Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 “Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1030 in the Series is Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66, Herb Alpert Present, Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66.

I know I’ve mentioned many times in these parts how much of a part my two older sisters (Tina and Judy) played in getting me started on listening to good music. Tina was the older one; she always made sure that she had on “Where The Action Is” or “Shindig” in the afternoons.  She added the first albums to the family record collection that were not my father’s stuff like Al Martino, Mario Lanza or Robertino “The Young Italian Singing Sensation.”  Judy was a little younger and took over from there. She bought me my first album, Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.”  I remember the day she bought it. We were at Roseland Music Shop on Michigan Avenue. I was with her. I saw her buy a disc.  She told me it was an Ed Ames album for our mother as a Christmas present.  When she got it home she wrapped the heck out of it. She made sure that the title was well covered.

Christmas arrived and as the youngest, I sat under the tree passing out gifts.  I grabbed the covered disc and handed it to mom, excited for her to see the Ed Ames album. “No, Judy said, that’s for you!” Little did I know!  I quickly ripped off her opaque coverings and saw my first album, Iron Butterfly!!!

OK, why am I telling you all this and how is this tied in to Sergio Mendes? Well, this was one of those albums that one of them had added to the family collection when I was a “Yute.”  It was played quite a bit too. I’m sure of that.  I was just giving it a listen when I decided to feature it.  I remembered every song like it was yesterday. Believe me, I haven’t heard this album in “many, many yesterdays!”

“Mas Que Nada” stood out the most. That was the “it” track on the disc.  Sergio was also known for doing many cover tunes, but not just as a remake, but he would most definitely make them his.  Here he gives his Latin flavor to the Lennon and McCartney’s “Day Tripper.”

Also give a listen to “One Note Samba.” That was a hit as well.  I say hit yes, this did get a nice amount of airplay in 1966.

— Larry Carta

Track listing

Side One

1. Mas Que Nada (Jorge Ben)
2. One Note Samba (Antonio Carlos Jobim / Newton Mendonça)
3. The Joker (Leslie Bricusse / Anthony Newley)
4. Going Out of My Head (Teddy Randazzo / Bobby Weinstein)
5. Tim Dom Dom (João Mello / Clodoaldo Brito)

Side Two

1. Day Tripper (John Lennon / Paul McCartney)
2. Água de beber (Antonio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes / Norman Gimbel)
3. Slow Hot Wind (Henry Mancini / Norman Gimbel)
4. O Pato (Jayme Silva / Neuza Teixeira)
5. Berimbau (Baden Powell / Vinícius de Moraes)

Personnel

• Sérgio Mendes – Keyboards, Vocals, Arranger
• Lani Hall – Vocals
• Janis Hansen – Vocals
• Bob Matthews – Bass, Vocals
• Jose Soares – Percussion, Vocals
• Joao Palma – Drums

Links

• If you like Sergio Mendes, you’ll like this as well.
• See more that we’ve featured from 1966