Sacy / Saci - Pedro Cem (rojão) from Salve-Se Quem Puder Tem Saci No Pau-De-Arara - Odeon (1960)

Pedro Cem, by Saci (also spelled Sacy) is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. I don't mean only forró or Brazilian music. Pedro Cem is hard to top in any language from any country. It is stunning that it was recorded in 1958, given the nearly perfect recording. Although much of Saci's music is strong and ranks amongst the best from the late 50s and 1960s, Pedro Cem touches on a kind of magic that is hard to achieve. The production, singing, phrasing and recording are stellar. I listed the release year as 1960, but the exact release year is contested. The record is also extremely rare. Sadly, this song has hardly been heard.

Some additional information thanks to Samuel Machado Filho from my YouTube post:

Pedro Cem was written by Júlio Ricardo (pseudonym of João Rodrigues de Lima) and Wernecy Pinto. Pedro Cem was recorded on December 4, 1958. The song was released by Odeon on 78 rpm in March 59 under number 14436-A, matrix 13172. I have seen copies of the compacto, but I have never seen a surviving version of the 78rpm in any condition.

Sacy / Saci - Pedro Sem (rojão) from Salve-Se Quem Puder Tem Saci No Pau-De-Arara - Odeon (1960)

Sacy / Saci - Salve-Se Quem Puder Tem Saci No Pau-De-Arara - Odeon (1960)

forró star Sacy / Saci

Trio Luar Do Sertão - Xaxado No Sertão (xaxado) from Os Brasas Do Xaxado - Bemol (1968)

In the coming months, I am going to post music from my rarest forró albums. 

Trio Luar Do Sertão were active for a few years in the late 1960s and toured with Genival Lacerda. It seems that Lacerda liked the group and assisted with the production of their sole album, Os Brasas Do Xaxado. Some of the songs from the album were partially composed by Lacerda, including Xaxado No Sertão. Although Trio Luar Do Sertão were only active for a few years, they eventually become Os 3 Do Nordeste creating a string of classic albums for CBS under Abdias in the 1970s. 

There are a few reasons why Os Brasas Do Xaxado is exceedingly rare. One: Most forró albums from the 60s were pressed in small numbers and there are few copies on the market for most artists. Two: Bemol was a tiny short-lived label and this record was never reissued. Three: Os 3 Do Nordeste are beloved and collectible, so this album is sought by fans of that group along with collectors of deep forró. Four: The album sounds as good as anything coming from major labels in this era. 

Trio Luar Do Sertão - Xaxado No Sertão (xaxado) from Os Brasas Do Xaxado - Bemol (1968)

Trio Luar Do Sertão - Os Brasas Do Xaxado - Bemol (1968)

Chico Santos - Sou Brasileiro Sim Sinhô & Santana Do Ipanema, Eu Te Amo from Forró em Manaus - RN Discos (1983)

Sometimes, it is nearly impossible to find any information about post-1975 forró artists. After scanning a few pages on forroemvinil, I assumed that Chico Santos would be another mystery until I found a great forró blog called Forró Alagoano by José Lessa:

"We have previously mentioned that Chico Santos was born in Santana do Ipanema in the highland of the Alagoas and besides being a truck driver, he was also a truck driver and, as a result, he took the Brazilian highway to the most distant corners of this continental country, giving his contribution to the northeastern rhythms. This LP was released in 1983 and at this time Chico Santos was living in Manaus and soon conquered the North Region and was successful in Amazonas, Amapá, Acre, Rondonia and far beyond our borders as in Guyana (French, English and Dutch) as well As in Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia. When we converge Chico always remembers the affection that was given to him by the people of the Amazon Region; Currently Chico lives in Carneiros in the backlands of Alagoas and is one of the directors of the Association of the Alagoas Tenderers and soon will be with new work in the square.

This is one of the main works in the career of Chico and was titled "Forró in Manaus" and reunites 9 compositions that takes its signature or with some partners like Zuquinha do Acordeon and Simones. It is worth mentioning the participation of Jorge Paulo, also with the Northern Bandeirante, who along with Joci Batista exerted a great influence on the life of our sertanejo. Even though Chico does not forget his Santana do Ipanema and Alagoas as in bands 8 and 9 of this LP. However, it is worth mentioning the track Alô Manaus "that emphasizes the beauties of the Amazon region.

The repertoire is of excellent good taste and all the tracks are delicious both to be heard or danced, it is worth mentioning the composition "Amor Pra Vida Inteira" by Antonio da Paz and Guriatã de Coqueiro, a samba that shows the gifts of guriatã de Coqueiro, also santanese and reponsavel for taking cordel literature to São Paulo."

Manaus is a fascinating city. It was established in the jungles of the Amazon and became wealthy thanks to the rubber trade. It may hold the distinction of being the most isolated major city. 

I hope Mr. Lessa doesn't mind me lifting his material! I highly recommend visiting his blog: 

http://forroalagoano.com/chico-santos-forro-em-manaus/

Chico Santos - Sou Brasileiro Sim Sinhô from Forró em Manaus - RN Discos (1983)

Chico Santos - Santana Do Ipanema, Eu Te Amo from Forró em Manaus - RN Discos (1983)

Chico Santos - Forró em Manaus - RN Discos (1983)