Marinês E Sua Gente - Peba Na Pimenta from Vamos Xaxar & Rico Ri À Toa - Sinter (1957)

Vamos Xaxar, like many 10" records from this period, is a compilation of 78rpm singles. This is the first appearance on vinyl from the mighty Marinês E Sua Gente. Peba Na Pimenta was co-written by the great João do Vale. Vale's version appeared on his beloved 1965 Philips album, Poeta Do Povo. I am uncertain if there is an earlier recording by Vale. This video includes both the xoté style recording from the Sinter 10" and the group appearance from the film Rico Ri Á Toa, which is faster, tighter, has higher fidelity and in my opinion, is infinitely better. Marinês is riveting throughout. 

Marinês E Sua Gente - Vamos Xaxar - Sinter (1957)

Marinês & Sua Gente - Clareou from Siu Siu Siu - RCA (1964)

Clareou, from Marinês & Sua Gente 1964 RCA LP Siu, Siu, Siu is pulled from a superb 2004 CD reissue. It is somewhat miraculous that these albums were reissued at all. 2004 was five years after Napster when the CD market was beginning to decline. Forró, sadly, has always been a low priority for remastering series. It has been 40+ years since many of the labels had their heyday. Rozenblit's factory suffered a flood that destroyed much of it's archive in 1975. This included Mocambo's considerable and important catalog, which means that is at least one label where any future reissue would need to come from vinyl and shellac. It is becoming more and more important to care for high quality vinyl copies of records that have never been reissued. Luckily, vinyl is far more durable than tape. It was wise of RCA to start a digital archive when it did.

Marinês & Sua Gente - Siu Siu Siu - RCA (1964) 

Marinês & Sua Gente - Pra Cha-Cha from Coisas Do Norte - RCA (1963)

Marinês was the only person in all of forró that could wear the crazy Lampião bandit costume and look like a bad ass doing it. Pra Cha-Cha is not from an LP, but the excellent 2004 CD reissue of this classic album. Someone at RCA did a great job with reissues, especially Ary Lobo and Marinês. Unfortunately, they didn't finish the catalog of either of the artists. Luiz Gonzaga also has fine reissues, but his gets a slight demerit because they do not feature the full original LP artwork. Regardless, we have crystal clear remastered versions of these amazing albums. Now, even the CD reissues have become quite scarce. 

Marinês & Sua Gente - Coisas Do Norte - RCA (1963) 

Marinês - Saudades de Campina Grande from Aquarela Noredestina - Sinter (1959)

Aquarela Nordestina (Northeastern Watercolor) is one of the earliest releases from the long, blessed career of Marinês. Saudades de Campina Grande is a great song, with strong echoes of Luiz Gonzaga while also sounding unlike anything else at the time. There were female forró singers, but many seemed more middle class and polished. Marinês was the real deal. The track was written by Rosil Calvalcanti, who penned a string of still-beloved hits for nearly all of the great singers from the period, including Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson do Pandeiro and Genival Lacerda. 

Marinês - Aquarela Noredestina - Sinter (1959)

Marinês e Sua Gente - Eu Quero Um Xodó & É Tempo De Voltar from Só Pra Machucar - CBS (1973)

This is the 3rd post in my Anastácia / Marinês early 70s feature. Só Pra Machucar may be my favorite Marinês album. It is arguable that 1973 was the peak of her career. Her recording of the Anastácia / Dominguinhos classic Um Quero Um Xodó may be the definitive version of this song. My favorite song on the Só Pra Machucar LP is É Tempo De Voltar, also written by Anastácia and Dominguinhos. The song has a certain rhythmic echoing throb that I associate with Os 3 Do Nordeste albums. Although the rhythmic type of song is not listed, it seems like a funky, slow xaxado.

Marinês e Sua Gente - É Tempo De Voltar from Só Pra Machucar - CBS (1973) 

Marinês e Sua Gente - Eu Quero Um Xodó from Só Pra Machucar - CBS (1973) 

Marinês e Sua Gente - Só Pra Machucar - CBS (1973) 

Marinês E Sua Gente - Quatro Fia Fême (baião) & Sanharô (tambô) from compacto duplo & Coisas Do Norte - RCA (1963)

Thanks to the endorsement and support of Luiz Gonzaga, Marinês had a long and fruitful career. Her records are still very collectible today. Although she wasn't the first woman to step into the baião / forró genre, she may be the best known and loved. These tracks are from a compacto on RCA from 1963. Both of these tracks appeared on her LP Coisas Do Norte, but the artwork on the LP and single are completely different. 

