This is the first track from the album Aluciunolandia van Zito Righi e Seu Conjunto, a very rare record. Original copies are sold for $ 350,-. I am very happy with the reissue. This song is like a early Brazilian rap (1969). All in Portuguese of course. It starts with a funky piano and spoken words by singer Sonia Santos. When she has finished her introduction, there is some cheering by the musicians and after the whistle has blown a very rhythmical samba starts. Sonia Santos starts rapping and rhyming. The words from title poema ritmico are well chosen. It sure is a very rhythmic poem! I havent been able yet to understand what it is all about, but this rap is about um malandro, a rascal.

This song is on one of Jorge Bens best records: O Bidu (Silencio No Brooklin) from 1967. This Brooklin is a district in the city of São Paulo, not New Yorks neighbourhood. In this period of his career Jorge Ben had moved from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo. He was the first to use the electric guitar in samba. His previous records were all recorded with a acoustic guitar and had a more classical Bossa Nova and Samba sound. "Si manda" is a great up-tempo Samba Rock track with a powerful beat and electric rhythm guitar. This record and this song in particluar must have had a big influence on the Tropicalia movement and a band like Os Mutantes.

This is definitely the best song you never heard. An (so far) impossible track for me to find on vinyl. Its a catchy up tempo Samba Rock song that will keep you moving. For sure! After an organ and drum intro and a break, the song continues with singing and handclapping. I don't know why, but I think almost every song with handclapping in it is outstanding. It is something I like in Flamenco as well.

This Samba Rock tune is written by Jorge Ben. He is really one of the under estimated musicians in the West. Probably because the fact that all of his songs are in Portuguese. He has made and written such good music and was on the footing of Samba Rock, Tropicalia and MPB. Right now one of his songs is a big hit again by Sergio Mendes "Más que nada". This track "a minha menina" will drive you wild because of the fuzz guitar, percussion and again: handclapping. That's also why I like this version by Os Mutantes better then the original by Jorge Ben.

Os Jovens were a duo from Rio de Janeiro in the mid 60s. "Coração de pedra" (heart of stone) is an powerful sixties garage track. With an over-the-top organ sound, fuzz guitar and a tight beat, this song shows that Brazilian musical history has a lot more to offer then Samba, Bossa Nova and MPB. The Jovem Guarda scene, which was concentrated in Rio and São Paulo, hosted some great musicians like Roberto Carlos, Erasmo Carlos, Wanderlea, The Beat Boys and Brazilian Bitles.