Sergio Mendes - the good one(s)

[Solid State]

I picked up four SM lp's dead cheap lately, all of which, unfortunately, are ploppy elevator-style latin-ultralite.<br /><br />Will someone give me a hand and let me know which tracks Im looking for? ???<br /><br />Thanks<br />Solid.<br />

[ladyboygrimsby]

I quite like his elevator-style latin lite stuff!<br /><br />Anyhow, my favourite of the more dancefloor friendly gear is his version of the Real Thing. The same album, Sergio Mendes &amp; The New Brasil 77, which has the hilarious cover of them dressed in Brazil kit and Pele pretending to be a doctor, also has another nice tune, Mozambique. There's a 12 of The Real Thing. <br /><br />On Sergio Mendes (1975), there's a good version of If I Ever Saw This Heaven and a cute reading of Here Come The Sun.<br /><br />A lot of people like I'll Tell You, though I'm not one of them.

[Tim H]

Not dancefloor, but 'After Sunrise' is a beautfiul track, and 'After Midnight' used to rock at parties on the jazzier end of things...

[christ]

well maybe under your definition 90% of his albums contain 'lite' latin.<br /><br />one total exception is 'primal roots'. its very rooty indeed, a concept album of sorts with several long tracks, one about 18 mins.buy the cd (jap reissue plus 2 extra tracks) cause its very quiet inplaces &amp; the old vinyl copies i have just dont do it justice. some great perky ones there.<br /><br />i'm abig fan &amp; i like all the 'lite' stuff but most of his albums contain 1 or 2 punchy numbers. tracks of the top of my head you might prefer are 'casa forte' (fool on the hill lp) a stormer! 'roda' &amp; batucada (look around lp)<br /><br />&amp; the live set is pretty wild in parts

[Topester]

I like I'll Tell You. Have the album with it up for grabs if anyone ants, since I go the 12 recently<br /><br />Also a super-tough version of Superstition on a Polydor album that also has a cover of Don't You Worry About A Thing<br /><br />I like most of his stuff to be honest, elevator cover tastic, but here are a few of my faves<br /><br />For What Its Worth (simply awesome folky funk biznizz!)<br />Mas Que Nada<br />Chelsea Morning<br />Ye Me Le<br />Witchita Lineman (in Spanish!)<br />My Favourite Things<br />In Baia off the Pele album (best avoid the tracks with Pele actually singing on them though!)<br /><br /><br />The 1989 remixes of Mas Que Nada had a top percapella version on the US 12... endless hours of 110 bpm fun...

[christ]

oh &amp; i forgot i have a 12&quot; sampler from the 1992 brasiliero lp which has the massive carnival stomer 'fanfara' as sampled in some hardcore euro hit number around 93-. reminds me i must get the album myself.

[nohonourinhonor]

Love Music - Sergio Mendes and Brazil '77 on Bell Records was a big tune once upon a time, ok-ish album as well

[JJ]

I love &quot;I'll Tell You&quot; too..<br /><br />Top Sergios for me...<br /><br />Waters Of March (easily my fav version out of the lots)<br />That's Enough For Me (ultra soulful and funky)<br />Norwegian Wood (brilliantly mad version)<br /><br />

[JJ]

and Chove Chuva's good too. if ya like latin lite ;)<br /><br />

[Andrew@6MS]

I've got the LP from 1969 (I think) - can't remember the name, but has a great version of &quot;Wichita Lineman&quot; and &quot;Norweigan Wood&quot;, which I know JJ likes.<br />

[Fred Naked]

<br />I quite like his elevator-style latin lite stuff!<br /><br />Anyhow, my favourite of the more dancefloor friendly gear is his version of the Real Thing. The same album, Sergio Mendes &amp; The New Brasil 77, which has the hilarious cover of them dressed in Brazil kit and Pele pretending to be a doctor, also has another nice tune, Mozambique. There's a 12 of The Real Thing. <br /><br />On Sergio Mendes (1975), there's a good version of If I Ever Saw This Heaven and a cute reading of Here Come The Sun.<br /><br />A lot of people like I'll Tell You, though I'm not one of them. <br /><br /><br />I'll second that! picked up the album from vinylmania a month or two ago and 'the real thing' really stood out! i thought it was a Pele lookalike!

[Topester]

How could I forget Love Music? MASSIVE tune... dropped by Gilles in the mid 90s but I think the Blackpool Mecca was there first... Primal Roots is an awesome album... probaly his most consistently good. Mendes madness! :)

[ladyboygrimsby]

<br />How could I forget Love Music? MASSIVE tune... dropped by Gilles in the mid 90s but I think the Blackpool Mecca was there first... Primal Roots is an awesome album... probaly his most consistently good. Mendes madness! :)<br /><br /><br />I like this version, but I prefer the Four Tops', awkward git that I am. ::)

[christ]

bought the four tops album just last week in...haggle!

