by Ms. Ann
1964 Verve Records
Tracklist
A1 The Girl From Ipanema 5:20
Vocals – Astrud Gilberto
Written-By – Jobim*, Gimbel*, deMoraes*
A2 Doralice 2:44
Written-By – Almeida*, Caymmi*
A3 P’ra Machuchar Meu Coração 5:07
Written-By – Barroso*
A4 Desafinado 4:08
Written-By – Jobim*, Mendonca*
A5 Corcovado 2:19 Single version
Vocals [Introduction] – Astrud Gilberto
Written-By – Jobim*, Lees*
B1 Corcovado 4:16
Vocals [Introduction] – Astrud Gilberto
Written-By – Jobim*, Lees*
B2 Só Danço Samba 3:40
Written-By – Jobim*, deMoraes*
B3 O Grande Amor 5:27
Written-By – Jobim*, deMoraes*
B4 Vivo Sonhando 2:56
Written-By – Jobim*
B5 The Girl From Ipanema 2:47 single version
Vocals – Astrud Gilberto
Written-By – Jobim*, Gimbel*, deMoraes*
Credits
Artwork By [Cover Painting] – Olga Albizu
Drums – Milton Banana
Engineer – Phil Ramone
Engineer [Director Of Engineering] – Val Valentin
Guitar, Vocals – João Gilberto
Photography By – David Drew Zingg
Piano – Antonio Carlos Jobim
Producer – Creed Taylor
Recorded By [Recording Engineer] – Phil Ramone
Saxophone [Tenor] – Stan Getz
Recorded March 18 and 19, 1963 in New York City
My copy is a Deluxe Gatefold Edition 180 HQ Virgin Vinyl which includes the two single tracks not on the original record.
Here I am with my lemon drop martini in hand, sitting at a table in a swanky jazz club in 1964 listening to a set of the coolest bossa nova jazz played by the best samba jazz ensemble ever put together. I am, of course, in the creative and colorful imagination of my mind. Stan Getz is on tenor saxophone. His husky fat solid sound is distinctive. Joao Gilberto’s playful, soft vocals are an absolute joy and syncopated plucking on guitar, a delight. Renowned composer Antonio Carlos Jobim is on piano. Joining in on some songs, is singer Astrud Gilberto, whose vocal style set the bar for female bossa nova vocalists in this time. This set of music is breezily fresh, emphasizes lyricism and restraint, minimalist by design, coming from tradition with the swinging polyrhythms of samba and inclusive of innovation with smooth energetic melodic lines.
This album’s first press sold over two million copies. The album won the 1965 Grammy Awards for Best Album of the Year, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group and Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical. “The Girl from Ipanema” also won the award for Record of the Year in 1965. This was the first time a jazz album received Album of the Year. The album was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. This album is 39 minutes of bliss, an artistic and commercial success, a joy to listen to.
The album starts off with “The Girl From Ipanema” (the long version) introduction sung by Astrud in English, a break for a riff from Stan and Joao Gilberto gives us the Portuguese version of the song, in his nasal croon. A lovely adlib by Stan, handed off to Jobim on piano, and a finish of the lyric by Joao.
Doralice is upbeat and joyful. Stan has more room to let go on this song. This track is one of my favorites.
“Doralice”
Doralice, it’s as I spoke:
To love is but a joke,
Silly and out of control;
I’d rather keep to myself,
Playing my guitar to express my soul.
Doralice, it’s as I spoke:
Look at this mess
I’m going through.
Now, my love, Doralice, my dear,
What is it that we will do?
You came to me one lovely day,
I would have fled, but you made me stay
Something was concerning me,
It even seems I could foresee
I didn’t want you as my wife
To spare our dealing with this strife
Doralice,
Now you must tell me true,
What is it that we will do?
P’ra Machuchar Meu Coração is melancholy in vibe, Gilberto’s subtle soft vocals are in stark contrast to Stan’s heavier saxophone. The piano solo is light and sparse, I love this minimalist sound.
