Description

The Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 formula on "Fool on the Hill" was quite simple. Take pop hits like the title track by the Beatles and "Scarborough Fair" by Simon & Garfunkle, add a bossa nova rhythm and some lavish string accompaniment by Dave Grusin to Mendes on the piano and the vocals by Lani Hall (Mrs. Herb Alpert) and Karen Philipp, and you have some easy listening hits. "Fool on the Hill" followed "Look Around," giving Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 two solid albums in 1968 (please, do not revive the debate over why it was not Brasil '68), although I have a slight preference for this collectionmore…, which made was the group's highest charting album at #3 on the Billboard Pop Album chart (but #1 in Jazz and #10 for Black Albums).

The reason is that while this album hooks you with the covers, both of which charted in the Top 20 ("Fool on the Hill" was #6 and "Scarborough Fair" made it to #16), it is the original compositions that you end up loving. The two best on this album are "Casa Forte" and "Upa, Neguinho," both of which were written (or co-written) by Edu Lobo, which are as fine as any of the group's original songs as they ever recorded. The best vocals are actually by Gracinha Leporace, who would be part of Brasil '77, on "Lapinha." You have to appreciate this type of bait and switch, where unsuspecting music lovers pick up an album for the hits and are introduced to the seductive sounds of Brazilian jazz.

In the Sixties this was the sound of international music and the opening of the door for pretty much all of the Latin American recording artists who came afterwards. "Fool on the Hill" was the best selling album by Sergio Mendes, although a large measure of the credit might be due not to the music but rather the cover, which folded out to show the group at a gorgeous sunset...sitting on top of a nude woman. Ah, to be in Rio at Carnival time...

Tracks

---

Info:

Category:

Music > Albums

Case Type:

CD

Release Type:

Retail

Comments:

1    read    add

---

Cover Info:

Title:

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Fool on the Hill (2004) Retail CD

Part:

Back

Dimensions:

3538 x 2760 px

Size:

2,785 KB

Downloads:

391 (0 today)

Uploaded:

Report a Problem Wrong Cover Duplicate Image Bad Quality Wrong Info

22/04/07 by Jazzbro

Quality Rating:

• Currently /5 Stars.
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Cover not yet rated. Click CDs to vote!

---

Other Available Parts: