America has flirted with Brazilian music for the last fifty years, beginning with the tropical bossa nova sound that conquered pop jazz in the '60s and most recently manifesting itself in the baile funk of the urban slums. But the wide range of quality music from the country can be intimidating. Here are eleven records that help define the core of the Brazilian sound. Though you may find better records and artists with vastly different sounds in your own explorations, this is meant as a starting point for anyone who is interested in exploring one of the richest musical histories in the world. And if you care enough about music to be at this site, that means you.
Prefix Podcast 3: Eleven albums that helped define the sound of Brazil (Right Click Save As)
Stan Getz & Jo�o Gilberto Getz/Gilberto
Verve [1963]
Featured song: "Girl from Ipanema"
Os Mutantes Os Mutantes
Omplatten [1968]
Featured song: "A Minha Menina"
Gal Costa Gal Costa (N�o Identificado)
Mercury [1969]
Featured song: "Se Voce Pensa"
Caetano Veloso Caetano Veloso (1971)
Philips [1971]
Featured song: "London London"
Chico Buarque Constru��o
Philips [1971]
Featured song: "Desalento"
Jorge Ben Africa Brasil
Philips [1976]
Featured songs: "Xica Da Silva," "O Filosofo"
Gilberto Gil Refavela
WEA Latina [1977]
Featured song: "Refavela"
Milton Nascimento and L� Borges Clube Da Esquina
World Pacific [1971]
Featured songs: "Um Girassol Da Cor de Seu Cabelo," "Dos Cruces"
Elis Regina & Antonio Carlos Jobim Elis and Tom
Verve [1971]
Featured song: "Aguas de Marco"
Baden Powell & Vin�cius de Moraes Os Afro-Sambas
Forma/Philips [1966]
Featured song: "Canto de Xango"
Gilberto Gil & Jorge Ben Gil e Jorge
Verve [1975]
Featured song: "Meu Glorioso Sao Cristovao"
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We at Prefix have always believed the best way to learn about music is to hear it yourself. That's why we try to accompany each of our reviews and features with audio and video; why we diligently scour the universe looking for the latest gems to populate our media section and forums; why we pepper our news section with streaming and downloadable tracks from your favorite (and your future favorite) rock, hip-hop and electronic artists.
And now we offer this: the Prefix Podcast. On the first Tuesday of every month, we'll shine some light on a little piece of the music universe. From Delta blues to great songs made by terrible artists, each month will highlight a different genre, artist, or theme. It's a journey through the music we love that doesn't fit into our day-to-day functions. We hope you learn a little but, more important, we want you to hear some music you like enough to search out and purchase, music that isn't being over-hyped on the blogs and in trend-seeking magazines (like this one).
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The link to the mp3 does not work for me, it saves an html document instead of the podcast.