Monday, October 22, 2007

Caetano Veloso - Joia (1975)

I'm feeling great showing Loronixers one of the artists that I like most and one of my all time favorites albums. Caetano Veloso released Joia in 1975, just before he came back to Brazil after the UK exile. I had the original vinyl issue of this masterpiece, exactly how it is at the second picture, just the birds. The cover portraying Caetano Veloso nude with his wife and son -- the first one -- was censored, being back further on a CD reissue. I was wondering today how and when I miss my original vinyl. Anyway, this is one of those albums that you will need several times before getting around it and the surprise will never cease. Let's see.

This is Caetano Veloso - Joia (1975), for Philips. Forgive me, it is very hard to review something that you like very much. Joia is quite different from anything you heard before from Caetano discography, everything is reduced, some tracks have only violao accompaniment and others have only voices. Quarteto em Cy is a special guest on track 02 - Gua and personnel features Gilberto Gil, Tutty Moreno, Pena Froes, Altamiro Carrilho, among others. I urge Loronixers to send feedback on this release, one of the records that I like most. Tracks include:

Personnel

Caetano Veloso
(violao, voice)
Gilberto Gil
(violao)
Perinho Albuquerque, Djalma Correia, Eneas Costa, Bira da Silva, Cream Crackers
(percussion)
Jorginho, Franklin, Altamiro Carrilho, Celso, Tuze Abreu
(flute)
Antonio Adolfo
(organ)
Perna Froes
(arrangements, piano)
Moacyr Albuquerque
(bass)
Perinho Albuquerque
(guitar)
As Gatas
(choir)
Eneas Costa
(drums)

Track List

01 - Minha Mulher (Caetano Veloso)
02 - Guá (Perinho Albuquerque / Caetano Veloso) with Quarteto em Cy
03 - Pelos Olhos (Caetano Veloso)
04 - Asa (Caetano Veloso)
05 - Lua Lua Lua Lua (Caetano Veloso)
06 - Canto do Povo de Um Lugar (Caetano Veloso) with Bendegó
07 - Pipoca Moderna (Caetano Veloso / Sebastião Biano)
08 - Jóia (Caetano Veloso)
09 - Help (John Lennon / Paul McCartney)
10 - Gravidade (Caetano Veloso)
11 - Tudo Tudo Tudo (Caetano Veloso)
12 - Na Asa do Vento (Luis Vieira / João do Vale)
13 - Escapulário (Caetano Veloso / Oswald de Andrade)

8 comments:

pawlyshyn said...

Odd coincidence: I've been listening to this one a lot lately. Yes, it's a good one, although I could do without the Beatles' Help. This album was released as the same time as Qualquer Coisa, which is also great although it has three Beatles' covers. I think nearly all his albums from this era are classics.
On his box set Todo Caetano, there was a disc called Bicho Baile Show which was never released on its own. Any chance of posting that one?

Anonymous said...

"Jóia" and "Qualquer Coisa" were recorded and released simultaneously, as two of a pair (or as the other side of each other). The recording sessions took place already in Brazil, after Caetano's return from exile in London. The original release of Jóia with the "nude" painting on the cover was available only for a couple of days. It was recalled after "the powers that be" decided that Brazilians should not be exposed to such a debauchery. Little did they know. Friends who owned a record shop kept dozens of the albums with the original cover for pals and special clients. That's how I got mine. And I was proud of having it. I was so naive in those days! All in all, "Jóia" and "Qualquer Coisa" are still my favourite albums by Caetano Veloso.

Anonymous said...

Hello pawlyshyn,
I like a lot those Beatles' covers, specially Help. I always thought it was meant to be a sad song.
Bicho Baile Show is already available at Loronix.
Other than that, have you seen my comments in response to yours, regarding Airto Moreira's Natural Feelings? Any hope for Seeds on the Ground?
Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Texto sobre Jóia e Qualquer Coisa no site do Caetano Veloso.
http://www.caetanoveloso.com.br/sec_discogra_view.php?language=pt_BR&ordem=12&prev=1

Caetano Veloso: Depoimento à Marcia Cezimbra (Jornal do Brasil – 16/05/91).
Ia ser um álbum duplo, porque eu tinha muito material. Aí resolvi fazer dois discos, cada um com um título. O Jóia era a minha relação com o trabalho limpo, pequenas peças bem acabadas, com a liberdade de Araçá Azul. Não tem nem bateria no Jóia, um instrumento do qual eu não gostava. Cada faixa era uma jóia. Qualquer coisa era o vale tudo, bateria, confusão. O manifesto do Jóia e o manifesto do Qualquer Coisa, lidos juntos, tem um batimento engraçado. O Jóia foi o único que reouvi em CD. Soa tão bonito... Adoro o silêncio do CD. Gosto de Na Asa do Vento e em Minha Mulher é maravilhoso o relaxamento meu e de Gil ao violão, que não encontro em outra faixa de Jóia. Qualquer Coisa é que era relaxado. Gosto da faixa Qualquer Coisa, mas na gravação a canção ficou presa. O Roberto Carlos reclamou que eu não tinha dado pra ele Qualquer Coisa. Devia ter dado. Ia cantar tão lindo, tão profissional. É curioso. A letra mais abstrata do Brasil, cheia de referências, um título de filme de Rogério Sganzerla, todo mundo cantou. Qualquer Coisa vendeu muito mais que Jóia. Uma coisa assim de 60.000 contra 30.000

pawlyshyn said...

Hello, adhoc:
I see Bicho Baile Show is indeed oat Loronix. Now if only that parrot can get us the FLAC files and all the covers. . .
And if he's interested, I can send him the files for the other half of Seeds on the Ground. But it's up to him.

PabloSZ said...

BUENISIMO !!!!

Gracias Zeca !!

PabloSZ said...

MUY BUENO !!!
Muchas Gracias Zeca !!

Good Groove said...

Zeca, some damn good taste you have! This one deserves a load of comments, really. I agree that "Joia" is Caetano's best album, which means it's one of the best Brazilian records. “Joia” was totally ahead of its time. In the mid-70’s progressive music ruled, there was a lot of instrumentation on every record, but Caetano produced something totally different and innovative, a true “less is more” statement, paving the way for early 80’s post-punk minimalistic approach. Everything here is perfect, but track 2 ‘Gua’ is outstanding by all parameters. P.S.: For me there two other Caetano’s albums of almost the same status: “Muito (Dentro da Estrela Azulada)” (78) and “Estrangeiro” (1989).