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) 

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)

Ataulfo Alves - Pai Joaquim d'Angola from Suas Pastoras e Seus Sucessos - Sinter (1958)

Lots of great records came out of Brazil in the 1950s and 1960s. Unusually, Suas Pastoras e Seus Sucesso, in various forms, got descent distribution outside of Brazil along with other albums from Alves. He was a major influence on Jackson do Pandeiro. There were echoes of Ataulfo Alves' 60s album sounds on O Dono Do Forró, which I will feature here in the coming year. Today, shake a tail to Pai Joaquim d'Angola. Oh Baby....

Ataulfo Alves - Suas Pastoras e Seus Sucessos - Sinter (1958)

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)

Zé Fernandes - Sou Que Nem Mineiro & Forró Do Zé Vicente from Dança Na Roça é Bom - Sinter (1957)

This is the second classic Zé Fernandes vinyl appearance on my blog. His later LP, Forró do Mané Vito was featured here. His only two full length releases were this 10" (below) and an LP. Fernandes also released a handful of rare 78rpm singles. Although 10" records from the 1950s were typically collections of these singles, songs often slipped between the cracks and were not compiled. Some 10" records also contained exclusive material. This is true for virtually all artists with releases during this transitional period. Sou Que Nem Mineiro & Forró Do Zé Vicente are excellent, high energy numbers. Forró Do Zé Vicente was previously released as a 78rpm, but Sou Que Nem Mineiro may be exclusive to the 10". I have not found evidence that the latter was a 78rpm. The Zé Fernandes sound foreshadowed the future of forró instead of exclusively falling back on the early sound of Luiz Gonzaga.

Zé Fernandes - Sou Que Nem Mineiro from Dança Na Roça é Bom - Sinter (1957)

Zé Fernandes - Forró Do Zé Vicente from Dança Na Roça é Bom - Sinter (1957)

Zé Fernandes - Dança Na Roça é Bom - Sinter (1957)

Trio Nagô - Capoeira (y Roberto Luna) - RCA (1968), Solidão from Chansons du Folklore Brésilien - Decca (195_), Baião Do Chofer from Aquarela Cearense - Sinter (1954)

Trio Nagô are part of a tradition of vocal combos performing baião songs that existed from the 1940s until the 1960s. This style seemed to die off as performers like Ary Lobo and Jackson do Pandeiro defined the new style of forró (and baião) beginning in the mid-1950s. This post spans the career of Trio Nagô, with selections from the mid-50's through their stunning Capoeira single from 1968. The growth of the group, as well as the evolving sound of the times, is evident in all of these recordings. Although Capoeira is more immediate and captivating as a performance and production piece, I love the casual grace of Solidão. They are exceptional because they are so drastically different and captivating in their own right.

Trio Nagô y Roberto Luna - Capoeira from compacto simples - RCA (1968)

Trio Nagô - Solidão from Chansons du Folklore Brésilien - Decca (195_)

Trio Nagô - Baião Do Chofer from Aquarela Cearense - Sinter (1954)

Trio Nagô y Roberto Luna - Capoeira compacto simples - RCA (1968)

Trio Nagô - Chansons du Folklore Brésilien - Decca (195_)

Trio Nagô - Aquarela Cearense - Sinter (1954)

Zé Fernandes – Não Interessa Não from No Forró do Mané Vito - Sinter

Zé Fernandes – Não Interessa Não from No Forró do Mané Vito - Sinter

Zé Fernandes is a bit of a mystery. As far as I am aware, he only released 2 albums. The first was a 10" from 1957. It is unclear when No Forró do Mané Vito came out, but it's a safe guess that it was released in the late 50s or very early in the 1960s. No Forró do Mané Vito is the favorite forró album by a collector friend of mine with a vast collection and exemplary taste. I can understand why he loves it. The vocals are excellent and the production is drenched in mysterious clap-backed delay, reminiscent of some of my favorite early kitchen-sink rock n' roll and ska records. Zé Fernandes last appeared on LP in 1962. After that, he sailed into the unknown. Perhaps he is still knocking out audiences in Pernambuco dance halls or spinning ghostly sounds on lost ships in the lower Atlantic.

Who was Zé Fernandes?

The music of Elino Julião: Part One: Xangai, Jackson do Pandeiro & Elino Julião - Xodó de Motorista

The music of Elino Julião: Part One: Xangai, Jackson do Pandeiro & Elino Julião - Xodó de Motorista

This August, I will be recognizing the music of the late, great Elino Julião (1936-2006). Elino was one of the great voices, recording artists and songwriters of forró. He was one of the shining stars of CBS during the label's golden age during the 60s and 70s.

Writing memorable songs is a tremendous challenge. Creating a recording of a great song that is extraordinary and transcends the ages is even harder.  Many artists view a great recording as their legacy and brainchild.

Xodó de Motorista, written by Elino Julião & Dilson Dória is a classic, but Julião's version probably isn't definitive. Xangai takes the prize. To be fair, Julião recorded the song over 10 years after it was written, with a nod to whimsy. In the next entry, we'll show what Julião can do when unleashed with all of his power on Aquilo.

Xangai - Xodó de Motorista from Bahia De Todos Os Cantos (Dos Labutos) - Kuarup Discos 1987

Click on the video above to play the song.

iOS? click here: http://youtu.be/Pu3kyO8A86Q

Xangai's (Eugenio Avelino) Xodó de Motorista is a trippy, tongue twisting monster reminiscent of the best Gilberto Gil recordings and probably the finest recorded version of this song.

Jackson do Pandeiro - Xodó de Motorista from Aqui Tô Eu - Philips 1970

Click on the video above to play the song.

iOS? click here: http://youtu.be/M83OqruCAlo

I believe Jackson's version of Xodó de Motorista was the first, closing his classic album
Aqui Tô Eu (featured here in an earlier entry) from 1970. 

Elino Julião - Xodó de Motorista from O Fino Do Fino Da Roça - Sinter 1979

Click on the video above to play the song.

iOS? click here: http://youtu.be/Q4nnyCsnqqk

Something about clarinet and tuba sounds right for an old folks home. I have no idea why!

Elino Julião owns your town.