Marinês E Sua Gente - Quatro Fia Fême (baião) from compacto duplo - RCA (1963)



Marinês E Sua Gente - Sanharô (tambô) from compacto duplo - RCA (1963)




This particular compacto duplo (meaning double compact or EP) was released in 1963. Marinês, looking as striking as ever, is in the center. The fellow playing accordion is Abdias, who later when on to head up CBS A&R for forró and took Marinês with him. The 4 songs originated on the Marinês E Sua Gente LP, Coisas Do Norte. This particular RCA Victor compacto duplo (a double compact single commonly called an EP in the US and UK) contained no exclusive material, but the sported a nifty, unique picture sleeve.

Marinês E Sua Gente - compacto duplo - RCA (1960s)

Marinês – Amor é Mais Amor from Mandacarú - CBS 1968

Marinés – Amor é Mais Amor from Mandacarú - CBS 1968

Like Luiz Gonzaga, Marinês always has at least a few excellent tracks on every LP. She also had the best band in the business, along with Jackson do Pandeiro's Borborema. Marinês was married to Abdias, who, outside of Jackson and Gonzaga, may be the single most important musician in all of forró, thanks to his A&R work at CBS in the late 1960s and 1970s. Marinês and Abdias were a killer team and a force of nature.   

Marinês e sua gente - Mandacarú - CBS 1968

Marinês in bandit gear

Forró On CD - Brazil Classics 3, Ary Lobo, Marinês e Sua Gente, Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson do Pandeiro, Genival Lacerda, Jacinto Silva & Os 3 Do Nordeste

Forró On CD

ForróLPGringo is 2 years old!

I discovered forró about 7 years ago. If forró got the royal treatment on CD, like 60s and 70s rock has in the US and UK, I probably never would have started this blog. Alas, there is a dearth of information about this great genre and, most importantly, vintage forró music, in general, is heavily underrepresented in digital form. The almost total lack of availability of forró on CDs led me to seeking the original vinyl. Hopefully, my archiving efforts will turn a few people onto this great music. That said, a few artists have some noteworthy CDs worth snatching up. In fact, some of these CDs are as scarce as the vintage vinyl.

Brazil Classics 3 - forró

I am eternally grateful to Luaka Bop and David Byrne for this compilation. I recently discovered that this was released on vinyl in a few countries. My copy comes from Brazil, but it was also issued in Germany. Although it does not feature the cream of every featured artist's catalog, it was a fine enough starter to peak my interest.

Brazil Classics 3 - forró CD and vinyl LP

Ary Lobo

Ary Lobo was amazing and his work sounds as incredible today as it was the day it was recorded. Ary's 2 major labels in the 50s and 60s were RCA and Cantagalo. Nothing from Cantagalo, his late 60s label, has been reissued. Of Ary Lobo's RCA catalog, 5 random albums out of 9 were reissued. Although it's a shame that his entire RCA catalog did not get re-released, which includes many compactos (singles and EPs) that were not on the LPs, the CDs that were released sound fantastic. The Brazil Popular compilation includes random songs from his RCA catalog and a few tunes released by Lobo in the 1970s.

RCA period:

• 1958 - Último Pau de Arara - RCA (10" LP) - never reissued
• 1958 - Forró com Ary Lobo - RCA (LP)
• 1960 - Aqui Mora o Ritmo - RCA (LP) - never reissued
• 1961 - Cheguei Na Lua - RCA (LP)
• 1962 - Ary Lobo - RCA (LP)
• 1963 - Poeira de Ritmos - RCA (LP)
• 1964 - Forró em Calcaia - RCA (LP) - never reissued
• 1965 - Zé Mané - RCA (LP)
• 1966 - Quem é o Campeão? - RCA (LP) - never reissued

Ary Lobo - História De Um Órfão from Poeira De Ritmos - RCA Victor (1963)

Ary Lobo on CD

Marinês E Sua Gente

Marinés also has a vast catalog. She was lucky enough to record for 2 of the best major labels in the 60s and 70s, RCA and CBS. Some songs from her fantastic CBS period have ended up on random CD compilations like Maxximum. Her RCA catalog, with the exception of the first LP she recorded after leaving Sinter and some compactos (singles), were beautifully reissued on CD.

