The Japanese EMI collection Café Après-midi, coordinated with the long-awaited (by a few) reissue of several Marcos Valle albums from the '70s, packs in no less than 30 of Valle's evergreens from the mid-'60s through the mid-'70s. With no wide-issue compilation yet available, this one becomes the pick, with clear digital-era sound and a track listing that unfortunately skirts the late '60s (and one of his best albums, Samba '68), but does hit most of the highlights from the '70s: "Êle e Ela," "Os Grilos," "Com Mais de 30," "Mentira," and "Não Tem Nada Não." Albums like Samba '68, Garra, and Previsão do Tempo are still nearly essential listening for Brazilian fans, but Café Après-midi is an excellent first choice. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide