Melô do Embaixador: Brazilian Soul, Funk & Disco Covers 1968-2015

Forget the Beatles. Brazilians love covering the Fab Four in all the different styles (from bossa to Tropícalia and MPB), but some intrepid brasileiros prefer to explore other international trends. Melô do Embaixador digs deep into the country’s under-documented history of American soul, funk, and disco, turning up 27 strange and compelling interpretations from 1968 to 2015. Tim Maia, forgotten bandleaders, anonymous studio bands, disco cash-ins, and one-hit wonders all make appearances, some translated into Portuguese, some in instrumental versions, some in endearingly awkward English, and all revealing a parallel history of Brazilian popular music that has largely escaped critical attention. The results range from faithful to bizarre, but they all make a compelling case for hearing these records on their own terms.

The post Melô do Embaixador: Brazilian Soul, Funk & Disco Covers 1968-2015 first appeared on Aquarium Drunkard.