RCA period:

• Marinês e Sua Gente (1960) RCA LP - never reissued
• O Nordeste e seu ritmo (1961) RCA LP
• Coisas do Norte (1963) RCA LP
• Siu, siu, siu (1964) RCA LP
• Maria Coisa (1965) RCA LP
• Meu benzim (1966) RCA LP

Marinês e Sua Gente RCA catalog on CD

Luiz Gonzaga

It is unsurprising that Luiz Gonzaga has gotten the best CD treatment, since he is effectively the king of forró and baião, credited as launching the genre. Although his RCA CDs were reissued with versions of the original artwork, his EMI Odeon work has appeared on a few random compilations. I still haven't picked up all of his work on CD, although what I have found sounds excellent. Again, bravo to RCA for taking the time to do this well.

Luiz Gonzaga on CD

Jackson do Pandeiro

Poor Jackson. Arguably, the most influential forró artist has appeared on multiple weird compilation CDs. Some of the CDs are quite good. 20 Super Sucessos has a shite cover but is a decent overview of his CBS years. 50 anos de ritmos seems like it would be comprehensive based on the title, but it only features his earliest pre-1962 Copacabana work. Although those songs are fine, it's arguable that his 1960 Philips through 1970s CBS period was better. The Jackson and Jacinto Silva Brasil Popular compilation is great... except it only features 13 songs. It short-changes Jackson, Jacinto and the buyer. It's worth buying for the Jacinto Silva songs alone, who does not have any other reissues. As far as I am aware, there are no legitimate reissues featuring any of Jackson's original albums with artwork.

Jackson do Pandeiro on CD

Elino Julião, Messias Holanda, Trio Nordestino, Os 3 Do Nordeste, Genival Lacerda and Zenilton

The Brasil Popular Os 3 Do Nordeste, 20 Super Sucessos and A Popularidade de Genival Lacerda CDs are great and well worth hunting down. Most of the other compilations don't serve the artists particularly well. Generally speaking, I hate the Raizes Nordestinas series. For some reason, those are almost always disappointing.

Elino Julião, Messias Holanda, Trio Nordestino, Os 3 Do Nordeste, Genival Lacerda and Zenilton on CD

Marinês - Na Peneira Do Amor from Na Peneira Do Amor - CBS 1971

Marinês - Na Peneira Do Amor from Na Peneira Do Amor - CBS 1971

The ladies of forró, part 4 of 4! Marinês is back on forró LP gringo, with the self titled track from her 1971 CBS LP. 1971 was a hot year for CBS forró artists. Jackson do Pandeiro and Elino Julião recorded my favorite songs from their vast catalogs that year. Marinês' work for CBS and RCA was exceptionally strong, often trumping the male artists in the forró dude ranch.

Marinês - Na Peneira Do Amor from Na Peneira Do Amor - CBS 1971

Click on the video above to play the song.

iOS? click here: http://youtu.be/56W6ROB32cM

Marinês e Sua Gente with Luiz Gonzaga

Marinês - Sem Vergonheira from Canção Da Fé - CBS 1972

Marinês - Sem Vergonheira from Canção Da Fé - CBS 1972

Click on the video above to play the song.

iOS? click here: http://youtu.be/4y15HSaFbyc

As forró matured, the rules for the genre became more strict. Jackson do Pandeiro and Genival Lacerda would break rules, but most groups, especially in the 70s, were fairly strict about instrumentation and song form. Marinês' material was more varied. She recorded a lot of material written by people outside of the family of forró writers. Antônio Carlos e Jocáfi were an accomplished singer / songwriter team, well known for a variety of border-busting MPB hits, including “Você Abusou,” famously recorded as “Fais comme l'oiseau” by Michel Fugain Et Big Bazar. Sem Vergonheira, also written by Carlos e Jocáfi, is not as well known outside of Brazil. It was first recorded by Os Incríveis in 1971. Their interpretation reminds me of soft pop like Harpers Bizarre with fluffy Sergio Mendes grooves. Marinês' version is cooking with gas.