“To Hurt my Heart”
It’s been a year and a half, love
That our home broke apart
My sabiá*, my guitar
And a cruel disappointment
Was all that was left
Was left
To hurt my heart
It’s been a year and a half, love
That our home broke apart
My sabiá*, my guitar
And a cruel disappointment
Was all that was left
Was left
To hurt my heart
Who knows, maybe it was better this way
Better for you and better for me
Life is a school
Where people have to learn
The science of living without suffering
“Desafinado” is a wistful tune. I love how Stan captures this feeling in his solo. Milton is top notch in this tune, driving us lightly, tapping away under the tune.
“Desafinado” (Off-Key)
If you say I detune love
Know that this causes me immense pain
Only privileged people have heard the same as yours
I own only what God has given me
If you insist on classifying
My anti-musical behavior
I myself must lie to argue
That this is bossa nova, this is very natural
What you don’t know or even foresee
Is that the out of tune also have a heart
I photographed you on my Roleiflex
His enormous ingratitude was revealed
You just won’t be able to talk about my love like that
This is the biggest one you can find
You with your music forgot the main
That in the chest of the out of tune
Deep in his chest he taps
That in the chest of the out of tune
It also beats a heart
The last song on the first side is the single version of “Corcovado” “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” in English. Golden.
The second side starts with “Corcovado” “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”, the long version in Portuguese. Stan takes an interesting turn, moving in and out of the melody, weaving around the melody. Yeah!
“Corcovado” “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”
A corner and a guitar
This love, a song
To make happy those who love
Too calm to think
And have time to dream
From the window you can see Corcovado
The Redeemer, how beautiful
I want life always like this
With you close to me
Until the old flame goes out
And I was sad
Unbeliever of this world
Upon meeting you I met
What is happiness my love
“Só Danço Samba” is upbeat, light and a breath of fresh air. Getz plays a sharp, biting sound in contrast to the subdued vocals of Joao.
“I Only Dance Samba”
I only dance samba
I only dance samba, go, go, go, go, go
I only dance samba
I only dance samba, go…
I’ve danced twist more than I could
But I don’t know it
I’m tired
From calypso to cha-cha-cha
I only dance samba
I only dance samba, go, go, go, go, go
I only dance samba
I only dance samba, go…
O Grande Amor (The Great Love) begins with Stan on saxophone, sashaying this soulful tune, with it’s sad notes. Joao and Stan take turns, singing their song, so sad, yet hopeful. The tune reminds of “Love is Blue” which was written in 1968, 4 years after.
“O Grande Amor” (The Great Love)
Whatever happens,
There is always a man, for a woman
And she’s always there to forget, a false love and a willingness to die.
Anyway, she’s there to win love that will be in her heart, like forgiveness for those who wept.
“Vivo Sonhando” (Dreamer) is a faster tune, and upbeat, despite the lyics, which are melancholy.
“Vivo Sonhando” (Dreamer)
I live dreaming, dreaming a thousand endless hours
Time when I go asking if you like me
Time to talk about stars, talk about a sea
From a sky like that
Talk about the good you have but you don’t come, you don’t come
You don’t come, life doesn’t come to an end
People laughing, talking, mocking me
And me talking about stars, sea, love, moonlight
Poor me who only know how to love you
The last tune in this set is “The Girl From Ipanema”, the single version, which is Bossa Nova’s best known signature tune. It is as perfect as an iconic song can be.
It was interesting finding the translations of these tunes because before I did that, the voice was simply just another instrument to my ears, like the piano and saxophone. The music is somber in places and joyful in others. Overall: it has a subtle drive to it, flowing with undertones of sadness. The album is seductive, it draws me in, I want to listen, yet, I don’t have to think too much. For me, it is perfect to listen too after a hectic day of life, when I just want to chill out and relax all those knots out of my body. Salute to the Brazilian Bossa Nova fancy, a time when popular and jazz music were the rage, a time before the English wave swept the country.