Sergio Mendes Music

A straight re-issue of a 2000 European compilation that was called CLASSIC SERGIO MENDES - THE UNIVERSAL MASTERS COLLECTION. It's been repackaged to fit in with Universal's "Colour Collection" series. The material contains 14 tracks from Sergio's days with A&M in the '60s, plus one track from his Atlantic sessions. The sound is decent, so buy it if its reasonable and you don't already own these tracks elsewhere.

A straight re-issue of a 2000 European compilation that was called CLASSIC SERGIO MENDES - THE UNIVERSAL MASTERS COLLECTION. It's been repackaged to fit in with Universal's "Colour Collection" series. The material contains 14 tracks from Sergio's days with A&M in the '60s, plus one track from his Atlantic sessions. The sound is decent, so buy it if its reasonable and you don't already own these tracks elsewhere.

This album is a major departure from the A&M issued "Greatest Hits" compilation (for Mendez and Brazil). It ventures into disco ("Dance Attack"), pop ("Real Life") and smooth jazz (the regal "Olympia" and children's themed "Sound of One Song"). Only "Morrer de Mour" offers a glimpse at the same type of sounds featured by his band in the 60s (e.g. in Mas Que Nada).

The mixture of styles makes for a bit of a disjointed album. The songs mentioned above stand out above the rest, though, and make for a pleasant listen.

His 1983 "Sergio Mendes" album hangs together a bit better than this one.

This is without a doubt Sergio Mendes' weakest album ever; released originally in 1984, musically this album fell in a ditch of pop / disco & smooth jazz with songs that nobody will ever remember, songs that had no real identity and no significance of any kind; perhaps only Ivan Lins' "The Sound of One Song" is a standout because of that beautiful choir of kids.
Another "rescueable" song is Ivan Lins' "Kisses" performed here by Gracinha Leporace.
I'd also like to add that the ugliest song ever recorded by any of Sergio's groups is also included here: "Morrer de Amor", lousy selection.

If you collect Sergio Mendes, this is a must have by all means; but if you're looking for a good work of Sergio in the 80's, the other 3 albums he recorded in that decade, besides this one, are actually waaaaay better:
"Sergio Mendes" from 1983, "Brasil 86" from 1986 and "Arara" from 1989.

P.S. Amazon's page doesn't include the tracks, so here they are:
1. Olympia
2. Say it With Your Body
3. Let's Give a Little More This Time
4. The Sound of One Song
5. Alibis
6. Dance Attack
7. Kisses
8. Real Life
9. Morrer de Amor