Incríveis - Sem Vergonheira from 1910 - RCA 1971

Os Incríveis - Sem Vergonheira from 1910 - RCA 1971

Click on the video above to play the song.

Marinês enjoys the warm glow of Luiz Gonzaga

Gilberto Gil, Marinês & Nara Leão - Vento De Maio - 1966/1967

Gilberto Gil - Vento De Maio (demo) - from Retirante - discobertas 1966 (unreleased until 2006)

Click on the video above to play the song.

Marinês - Vento De Maio - from self titled - CBS 1967

 Click on the video above to play the song.

 Nara Leão - Vento De Maio - from Vento De Maio - Philips 1967

 Click on the video above to play the song.

It was through Tropicalia that I discovered forró thanks to the classic work of Gilberto Gil. Gil defied genres more than just about any other artist.  He could blend Bossa Nova, forró, coco, samba, psychedelic folk and acid rock with ease.  Gil’s wildly phrased songs with northeastern grooves fascinated long before I had heard of the genre called forró.

I thought that it would be interesting to post 3 different versions of Gil’s Vento De Maio. These are not the only versions from the period, though.  The song was also recorded by Claudia and Wilson Simonal. Gil’s version only exists as a rough, slightly distorted demo from 1966 and remained unreleased until a 2006 2-cd set on the discobertas label.  Although the CD was issued recently, most copies have been snatched up by collectors and is hard to find.  It’s well worth tracking down if you are interested in early singles and the formative years of Gil’s career. Gil’s music from this period is more spellbinding bossa-samba than forró or Tropicalia. Nara Leão and Marinês both recorded versions of the Vento De Maio in 1967 with very different flavors.  Stylistically, Gil’s demo fell between Leão’s and Marinês’. Both recordings seemed to be living in the same world as Gil’s, but used alternate forms of expression. Leão maintained a bossa-samba cool. Marinês’ version was decidedly more boisterous, pop and northeastern. Leão was like a snake charmer and Marinês was a northeastern goddess and controller of fates.

Marinês’ (pronounced Mad-dee-nayse for you gringos) self titled 1967 LP was the first forró LP that I bought, mainly to hear her version of Gilberto Gil’s Vento De Maio, which had not been reissued on CD at the time.  

Nara Leão, Marinês & Gilberto Gil

Marinês - Peba Na Pimenta - from Rico Ri À Toa (film) - unreleased version* - 1957

Click on the video above to play the song.

Marinês - Peba Na Pimenta - from Rico Ri À Toa (film) - unreleased version* - 1957

This is a bonus post... call it forró video gringo.  Peba Na Pimenta was a huge hit for Marinês (pronounced Mad-dee-naise, for you gringos) back in 1957.  This version, recorded for a film called Rico Ri À Toa, never appeared on LP as far as I’m aware. The hit version was much slower. It’s a shame, because I prefer this version by a hundred cows and two deserts.  It was co-written by the amazing João do Vale, who will appear as a future post.  The film shows the classic forró group instrumentation established by Luiz Gonzaga:  zabumba (bass drum with 2 heads played with a bacalhau and soft mallet), accordion, triangle and traditional outfits with cangaceiros hats.  Of course, recordings like this one were frequently beefed up with guitar or cavaquinho.

Marinês is a legend.  She was the first big female star in forró and according to many accounts, was the first woman to form a forró group.  Her career started in 1949, with her husband Abdias (a legend in his own right) and their group Casal da Alegria (Fun Couple).  She was fortunate enough to be the protégée Mr Big Baião Britches himself, Luiz Gonzaga.  Marinês released over 30 albums, many of which were beautifully recorded and released on RCA and CBS.  She had the great fortune of recording for great labels with super studios.  Most forró stars were not so lucky. Although later her music crossed over with MPB, she always had more than a sprinkle of nordeste.

* I swiped this video from YouTube.  I should credit the blog Retalhos Históricos de Campina Grande, who originally posted the video.  I fixed the audio, which was mono in one channel and had a buzzing noise in the other, which I removed.