Friday, June 24, 2011

The #47 Album of All-Time in the Rock Era--"Getz/Gilberto" by Stan Getz & Jaoa Gilberto

Unlike all rankings of Top Albums that I've seen, a computer formula shows no prejudice.  All data is inputted and the ranking that is shown is the one that the American public has influenced by its decisions--which radio stations people listen to, what music they purchase and what concerts they go to.

So although we have an album here that is not rock by nature, it made itself known during the Rock Era.  Saxophonist Stan Getz teamed with guitarist Joao Gilberto for Getz/Gilberto.  In the midst of the British Invasion that really was the birth of the modern era of rock music, this jazz/boss nova album elbowed its way into the Top 10 for 16 weeks, peaking at #2 for two weeks.  It remained a bestseller for 96 weeks.  While surprisingly it is still an "undiscovered gem" as a Gold album, it does have a superb Track Rating* of 9.25.






The release of this album created a bossa nova craze in the United States and around the world.  Astrud Gilberto, who sang the incredible vocal on "The Girl from Ipanema" into a superstar.  "Desasfinado", "Pra machucar meu coracao", "Corcovado" and "O grande amor" are all excellent tracks, but the truth is that the entire album can be tracked through without skipping a song; it's that good.

Getz/Gilberto was one of the most decorated albums of the Rock Era, winning four Grammies--Album of the Year, Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Engineered Album, Non Classical.  "The Girl from Ipanema" captured the Record of the Year as well.  Antonio Carlos Jobim wrote a good deal of the songs on the album.


Getz/Gilberto:

Side one
1.  "The Girl from Ipanema" (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Norman Gimbel) --5:24
2.  "Doralice" (Dorival Caymmi, Antonio Almeida) --2:45
3.  "Pra machucar meu coracao" (Ary Barroso) --5:05
4.  "Desafinado" (Jobim, Newton Mendonca) --4:15

Side two
5.  "Corcovado" (Jobim, Gene Lees) --4:16
6.  "So danco samba" (Jobim, de Moraes" --3:45
7.  "O grande amor" (Jobim, de Moraes) --5:27
8.  "vivo sonhando" (Jobim) --3:04

Tracks 9 & 10 are included on the CD.
9.  "The Girl from Ipanema" (45) --Jobim, Moraes, Gimbel (2:54)
10.  "Corcovado" (45) Jobim, Lees (2:20)



Getz plays the tenor sax with Gilberto contributing great guitar work and vocals and Jobim piano.  Sebastiao Neto played bass on the album while Milton Banana was the drummer and as mentioned, Astrud Gilberto sang on "The Girl" and also "Corcovado".  Creed Taylor produced this great album.

Getz/Gilberto was recorded March 18 & 19 (they didn't mess around!) of 1963 at A&R Recording Studios in New York City.  It was released in late-March of 1964 on Verve Records.

Relax and enjoy this smooth, fantastic album at #47--Getz/Gilberto.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.