Ary Lobo - Sentinela Do Mar from Forró Com - RCA Victor (1958)

1958. I thought that this album was from the mid-1960s, like a similarly titled Ary Lobo album from 1965 called Forró em Calcaia. The fact that this album is from the 1950s is absolutely astonishing. This is an artist who was every bit as vital, exciting and groundbreaking as rock n rollers Little Richard and Chuck Berry were in the United States. Sadly, perhaps because he sang exclusively in Portuguese, Ary Lobo is far less known in North America and Europe. That said, there are indications that his fanbase is growing. Forró Com Ary Lobo is one of the finest and most consistent forró albums ever, paving the way for Jacinto Silva's blistering career in the mid-1960s. Virtually every song on this record is superb. I chose a slightly moody number, Sentinela Do Mar (Sea Sentinel). This song was co-written by one of forró's finest, Alventino Cavalcante. Although the song starts off like many other forró tunes, as soon as Ary Lobo's voice hits, you know that you are hearing something special. Fortunately, this is one of Ary Lobo's easiest to acquire albums thanks to a consistently available CD reissue pressing. Buy it!

Ary Lobo - Sentinela Do Mar from Forró Com - RCA Victor (1958)

Ary Lobo - Forró Com - RCA Victor (1958)

Jacinto Silva - Côco Na Paraiba & Na Roça É Assim from Ritmo Explosivo - CBS (1965)

Jacinto Silva was one of the first forró artists to release a major album on CBS after Abdias came to the label in 1963. I am uncertain if Abdias is the artistic director for CBS forró at this point. He is not credited as Direção (essentially producer and artistic director) until Jacinto Silva's 1967 LP Só Era Eu, but Abdias and his band backs Silva on Ritmo Explosivo. Ritmo Explosivo was the first of three killer albums recorded by Jacinto Silva between 1965 and 1967. Cantando, his second album from 1965, was posted here. Silva continued to record for CBS through the mid-1970s, but subsequent CBS albums were shared with other artists. Silva also had scattered songs on compilations and released one compacto in 1968, previously posted here. 

It is interesting that Jacinto Silva's golden CBS period was between 1965-1967, because Jackson Do Pandeiro and Ary Lobo were attempting to mix samba into their music around 1965 and 1966, perhaps in an effort to diversify their audiences. Jacinto Silva recorded killer, unrelenting forró and never courted a genre shift. These albums would not be bested by another CBS artist until Jackson Do Pandeiro recorded O Dono Do Forró in 1971. In my opinion, O Dono Do Forró still reigns supreme as the greatest of all forró LPs, but Silva gives Jackson a run for his money and may be the primary artist keeping white hot energy going in the mid-1960s.

Jacinto Silva - Côco Na Paraiba from Ritmo Explosivo - CBS (1965)

Jacinto Silva - Na Roça É Assim from Ritmo Explosivo - CBS (1965)

Jacinto Silva - Ritmo Explosivo - CBS (1965)

Jacinto Silva & Trio Recife - Puxa O Fole Zé from Ritmo Explosivo - CBS (1965) & compacto simples - Maraca (1960s)

Jacinto Silva had a remarkable run of records on CBS in the mid to late 1960s on the Abdias-helmed CBS records in Brazil. Ritmo Explosivo (1965), Cantando (1965) and Só Era Eu (1967) may be the strongest series of forró albums, only bested by the king: Jackson Do Pandeiro. Ritmo Explosivo is a raucous barnstormer. Puxa O Fole Zé, composed by Silva, may be the wildest and most driving track on the album. I am pleased to feature two great versions. The second version is by Trio Recife on the exceptionally rare Maraca compacto. Trio Recife manage to increase fiery energy of Silva's version and nearly split microphones and speakers in the process. For some reason, I picture kids skipping rope to this one. I have been meaning to post this for two years and I am pleased as punch with this double whammy.

Jacinto Silva - Puxa O Fole Zé from Ritmo Explosivo - CBS (1965)

Trio Recife - Puxa O Fole Zé from compacto simples - Maraca (1960s)

Jacinto Silva - Ritmo Explosivo - CBS (1965)

Trio Recife - Puxa O Fole Zé from compacto simples - Maraca (1960s)

Zé Do Rojão e Zezitinho dos 8 Baixos - Ogum De Roda & Sem Amor Não Sou Ninguem from Forró na Fazenda Nova - Premier (1975)

The songs below, from the LP Forró na Fazenda Nova by Zé Do Rojão e Zezitinho dos 8 Baixos, are recent discoveries. The music has it all. Killer mid-70s production, a great band featuring Zezitinho and fantastic vocals by Zé Do Rojão. Sadly, Zé Do Rojão never got a solo record other than this one. Ogum De Roda, a standout, was written by Zé Do Rojão. It manages to be haunting and energetic. 

Zé Do Rojão e Zezitinho dos 8 Baixos - Ogum De Roda from Forró na Fazenda Nova - Premier (1975) 

Zé Do Rojão e Zezitinho dos 8 Baixos - Sem Amor Não Sou Ninguem from Forró na Fazenda Nova - Premier (1975) 

Zé Do Rojão e Zezitinho dos 8 Baixos - Forró na Fazenda Nova - Premier (1975) 

Ted Jones - Côco De Londerina - Chantecler 78rpm (1959)

This week, we have Ted Jones, who has the least forró sounding name ever. Ted is performing Côco De Londrina, the b-side to the pleasant, but tame O Justiceiro Do Sertão. While the a-side can be found on the YouTubes, the killer b-side is dusted off for its web debut here. Côco De Londrina shares a similar, lively energy to Luiz Wanderley's tunes from this period.

Ted Jones - Côco De Londerina - Chantecler 78rpm (1959)

Almirante - Foguinhos (Toada) from A Maior Patente do Rádio - Moto Discos (1986) Victor (1935) & Tudo Em P from Monumento Da MPB - Odeon 78rpm (1938) Fontana (1976)

Much of Almirante's work pre-dates baião, which was first recorded by Luiz Gonzaga in the early 1940s. However, there are elements in earlier recorded Brazilian music that surface in later recordings of forró, samba, bossa nova, Tropicalia and all other musical forms from Brazil. The grooves and melodic beauty are deeply embedded in the culture. Almirante is one of the great Brazilian singer, songwriters and interpreters from the early 20th century. Included here are two ace tracks from separate reissues.

Almirante - Foguinhos (Toada) from A Maior Patente do Rádio - Moto Discos (1986) Victor (1935) 

Almirante - Tudo Em P from Monumento Da MPB - Odeon 78rpm (1938) Fontana (1976) 

Almirante - A Maior Patente do Rádio - Moto Discos (1986) Victor (1935)

Almirante - Monumento Da MPB - Odeon 78rpm (1938) Fontana (1976) 

Jair Alves - Baião Rock (baião) - RCA (1957)

Back in the 1950s, Brazilians were aware of rock and had their own rock stars. The rhythms also seeped into baião, which was the common name for the genre before forró became ubiquitous. There are several records fused rock and baião, although these were mostly in a novelty capacity. Luiz Wanderley tried rock even dipped his toes into calypso, which was marketed in the US shortly after rock hit big. Baião Rock, by Jair Alves, is more big band than rock, but it is quite interesting and extremely rare. As far as I am aware, this was only issued on 78rpm and is one of Alves's most difficult tracks to find.

Jair Alves - Baião Rock (baião) - RCA (1957)

Jair Alves - Baião Rock (baião) - RCA (1957)