Gerson Filho apresenta Clemilda - Maria Ô Ô - RCA (1967)

Clemilda may be the second most prolific forró star next to Marinés. Like Marinés, who was married to Abdias, Clemilda was linked to Gerson Filho. They recorded a number albums together, beginning with this one in 1967. In 1968, RCA issued Clemilda's first solo album. Maria Ô Ô, from her first appearance on vinyl with Gerson Filho, is a great little pop song with a vocal train sound featured in the chorus. It is unfortunate that forró was trapped in Brazil, because we have not only missed out on great music, but great pop music. 

Gerson Filho apresenta Clemilda - RCA (1967)

Hélio Lacerda - São Jorge from Arrasta-Pé Em Caruaru - Mocambo (1960s)

Mocambo released amazing singles in the 1950s through the 1950s. Arrasta-Pé Em Caruaru is packed with good songs, including São Jorge from Hélio Lacerda and Só Gosto De Um Amor Só by Nerize Paiva, featured here in March of 2018. Although these songs were also released on vinyl as 33 1/3 speed 7" compacto singles, pressings were usually small and these might be impossibly rare if it wasn't for compilations like this one. 

Compilations like Pau De Sebo, started in 1968 by CBS, contained original material. It is possible that they wanted to offer a sampling of contemporary artists or didn't have a back catalog of forró to complete with other labels. Fontana released compilations with old and new material. Mocambo and Rozenblit consistently used material from their considerable back catalog. We are fortunate that they did. These are essential historical documents, especially when they featured 78rpm singles. Arrasta-Pé Em Caruaru is a strong LP, thanks to the number of strong songs. 

 Arrasta-Pé Em Caruaru - Mocambo (1960s)

Ataulfo Alves - O Requebrado Da Mulata from compacto - Polydor (1968)

I got into forró after discovering the sound via Gilberto Gil weaved throughout Tropicalia. Jackson do Pandeiro, the king of forró along with Luiz Gonzaga, was one of Gil's touted heroes. However, direct links to the artists that influenced Jackson do Pandeiro is cloudy and indirect. The man was incredibly original. Ataulfo Alves, a friend of Jackson's, recorded O Requebrado Da Mulata in 1968 and, although samba, sounds uncannily like Jackson do Pandeiro's O Dono Do Forró from 1971. This may be one of the missing links to Jackson do Pandeiro's later sound.

Ataulfo Alves Eternamente Polydor 1968

Ataulfo Alves Tradição LP 1968