Jorge Ben

"[It's a delight] that two of [Ben's] finest albums have resurfaced on vinyl via Elemental ... This is the first European vinyl version in years ... Ben wasn't as overtly political as the Tropicalistas; his inclusive approach and simple songs on a variety of everyday themes energised the public and moved the musical debate forward without upsetting the usually touchy authorities. Performers as Gal Costa were quick to cover those songs. Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil praised Ben's ability to achieve the kind of progression they were shouting about. His use of electric guitar on samba and bossa nova rhythms helped alter the direction of MPB (Brazilian popular music). This landmark album, his first with Trio Mocotó, also includes Ben's unofficial Brazilian national anthem "País Tropical" ... Ben's identification with the ghetto poor made him equivalent to a modern hip-hop star, though he'd not dwell on hardships, preferring to stir up a good time. His rubbery grooves andinfectiousenergy make his songs effective pop, even if you don't understand Portuguese".

"Jorge Ben was at something of a crossroads in 1969. Unwilling to abandon the samba sound with which he made his name and commit to the burgeoning bossa nova, Jovem Guarda or Tropicalia movements he found himself out on a limb both artistically and commercially. But Ben's stubborn streak was to prove his making. Recruiting local nightclub troupe Trio Mocotó as his new backing band alongside ace arrangers José Briamonte and Rogério Duprat he created a work which kept his core samba groove but added elements from soul and psychedelia to create a revolutionary new template for future Brazilian music ... Ben would go on to produce a number of similarly brilliant albums of "samba soul" over the next decade, but this blueprint for the form is quite simply as essential as Brazilian music gets".

"[One of Ben's] finest albums ... Ben wasn't as overtly political as the Tropicalistas; his inclusive approach and simple songs on a variety of everyday themes energised the public and moved the musical debate forward without upsetting the usually touchy Authorities. Performers as Gal Costa were quick to cover those songs. Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil praised Ben's ability to achieve the kind of progression they were shouting about. His use of electric guitar on samba and bossa nova rhythms helped alter the direction of MPB (Brazilian popular music). This landmark album, his first with Trio Mocotó, also includes Ben's unofficial Brazilian national anthem "País Tropical" ... Ben's identification with the ghetto poor made him equivalent to a modern hip-hop star, though he'd not dwell on hardships, preferring to stir up a good time. His rubbery grooves and infectious energy make his songs effective pop, even if you don't understand Portuguese".