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. "Por Causa de Voce, Menina" returns the album to the basic samba that forms the base of it all, and is followed by a pair of religious tracks. The lone new item, "Minha Teimosia Uma Arma Pra Te Conquistar," hails from 1998 and speaks of determination in love through a soft guitar. "Cade Tereza" and "Zumbi" are quicker sambas, and "O Filosofo" returns to the semi-African groove set up in "Ponta de Lanca." Following are "Pais Tropical," an homage to the beauty of Brazil in full tropicalia mode, and a more restrained "Oba la Vem Ela." The album finishes with "Que Maravilha," a quiet samba song with a good dose of some quiet nightclub piano to push it forward. Overall, it's quite a good album, culled from all eras of Ben's career, but focusing on the best. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Track List (try tracks 2,4,6,8,9,10,13,16,17 and 19)

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