Forró LP Gringo (the blog) is inactive, but still going strong on YouTube

Hello Forró Fans -

Due to light activity on the blog, I have decided to only keep the YouTube channel active.

Feel free to visit or contact me there. There are, and will be, lots of vintage tunes uploaded.

Cheers!

Forró LP Gringo on YouTube

Jackson Do Pandeiro - No Quebradinho (baião) from Copacabana 78rpm (1955)

Jackson do Pandeiro, along with a few other innovators like Ary Lobo, transformed Luiz Gonzaga's template for baião and forró. There is ample evidence of other acts, especially vocal harmony groups, that took baião to other places in the 1940s and 1950s. Some of these experiments are wonderful and fascinating, most notably 4 Azes e 1 Coringa, but they didn't become the sound of the future. Jackson won the prize. Although not quite as hi-fi, No Quebradinho is not unlike a record from 1974 or 2022. Few artists have ever had such a dramatic impact on the sound of an entire genre. 

Jackson Do Pandeiro - No Quebradinho (baião) from Copacabana 78rpm (1955)

Genival Lacerda - Rojão do trapia from No Forró do Limoeiro - Tropicana (1965)

Rojão do trapia is from Genival Lacerda's first album from 1965. The Tropicana version a reissue. The original cover was less attractive, but featured the exact same tracks. Genival recorded some rare 78rpm records that predate this release. Most were featured on a rare LP called Tomaram O Meu Amor featuring most, but not all, of his 78s. 

Genival Lacerda - Rojão do trapia from No Forró do Limoeiro - Tropicana (1965)

Jacinto Silva - Separação from Eu Chego Já - Tropicana (1973)

Eu Chego Já is a monster 1973 classic from one of one of the masters of forró, Jacinto Silva. His work was consistently strong from his mid-60s CBS material through his albums on the subsidiary label, Tropicana. Jacinto's voice is softer and less punchy than Jackson's or Genival's, but he knew how to connect with a track.

Jacinto Silva - Eu Chego Já - Tropicana (1973)

4 Ases e 1 Coringa - Tudo É Baião from RCA Victor 78rpm (1952)

4 Ases e 1 Coringa sound like they belong to another era. They were the bridge between Luiz Gonzaga and the next generation of acts. In the United States, the era of 4 Ases e 1 Coringa also belonged to crooners like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the Mills Brothers. The Brazilians had their own close harmony vocal stylings. These days, DJs are unlikely to spin 4 Ases e 1 Coringa and you won't hear anything like them on the radio. What was once mainstream now sounds completely strange, with a touch of classical polish. I feel that way about a lot of pre-rock n' roll music. Some of the oddest modern recorded music was released between 1950-1960. 

4 Ases e 1 Coringa - Tudo É Baião from RCA Victor 78rpm (1952)

Zé Do Rojão - Côco De Dona Lili from Berço De Amor (compacto) - Arariboia (1960s)

This week, we feature a rare scorcher from Zé Do Rojão on the obscure Arariboia label. I have been a huge fan after being blown away by his 1975 LP on Premier. Unfortunately, his catalog is sparse and Zé Do Rojão's early compactos are highly desirable.

Zé Do Rojão - Côco De Dona Lili from Berço De Amor (compacto) - Arariboia (1960s)

Jorge Veiga - Cabra Macho (côco-baião Gordurinha) from Copacabana 10" & 78rpm (1955)

It took a while for multiple stars to appear in the wake of Luiz Gonzaga's success from the 1940s. Jorge Veiga, a great voice from 1950s baião, is one of the earliest. Veiga's career extended into the 1970s and included a wealth of great records. Cabra Macho from the self titled 10" was composed by Gordurinha, another great star of forró.

Jorge Veiga - Copacabana 10" & 78rpm (1955)

Jayme Griz / Coral Colégio - Rei Do Congo from Acauã - Mocambo (1968)

Jayme Griz with the Coral Colégio (College Choir) is not a typical post for this blog, but it is connected to northeastern music. The style is Maracatú. 

The Coral Colégio (College Choir) recording of Rei Do Congo from the Acauã LP was recorded in 1968 and is reminiscent of the Quarteto Em Cy's singing from the 1966 Baden & Vinicius LP Os Afro Sambas, which I highly recommend. The effect on record is haunting. It is possible that this album was inspired by the 1963 recording of Missa Luba by Les Troubadours Du Roi Baudouin, a Congolese boys choir that toured Europe and became a sensation. 

Rei Do Congo, written by Griz, was first recorded by Lourdinha Brasil in the late 1950s. Outside of the clear production, Lourdinha's version seems to have more in common with music from the 1930s and sounds dated in the 1950s. Coral Colégio's version sounds spooky and timeless.

 

Jayme Griz / Coral Colégio - Rei Do Congo from Acauã - Mocambo (1968)

Zito Borborema - Tudo Errado (samba-baião) from E Seus Sucessos - RGE (1960s)

Zito Borborema used to be a member of Jackson do Pandeiro's band. He later named his 70s band after the man, calling them "Borborema." This demonstrates the regard that Jackson had for Zito. His fabulous catalog speaks for itself.

 

Zito Borborema - E Seus Sucessos - RGE (1960s)

As Melindrosas - Ciranda, Cirandeiro from compacto - Copacabana (1980)

As Melindrosas combine carimbo, forró and disco packaged as a fun, attractive combo. This is uncommon in a genre either known for gritty, stone-faced, cheaply shot album covers or kinky, staged, double-entendré artistes (men surrounded by scantily clad women) that were becoming popular around this time. As Melindrosas make sense, though. Forró records are for dance floors. Why not add a bit of disco glamour?

