Luiz Gonzaga - Rosinha (baião) from the Vida De Vaqueiro compacto - RCA (1961)

Luiz Gonzaga's impact on forró and northeastern Brazil is like the invention of electricity. Everything changed after he put the northeastern sound on 78rpm in the early 1940s. His career spanned the 78rpm, compacto, 10" LP, vinyl and CD era. It is amazing that he had such a huge impact on Brazilian music, yet the world is still barely aware of the entire genre. Rosinha appeared on a rare compacto and the LP "Lua" from 1961.

Luiz Gonzaga - Vida De Vaqueiro compacto - RCA (1961)

João Silva - O Côco Tava Bom from Sertanejo 78rpm (likely late 1950s early 1960s)

João Silva is a legend in the forró community, both for his prowess in the genre and for the scarcity of his high-quality early recordings. This particular 78rpm is as rare as hen's teeth and deserves to be out in the world with the best sound possible.  

João Silva - O Côco Tava Bom from Sertanejo 78rpm (likely late 1950s early 1960s)

Clemilda - Eu Vou Tambem from Eu Vou Tambem - MusiColor (1975)

The classic period of forró begins to morph in the mid-1970s. Carimbo and disco influences begin to weave into the sound. Gradually, drum kits were added until they become ubiquitous in the 1980s. Eu Vou Tambem is pure old school forró with clean, belting 1970s production featuring some of the best session musicians of the era. 1975 seems like the end of that era, in retrospect. The quality of the productions and songwriting seemed to wane around 1976. 

Curiously, there are a lot of 1970s forró album covers featuring musicians standing in a park or on a median in the bushes staring at the sun. Tight Budgets?

Clemilda - Eu Vou Tambem - MusiColor (1975)