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Saturday, September 19, 2015

Moura Junior - selections from OOOOOXÊNTE! - Philips (1962)

OOOOOXÊNTE!, by Moura Junior (also spelled Jr.) is a classic. It's a class act, from the cover, to the production to the LP pressing. This album is a true gem. The bass response is particularly fantastic. Some acts in the late 1950s and 1960s used double bass, which thunders through the vinyl and sounds mind-blowing. OOOOOXÊNTE! is one of 2 LPs that Moura Jr. recorded for Philips. 

Moura Junior's second LP was called Embolabalanço. It was more understated than OOOOOXÊNTE!, with orchestration and slower numbers. This seemed to be a trend at the time. Jackson Do Pandeiro and Ary Lobo also recorded albums in the mid-60s that were jazzier, with more horns and samba numbers. The two albums are both great and very different. Almost shockingly so.

Around the time OOOOOXÊNTE! was recorded, Moura Jr. also had stellar tracks on a compilation with Jackson Do Pandeiro and others called São João Alegre. What Moura Jr. did after his short stint on Philips is a mystery. 

Moura Junior had a thing for the name Maria, which pops on the album over and over. Many rock acts claim to have invented the concept album, but they were being recorded in Brazil as far back as 1958 with Gilvan Chaves' Encantos Do Nordeste. 

At any rate, the songs on this album are great, with a lot going for it. A total classic. Like many 60s Philips LPs from Brazil, particularly for forró artists, tracking down copies may take a while.


Moura Junior - Os Olhos Da Cabocla from OOOOOXÊNTE! - Philips (1962)



Moura Junior - Mariazinha from OOOOOXÊNTE! - Philips (1962)




Moura Junior - Eu Sou De Menor from OOOOOXÊNTE! - Philips (1962)




Moura Junior - Espera Maria from OOOOOXÊNTE! - Philips (1962)



Moura Junior - Colo De Maria from OOOOOXÊNTE! - Philips (1962)




Moura Junior - OOOOOXÊNTE! - Philips (1962)

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Trio Nagô - Capoeira (y Roberto Luna) - RCA (1968), Solidão from Chansons du Folklore Brésilien - Decca (195_), Baião Do Chofer from Aquarela Cearense - Sinter (1954)

Trio Nagô are part of a tradition of vocal combos performing baião songs that existed from the 1940s until the 1960s. This style seemed to die off as performers like Ary Lobo and Jackson do Pandeiro defined the new style of forró (and baião) beginning in the mid-1950s. This post spans the career of Trio Nagô, with selections from the mid-50's through their stunning Capoeira single from 1968. The growth of the group, as well as the evolving sound of the times, is evident in all of these recordings. Although Capoeira is more immediate and captivating as a performance and production piece, I love the casual grace of Solidão. They are exceptional because they are so drastically different and captivating in their own right.

Trio Nagô y Roberto Luna - Capoeira from compacto simples - RCA (1968)



Trio Nagô - Solidão from Chansons du Folklore Brésilien - Decca (195_)



Trio Nagô - Baião Do Chofer from Aquarela Cearense - Sinter (1954)






Trio Nagô y Roberto Luna - Capoeira compacto simples - RCA (1968)
Trio Nagô - Chansons du Folklore Brésilien - Decca (195_)


Trio Nagô - Aquarela Cearense - Sinter (1954)

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Jacinto Silva - 6 selections from Cantando - CBS (1965)

Jacinto Silva - 6 selections from Cantando - CBS (1965)

I usually try to cherry pick the best tracks from forró albums and transfer them in the highest possible quality. With Jacinto Silva's trilogy of 60s albums, that is nearly impossible to do. Highly collectible and justly revered, these albums are killers and probably rank amongst the 30 best forró albums of all time. After 15 seconds of Côco Do M, you know exactly why Jacinto Silva is a godzilla of the genre. He skips the salad and goes straight for the meat. When he played a gig, I bet there wasn't an empty spot on the floor.

Jacinto Silva - Côco Do M from Cantando - CBS (1965)



Jacinto Silva - Côco Sincopado from Cantando - CBS (1965)



Jacinto Silva - No Pinicado from Cantando - CBS (1965)



Jacinto Silva - Rabo De Saia from Cantando - CBS (1965)



Jacinto Silva - O Cantador from Cantando - CBS (1965)



Jacinto Silva - Pra Rapaziada from Cantando - CBS (1965)



Jacinto Silva - Cantando - CBS (1965)