As Melindrosas - Ciranda, Cirandeiro from compacto - Copacabana (1980)

Aldair Soares - Alvoroço Do Sertão (baião) from Columbia 78rpm (1954)

Like Luiz Gonzaga and Luiz Vieira, Aldair Soares is one of the great voices of baião. It sounds as if he is being beamed in from a different time. Fortunately, the recording is as powerful as it was when it was cut nearly 70 years ago. 

Aldair Soares - Alvoroço Do Sertão (baião) from Columbia 78rpm (1954)

Abdias E Sua Sanfona - O Mané from Deixa Comigo! - Harmony : CBS (1981)

Thanks to his position as head honcho and artistic director for forró at CBS, Abdias recorded more albums for the label than any other artist. His early albums were almost exclusively instrumental, but eventually he began adding guest vocalists. O Mané is a great vocal track with masterful production reminiscent of the glorious early 1970s CBS forró sound. 

Abdias E Sua Sanfona - Deixa Comigo! - Harmony : CBS (1991)

Juca do Acordeon - Zé Praxedes (baião) from Ouvindo - Sinter (1950s)

The 1950s was a strange time for forró. The 78rpm was slowly being phased out and a few lucky artists got a transitional 10" vinyl compilation of their 78rpm singles. While his work remains fairly obscure, a portion Juca do Acordeon's jaunty work is preserved thanks to this early 10". Zé Praxedes is a fine baião in the style of Luiz Gonzaga.

Juca do Acordeon - Ouvindo - Sinter (1950s) 

Olival Santos - Na Minha Casa Todo Mundo Canta from compacto - EAE (1970s)

Na Minha Casa Todo Mundo Canta is a rare killer in the Jacinto Silva style. Olival Santos made a few appearances on compilations in the 1970s, but it seems that he never had solo release.

 

Olival Santos - Na Minha Casa Todo Mundo Canta from compacto - EAE (1970s)

Genival Lacerda - Forró Do Cabra Zoró from Mungangueiro Prá Daná - Fontana (1970)

It always feels great to revisit the mighty Genival Lacerda, who sadly passed from COVID-19 complications at the ripe old age of 89 in January of this year (2021). Genival was one of the last survivors of the great second wave of forró singers beginning in the 1950s. Forró Do Cabra Zoró, written by Elias Soares and Genicé Moraes, features an amazing, swelling accordion riff. Lacerda's songs usually featured something special that elevated his music above the pack. 

Genival Lacerda - Mungangueiro Prá Daná - Fontana (1970)

Mêves Gama - Tomanda Da Fogueira (baião) from Viva São João n.3 - Mocambo (1960s)

The São João festival is a yearly June Brazilian harvest celebration. Viva São João was a six volume collection of live northeastern music released by Mocambo in the 1960s. The LPs featured famous artists, like Jacinto Silva and Genival Lacerda, and a number of people like Mêves Gama who are interesting, but far more obscure. 

Viva São João n.3 - Mocambo (1960s)

Luiz Wanderley - Matuto Transviado (côco-baião) from Baiano Burro Nasce Morto compacto - Chantecler (1959)

Luiz Wanderley is one of the few all-around entertainers in forró, with interesting and collectible records in the samba and forró styles. Matuto Transviado, featured here from the Baiãno Burro Nasce Morto compacto, was also available on the LP version. 

Luiz Wanderley - Baiano Burro Nasce Morto compacto - Chantecler (1959)

Guaraci Do Pandeiro - O Vendedor De Caranguejos (côco) from Nordeste Em LP - Estúdio 7 (1960s)

Guaraci (aka Guaracy) released a single on RCA, an LP on Trinufo and appeared on a compilation on Estúdio . These were all confined to the 1960s. These records are particularly scarce. This is true for virtually all 60s forró. Em Nordeste is a compilation featuring several forró heavyweights. Interestingly, compilations in Brazil almost always feature exclusive recordings, making them nearly, and sometimes more, valuable than artist studio LPs and compactos.

 

Guaraci Do Pandeiro - O Vendedor De Caranguejos (côco) from Nordeste Em LP - Estúdio 7 (1960s)

Jacinto Silva - Meu Xodó from Agora Tu Pega E Vira - CBS (1971)

If I could make a single LP compilation featuring my favorite forró songs, Meu Xodó would absolutely be included. It is one of the triumphs of Jacinto Silva's recorded work and a brilliant production from the best forró label of the early 1970s, CBS.

Jacinto Silva - Meu Xodó from Agora Tu Pega E Vira - CBS (1971)

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Chu Chu Beleza from Tem Mulher, Tô Lá - CBS (1973)

Early 1970s CBS era forró LPs are arguably the pinnacle. The production, recording and mixes were almost always exceptional. If you had great material, and Jackson Do Pandeiro always did, it was the right place at the right time. Unlike many acts on CBS, Jackson chose to bring in his own band vs. the house session musicians provided by Abdias. Tem Mulher, Tô Lá was his last LP for CBS. While his 2nd and 3rd LPs on CBS did not quite reach the peak of O Dono Do Forró, there is plenty of gold on Tem Mulher, Tô Lá. In fact, Jackson sounds so vital, it is hard to believe that he would only live another 8 years.

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Tem Mulher, Tô Lá - CBS (1973)