Moreno Veloso — Um Passo a Frente

Here’s a perky cover of Gal Costa’s ‘Um Passo a Frente’ by Moreno Veloso, who is, as you may have guessed, the son of Caetano, and has released several albums on David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label.

But I’ll be honest and admit the real reason I’m posting this—the host. He is a riot, mustachioed and suave, and he speaks Portuguese with Moreno to boot. This is quite an interesting little project he has going, mostly with South American artists. It’s called On the Shelf, and it’s a Tokyo-based production in which musicians perform from the “narrowest stage in the world” — a bookshelf! Check out his other videos too.

Edy Star — Coração Embalsamado

from Sweet Edy (1974)

Bizarre tango-rock from Brazil’s first glittery, lycra-legged glam-rocker, Edy Star. Three years earlier, he cut his vocal chops on Raul Seixas’ brilliant album Sessao das 10. This time, other Brazilian stars like Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil wrote songs for him, which makes for an excellent, if a bit esquizofrênicos album.

In 1975 he starred in Brazil’s first production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and then in the 90s relocated to Madrid, where he says he enjoys visiting the Prado and watching flamenco and bullfights. And, to keep the old flames burning, he works as the master of ceremonies at a cabaret… where he says he directs “35 international women!”

Baiano e Os Novos Caetanos — Vô batê pa tu

from Baiano e Os Novos Caetanos (1974)

The Brazilian comedians Chico Anysio and Arnaud Rodrigues formed the group Baiano e Os Novos Caetanos in the 1970s to poke fun at the tropicalia movement — their name satirizes Novos Baianos (one of my favorite Brazilian groups) and Caetano Veloso.

Musically, they weren’t joking around. This album was recorded before a live audience and it’s damn good. I can’t understand any of the jokes anyway…so I come back for the music. I highly recommend picking it up.

Read more here (in Portuguese) and here (in English)