too

there was a really great mixtape on soundcloud or something of songs he arranged. super recommended.

Just finished with Veloso's autobiography, which is very helpful on understanding the cultural background against which the proper tropicalistas were operating. He spends a lot of time on his English records and practically none on his white album; gives some good insight on what he was going for on Araca Azul. Also an entertaining passive-aggressive take on his relationship with Chico Buarque.

That book was super interesting but there was something about Caetano's tone that sort of rubbed me the wrong way.

I've become semi familair with teh first run of both Gilberto gil and Caetano Veloso lps alongside the Os Muttantes stuff plus a couple of the Gal Costa ones. The one with the psychedelic cover at least.

Not heard any Tom Ze as far as I'm aware. Was looking at the Mr Bongo version of his first lp as well as teh Os Brazoes set & I think they back him on some of that lp.

Not sure what else I need to look out for.

Still a good place to start, less esoteric than some:

I will keep an eye on youtube and vimeo, thanks for the tips!
From my blogged Pazz & Jop '14 comments:
Tom Ze, Vira Lata na Via Lactea: Tropicalia maestro & friends in fine vox, tight & tuneful, unfazed by maze(gtrs snares etc customize it). Not one of his big avant etc projects, but contemplative and witty, in that seemingly casual, but always on point A-to-Ze way.
I've seem him called the Beefheart of Brazil(!), but in sets like these, if there must be a comparison, Cole Porter as quirky socio-poitical (incl sexual politics) pop-rocker (of Brazil!) would be a relatively closer fit.

― dow, Friday, 6 February 2015 23:40 (1 year ago) Permalink

Luaka Bop's Ze collections also are excellent gateways, and they've got several of his original releases too---xgau's got pretty good takes on all those, and some on other labels:
http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Tom+Ze

I'm not into Ze's more avante stuff

Nor I

I picked up the Mr. Bongo reissue of Ze's first s/t album (aka Grande Liquidacao or summat), I really dig it.

Caetano V. jammin thee funk (ouch)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeWG-SviVUw

if i had to name a "beefheart of brazil" (which i wouldn't) it'd be somebody like arrigo barnabe.

by the way is there a vanguarda paulista thread? it seems to be going through a pretty big revival lately with records by elza soares, jucara marcal, meta meta...

It may be a bit of a stretch and maybe too rootsy, but Luiz Bonfa might be included for his fine acoustic guitar from the 1950s. Those early bossa nova grooves suggest a cool breeze on a summer day, where Tropicalia nods more towards "sweltering" heat.

Love that one album cover with a picture of his hand playing a stretchy chord. Which, iirc, is a closed major seventh chord.

No, major seventh chord not stretchy enough. Simply a seventh chord.

is this a seventh chord?

http://kanji.zinbun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~yasuoka/Bonfa/PHM200-087.gif

hurts, just looking at it...

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0000/581/MI0000581599.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

That's the one I was thinking of. Other one I'm not sure what to call it.

Maybe some kind of inverted thirteenth.

I guess Bonfa's music for the film Black Orpheus, which made something of an international art house splash, might have been favorably regarded by proto-Tropacalia kiddies, at least for finding its way into a groovy new context---though when I finally saw it, thought it was a basically basic, Cliffnotes tracking of the original myth, albeit in an enjoyable Carnivale setting, not something that turns up in the movies all that often, and as close as I'll ever get to the real thing. (Think it was John Litweiler who claimed that LB's theme for the flick was real close to an earlier Sun Ra melody.)
I've got a Bonfa album on the Chesky label: pretty perky, although it's one of those overly faithful digital recordings, with every squeak of the strings. The one that really gets me is his collab with Stan Getz, Jazz Samba Encore! He really gets Getz to soar, or something does (new drug score?). I know that Airto M. claimed that Stan's Brazilian fans loved his non-bossa nova albums, but tended to regard those as "comedy records"---but I wonder if even they wouldn't hear this set as transcending his limited understanding, and/or creative misprision. Placebo or not, Thanks LB!

But Baden Powell might be a more appropriate guitarist to mention here; seems like he just played whatever the hell he wanted.

Will look into Powell, thx -- For Luiz, i'll take Solo in Rio 1959 anyday day of the week.

Bonfa chord is Ab13, can't tell if it includes the 5th or not

(er the first one is, not sure what the second one is)

Bonfa chord is Ab13, can't tell if it includes the 5th or not

(er the first one is, not sure what the second one is)

Some Brazilian-style players of my acquaintance think Baden Powell is the best

Speaking of xpost vanguarda paulista, these two comps of Sao Paulo's remakes/remodels of post-punk etc. are really worth checking out (pretty fair intro, esp. consid word limit):
http://www.villagevoice.com/music/two-new-compilations-document-a-so-paulo-scene-you-never-knew-existed-6403283
And yeah, like the previous poster mentioned, Jucara Marcal's come back pretty strong===check Encarnado on her site! Ncao Zumbi's s/t is very engaging too, as written and played although I think I'd think it was missing some vocal authority, even if I didn't know their albums with the late great Chico Science.

JUst ain't right really. Why can't you get Tom Ze's 70s stuff on cd as in full lps. I just found the Estudando o Samba on flac on an old hard drive. But I think I probably need everything on physical disc. Actually thankfully just discovered this was the 2fer cd version with the lp after it. Think I've spent too long going through the drives already , so hoping i haven't missed the other set somewhere.

Have you heard the first of hisseveral on Luaka Bop? Goes back pretty far, and well-described by xgau:

Brazil Classics 4: The Best of Tom Zé [Luaka Bop/Warner Bros., 1990]
These '73-75 songs catch a poor Brazilian (albeit a Brazilian who says his dad won the lottery) on his way from pop tropicália to leftist jingles and instruments constructed from household appliances, only unlike his buddy Caetano Veloso, he puts the rebellion and satire out there in the music for benighted English speakers to hear. Zé delivers his portion of lulling lyricism, but it's his jarring rhythm-guitar hooks that you've never heard before--and will notice so fast you'll make sure you get to notice them again. The overtly pop-avant moves would have garnered desperate if imprecise Beefheart comparisons in their time, and the Arto Lindsay translations have the makings of international legend. Paul Simon should be so smart. Not to mention postmodern. A+

Not heard that as taht at least did just listen through Estudando o Samba and see that that had been oputon a 2fer cd which was the version I was listening to but seeems to be out of print and expensive now.
But may pick that up.

Just surprised taht nobody has that 70s stuff out currently. Is Mr Bongo working teir way through his catalogue or anything?

I have Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil cds that were pretty recent remasters when I got them aout 5 years ago. Is there a reason why they'd be done and not Zé?

This may fit here, video of Maria Bethania with Bossa Nova Brazil from Oslo in '72
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=566405

may not be overly 'delic though so9 may not be quite tropicalia but she does have direct links with that scene

Love her

Reminds me: here's Olof Arnalds introducing and singing "Maria Bethania", written by her brother Caetano Veloso while in exile: "She has sold her soul to the Devil and bought a flat by the sea" sounds like "Good for you, Sis." Pretty cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf9wRViJehQ

How come I never heard of this album Mande Um Abraço Pra Velha before?

Seems like a comp, so most of it I’ve heard, but still might be useful