Discography: Page 1

TRACK LISTING
TRK	SONG TITLE	COMPOSER	TIME
1	Mas Que Nada	Jorge Ben	2:37
2	One Note Samba	Jobim-Mendonca/Wechter	1:46
3	The Joker	Newley-Bricusse	2:37
4	Going Out Of My Head	Randazzo-Weinstein	3:00
5	Tim Dom Dom	Joao Mello-Coda	1:51
6	Daytripper	Lennon-McCartney	3:09
7	Agua De Beber	Jobim-de Moraes-Gimbel	2:28
8	Slow Hot Wind	Mancini-Gimbel	2:32
9	O Pato	Silva-Teixeira	1:58
10	Berimbau	Powell-Gilbert-de Moraes	3:15

The Brasil '66 debut album on A&M opens with a bang--"Mas Que Nada" was, and still is, one of Mendes' finest recordings. Using a sparse combination of female vocalists, drums, piano, bass and percussion, this album was Brasil '66 at its leanest. "One Note Samba/Spanish Flea" cleverly combines two popular songs, one of Bossa Nova fame, the other straight out of the Tijuana Brass catalog. Henry Mancini's "Lujon" (from the excellent Mr. Lucky Goes Latin album) is given vocals and retitled "Slow Hot Wind". "O Pato" and "Agua De Beber" cover a couple more tracks from the popular Brazilian repertoire, and the American popular scene is represented by "Going Out Of My Head" and "Day Tripper". One of the more interesting tunes here is "Berimbau", based on a Brazilian chant. (Interesting tidbit: "Mas Que Nada" has been misspelled, in perpetuity, as "Mais Que Nada" on Brasil 66 albums!) Pictured here is a rare half-speed pressing issued by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs, which is notable for its excellent clarity. If only A&M's own reissues on CD sounded this good!

Produced by: Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss
Arranged by: Sergio Mendes
Released: 1967

TRACK LISTING
TRK	SONG TITLE	COMPOSER	TIME
1	Constant Rain (Chove Chuva)	J. Ben-N. Gimbel	3:15
2	Cinnamon And Clove	J. Mandel-M. Bergman-A. Bergman	2:26
3	Watch What Happens	M. Legrand-N. Gimbel	2:44
4	For Me	Lobo-Gimbel	3:21
5	Bim Bom	J. Gilberto	1:52
6	Night And Day	C. Porter	3:30
7	Triste	Jobim	2:09
8	Gente	R. Gilbert-M. Valle-P. Valle	1:52
9	Wave	Jobim	2:20
10	So Danco Samba	Jobim-de Moraes	1:57

This sophomore effort of Brasil '66 covers a lot of the same ground as the first album. Most notable is the addition of guitarist John Pisano, from the Tijuana Brass. There are more excellent arrangements; the standouts are "Triste", "Chove Chuva" and "Night and Day".

Produced by: Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss
Arranged by: Sergio Mendes ( * Dick Hazzard / ** Dave Grusin )
Released: 1967

TRACK LISTING
TRK	SONG TITLE	COMPOSER	TIME
1	With A Little Help From My Friends	J. Lennon-P. McCartney	2:33
2	Roda	Gilberto Gil-Joao Augusto	2:22
3	Like A Lover *	Caymmi-Motta-M. Bergman-A. Bergman	3:51
4	The Frog	Joao Donato	2:42
5	Tristeza (Goodbye Sadness)	Harold Lobo-Niltinho-N. Gimbel (Eng lyric)	2:52
6	The Look Of Love **	Bacharach-David	2:42
7	Pra Dizer Adeus (To Say Goodbye)	Edu Lobo-Torquato Netto-Lani Hall	3:03
8	Batucada (The Beat)	Marcos Valle-Paulo Valle	2:19
9	So Many Stars **	Sergio Mendes-A. Bergman & M. Bergman	4:25
10	Look Around	S. Mendes-A. Mattos-A. Bergman & M. Bergman	2:59

Comprised of the same musicians as the first two Brasil '66 album, there are a few new twists. The most prominent are the two Lani Hall showcases, "Like A Lover" and "So Many Stars", both lightly sprinkled with strings. Other favorites include "Roda", "Batucada", the title track and the distinctly Mendes arrangement of "With A Little Help From My Friends".

Produced by: Sergio Mendes
Arranged by: Sergio Mendes
Released 1968

TRACK LISTING
TRK	SONG TITLE	COMPOSER	TIME
1	Fool On The Hill	J. Lennon-P. McCartney	3:15
2	Festa	D. Caymmi-N. Motta-Lani Hall (Eng. lyric)	4:18
3	Casa Forte	Edu Lobo	4:04
4	Canto Triste	Edu Lobo-Lani Hall (Eng. lyric)	4:17
5	Upa, Neguinho	E. Lobo-G. Guarnieri	2:54
6	Lapinha	B. Powell-P. Pinheiro	3:08
7	Scarborough Fair	A. Garfunkel-P. Simon	3:19
8	When Summer Turns To Snow	D. Grusin-M. Bergman-A. Bergman	5:07
9	Laia Ladaia (Reza)	E. Lobo-R Guerra	3:13

This album presents a second version of Brasil '66, including the excellent Brazilian musicians Rubens Bassini, Sebastiao Neto and Dom Um Romao. The string arrangements were written by Dave Grusin. What's different is the direction in which the music on this album took. Turning from pop music influences, these songs reflect more of the Brazilian heritage of the musicians, and are more adventurous as a result. "Festa", "Casa Forte" and "Lapinha" are my personal favorites on the album. Beside these fine tracks, the most-recognized arrangements from this album would be the two cover versions on this album: "Fool On The Hill" and "Scarborough Fair". In case you're wondering what kind of "hill" the "fools" on the cover are sitting on, on the original LP gatefold jacket, take a closer look! Of all the original Brasil '66 albums, this is the only one to be released domestically on CD (currently on Polygram's Rebound budget label).

Produced by: Sergio Mendes & Herb Alpert
Arranged by: Sergio Mendes
Released: 1969

TRACK LISTING
TRK	SONG TITLE	COMPOSER	TIME
1	(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay	Steve Cropper-Otis Redding	3:08
2	Viola	M. Valle-P. Valle	3:47
3	Song Of No Regrets	Sergio Mendes-Lani Hall	3:55
4	Salt Sea	S. Mendes-S. Neto-L. Hall	2:29
5	Empty Faces	M. Nascimento-L. Hall	2:48
6	Pretty World	A. Adolfo-T. Gaspar-A. Bergman-M. Bergman	3:20
7	Dois Dias	Dori Caymmi-Nelson Motta	2:29
8	You Stepped Out Of A Dream	Gus Kahn-Nacio Herb Brown	2:34
9	Crystal Illusions (Memorias de Marta Sare)	E. Lobo-L. Hall-J. Guarnieri	7:50

After the upbeat Fool On The Hill, Crystal Illusions seems quiet in comparison with such easygoing fare as "Viola" and "Song of No Regrets". Milton Nascimento makes an excellent contribution with "Empty Faces", and "Pretty World" has to be one of the most cheerful songs Brasil '66 ever recorded. The album's centerpiece is the pensive title track.