[Topester]

<br /><br />How could I forget Love Music? MASSIVE tune... dropped by Gilles in the mid 90s but I think the Blackpool Mecca was there first... Primal Roots is an awesome album... probaly his most consistently good. Mendes madness! :)<br /><br /><br />I like this version, but I prefer the Four Tops', awkward git that I am. ::)<br /><br /><br />well yes, I'll grant you that, but I'll raise you Lloyd Price's version... slightly tuffer funky excursion... nice!

[clay potato]

Anything by Sergio Mendes is brilliant (particularly if you like quirky cover versions). His version of 'what the world needs now' is well worth a listen. What should be a smoochie Bacharach and David song becomes a fast tempo swirling ecstatic jig that goes up, up and away before ending in a similar way to the Danny Krivit re-edit of Rock Steady but with thicker strings - wind down, slow down, slower, stop.

[Solid State]

I think some of these are on the LPs I have but just moved house so it's tough to check at the mo.<br /><br />I def have the Love Music Lp anyway<br /><br />Guess I'll have to deal with the fact theyre mostly in that vein and take em as i find em...<br /><br />Thanks for the input!<br /><br />Solido

[clay potato]

Contour/musical rendevous also released an album by the Sergio Mendes sextet which is a bit different to his other stuff. It's got versions of Desafinado and Girl from Ipanema that are good jazz morning songs.

[udoHuber]

I can recommend "promise of a fisherman" played by baldelli and others

and the BRASILEIRO LP from the mid 90ies

[Filthy Luka]

there's a nice version of 'That's Enough For Me' on Brasil '88

also done by Patti Austin, both versions are nice down tempo 2-steppers

[ole]

and the BRASILEIRO LP from the mid 90ies

Love Maghalena on that album... Been looking for the LP for ages, seems easy enough to find on CD but so far haven't had luck with a vinyl copy (don't know whether it got pressed but it's old enough), any help much appreciated...

[udoHuber]

hi ole!

totally agree with you! I have the CD and don't know if LPs have been released?!?

[ole]

Hi Udo,

been looking for a few years now and nothing GRRRRRRR will let you know if I come across the vinyl...

[mediterranean man]

In a similar vein to 'I Love Music', is the, not so well known ''Magic Lady' (1979 Elektra Records US 12"). It's a killer piece of uplifting 'open air terrace' disco! A bit like Cerrone's 'Music of Life'. Seek it out!

[longboss]

Although more headphone material, I always thought 'Stillness' was the one, both the title track and their version of 'For what its worth'

[fabiofal]

One of the last Nike spot has given me the inspiration to do this little edit of Mas Que Nada (the one featuring The Black Eyed Peas) taking the rap off, as I like just the brazilian elements...

http://www.sendspace.com/file/87f12p

[Martin Red]

Also a super-tough version of Superstition on a Polydor album that also has a cover of Don't You Worry About A Thing<br /><br />I like most of his stuff to be honest

agreed, that whole LP is brilliant, love their version of superstition :)

[Martin Red]

One of the last Nike spot has given me the inspiration to do this little edit of Mas Que Nada (the one featuring The Black Eyed Peas) taking the rap off, as I like just the brazilian elements...

http://www.sendspace.com/file/87f12p

The Justin Strauss Remix ?

http://www.discogs.com/release/537623

[RD]

90% of his 60's & 70s output is amazing (i think i have most of it) by the 80's & 90's it's more like 30% enjoyment from my perspective.

i have a 12'' promo from the brasileiro lp with 'maghalena-'what is this?' & the mad batacuda track.

that justin strauss remix of mas que nada has a great percusapella which i've almost worn out over the years- its unusually house tempo.

but my favourite of all that hasn't been mentioned here is the 'primal roots' lp from 72

its got one side of short really punchy 'ethnic' sambas including 'canto de ubirantan' then on side 2 a suite called the circle game 18 mins long, beautiful drifting in & out of rhythms & string washes quite oblique.

i've got 2 vinyl copies but had to buy the cd in the end as the popping & scratches disturb the ethereal parts of said suite.

the special japanese edition on cd is well worth the extra bucks for the extra tracks .

[Martin Red]

that justin strauss remix of mas que nada has a great percusapella which i've almost worn out over the years- its unusually house tempo.


Indeed sir :)