Sergio Starts to Forge the Second Phase of His Career - It s interesting to read the reviews of this album here, as they seem mostly to be from people who either discovered Sergio with this album or were not that familiar with Sergio s breakthrough group, Brasil 66. Among diehard Brasil 66 fans, the two Bell albums (this and Vintage 74) represent a transitional sound, and for many fans of this ilk, not a completely satisfactory one.I for one followed Sergio throughout the many stylistic changes of his career and while Love Music was obviously an attempt to re-establish Sergio on the Top 40 charts (sadly, it failed miserably--Love Music the single only bubbled under) after his increasingly poor selling last Brasil 66 and Brasil 77 albums for A&M, it s still a worthwhile melding of Sergio s propulsive rhythm section blended with a now younger and more soul-inflected vocal sound due to the introduction of sunny-voiced Bonnie Bowden. As long as you don t expect another Brasil 66 record.While Brasil 66 is noted for its sophistication and multi-cultural genre busting efforts, Love Music is basically good, old fashioned MOR adult contemporary clothed in some exotic percussion. The arrangements are uniformly lush (Alcivar s especially, as he attempts to introduce some unusual harmonic touches in otherwise straightforward tunes like Where is the Love?), the vocals smooth, but the overall impression is (at least for a lot of Brasil 66 fans) a little bland. Part of this is due to the fact that there are no Brasilian tunes on this album, virtually the only time in Mendes career that this happened. It seems Mendes himself recognized he had lost something of his calling card, because by the time he released Vintage 74 a year later, it included two new Jobim compositions, as well as Voce Abusou, which had recently been a big hit in his native Brasil.All in all, if you re expecting the dynamic vocals of Lani Hall, Janis Hansen and/or Karen Philipp, with that incredible Brasil 66 rhythm section, you may be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you re fond of expertly produced and arranged easy listening music, albeit with some great percussion, you ll probably love this album.
*THE* Best Of All Their Classic Albums - In my opinion, this is the best album of the awesome group of Sergio Mendes (and Brasil 65, 66, 77, 88, 99 and 2000) whose music was greatly influenced by Bossa Nova legend, the late Antonio Carlos Jobim. I had it in an album format when it first came out and have been wishing to have it on CD but it was so rare and not available until 2003. At long last, the wait was over...thanks to BMG-Japan! The material selected in this recording is so impressive from James Taylor s Don t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Burt Bacharach/Hal David s Walk The Way You Talk to Paul Williams I Won t Last A Day Without You. Most of these songs were listed on Top 40 Pop Chart. What made these songs more special are their unique interpretations, the perfect blend of the ladies lush vocals and the invigorating and vibrant rhythms that are so typical of Sergio Mendes innovative arrangements. Adding to the beauty of the songs are the flawless arrangements on strings, horns and woodwinds by a fine jazz/composer/arranger and one of my favorites, Tom Scott, and another great talent, Bob Alcivar, who did the fabulous rhythm section arrangements. The tracks (in order of my favorites) are the following:Don t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight - a love song composed and sung originally by my all-time favorite singer/songwriter/guitarist James Taylor. Gracinha Leporace s rendition is so wonderful and with her enthralling voice, she made this song as the best interpretation by a female vocalist. Of course for male vocalist, James Taylor s original is still the greatest. I heard another version from Kevin Mahogany and it s also awesome. And most recently a very nice version from David Sanborn s latest CD Closer with vocals by Lizz Wright.Hey Look At The Sun - Words and Music by Angelo, vocals by Bonnie Bowden. A beautiful love song that is so full of enthusiasm and bright hopes!Walk The Way You Talk - Well, what can I say? It s a Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition! You can t go wrong with this song, or any song that is written by this great songwriting team. You ll love it. I Won t Last A Day Without You - I d say this is an overly heartwarming song! Words and music by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams. Vocals by Gracinha Leporace. Some of the artists who recorded this lovely song are Paul Williams and the Carpenters.Put A Little Love Away - Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, vocals by Bonnie Bowden. The words and music are awesome and the arrangement is flawless. You Can t Dress Up A Broken Heart - Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. This song speaks clearly of a shattered heart that can t be fixed or dressed-up no matter how much you try.... Ouch! :(Killing Me Softly With His Song - Written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox and was made popular by Roberta Flack who also sung Tonight, I Celebrate My Love, a duet with Peabo Bryson. Where Is The Love? - Written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter, this song was originally recorded by Roberta Flack who also sung the hit song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face from Clint Eastwood s movie Play Misty For Me. Love Music - Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. Has a very lively rhythm and great arrangement. I Can See Clearly Now - A song written by Johnny Nash that has vibrant and bubbly beat. There are a lot more Sergio Mendes classics you might want to check out such as Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 Greatest Hits which has a nice repertoire of standards, and Equinox which includes the hit songs Wave and Watch What Happens. Very highly recommended! I would give more than five stars to all these CDs. Timeless music to listen and enjoy for a lifetime.
Finally found it !! - I look for Sergio Where is the love for long time, and finally got it. I love this music. It isn t labelled as the best, for me it is the best (just without Masquenada). Maybe this is also Sergio s best line-up.Suprisingly I also love Put A Little Love Away, Killing me softly..., I won t last a day without you. I don t see any reason for not have this album. Whether you re a fan or not, you ll love it..
I Do Love This Music - Sergio Mendes & The Brazil 77 came on the heels of his highly popular Brazil 66 group.Only difference was they were covering more earthy R&B orientated material from the early 1970 s such as Where Is The Love,Don t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight,and Johnny Nash s classic I Can See Clearly Now.All are done in Mendes s classic latin-pop style except I must say Johnny Nash s original is so illuminating that it sort of wipes the floor with this one.The title track-a little Stevie Wonder and a little Donny Hathaway,is the best track on this album and one will also note the addition of two famous future musicians-Paulo Da Costa on percussion and Laudir Olivier(from the second generation Chigaco)conga drums.Part of a series of worthy successors to the Brazil 66 material!
Disappointed with sound - Musically speaking this a cohesive and delightful selection of songs played by the master Sergio Mendes and his great line-up. Absolute ear candy!! What takes away from this music is the horrible mastering job. I paid over $30.00 for this cd, and it sounds like it was dubbed from overmodulated tapes....it s hard to listen to ...it sounds like the worn vinyl counterpart sitting in my sisters album case. This is not fair representation for Sergio Mendes who would have a fit if he knew his music was being heard like this. Very poor for a (remastered) ha! ha! Japanese import..shame on BMG!! I intend to get a refund on this one!