Wrasse Records
2003
The Definitive Collection
About This Album
A greatest-hits compilation from one of Brazil's most prolific composers and performers. All of the necessary hits are present that even someone unacquainted with Jorge Ben's music might recognize: "Mas Que Nada," "Que Maravilha," and "Que Pena." With one exception, all of the songs here were recorded between 1963-1976, his golden age of fame. The album starts out with "Que Pena," a light jazz number that picks up some tempo, moving into a samba as it progresses. It moves into his signature "Mas Que Nada" from there, which even the most unfamiliar listener will recognize, from auto commercials at the very least. "Xica da Silva" comes from the soundtrack to the film of the same name from 1976, and "Bebete Vaobora" shows a bigger, fuller use of horns to make a stereotypically '70s sound. The early "Chove Chuva" was later popularized by Sergio Mendes (much the same way as "Mas Que Nada" was), and "Taj Mahal" is the carnival-esque piece that was later plagiarized by Rod Stewart to become "Do You Think I'm Sexy" (Ben won the plagiarism suit, incidentally). "O Telefone Tocou Novamente" is a light affair with some sweeping string movements breaking the guitar strumming occasionally, and "Ponta de Lanca Africano" is a funkier, bass-heavy groove.
Track List (try tracks 2,4,6,8,9,10,13,16,17 and 19)

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