The only album released on the Verve label by prolific Brazilian singer Marcos Valle. In 1968, Valle was commissioned by Verve to record his Brazilian hits in English in order to capitalize on the then-huge Getz-Gilberto-Jobim-Mendes-Astrud market. Marcos’ rapid and stunning artistic growth is apparent on this brilliant Bossa Nova album. Fans of Sérgio Mendes and Astrud Gilberto (both of whom recorded tons of Valle tunes) will enjoy it immensely, for Samba ’68 is definitely one of the ultimate “loungy” records. “Samba ‘68 is a vibrant set of Brazilian pop, indebted to bossa nova and samba but undeniably Americanized for a domestic audience. The result is a joyous album throughout that wears its dated sound quite well. Marcos Valle interprets eleven of his own songs, including Brazilian standards like ‘Chup Chup, I Got Away,’ ‘Batucada’ and ‘So Nice (Summer Samba),’ as well as new tracks like ‘Crickets Sing for Anamaria’ and ‘The Answer.’ The vocal harmonies of his wife (the Anamaria of the song title) provide a beautiful counterpoint to Valle’s voice on several tracks, making Samba ‘68 one of the best Brazilian crossovers of the 1960s.”(John Bush, AllMusic) Marcos Valle was the Renaissance man of Brazilian pop, a singer/songwriter/producer who straddled the country’s music world from the early days of the Bossa Nova craze well into the fusion-soaked sound of ‘80s Brazilian popular music. Though his reputation in America never quite compared to contemporaries like Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, or even Tom Zé. Valle is one of the most important and popular performers in the history of Brazilian pop.
Tracklist:
SIDE ONE:
- THE ANSWER
- CRICKETS SING FOR ANAMARIA
- SO NICE (SUMMER SAMBA)
- CHUP CHUP, I GOT AWAY
- IF YOU WENT AWAY
- PEPINO BEACH
SIDE TWO:
- SHE TOLD ME, SHE TOLD ME
- IT’S TIME TO SING
- BATUCADA
- THE FACE I LOVE
- SAFELY IN YOUR ARMS
Personnel:
Marcos Valle (vocals & guitar), with unknown string orchestra; Claudio Slon (drums); Anamaria Valle (backing vocals).
Credits:
Arranged By Eumir Deodato.
Recorded At Columbia Recording Studios, New York, October & November 1967.
