"Vol. 1" was already issued in 1964 and was Baden's first album for Barclay and his first recordings for the European market. The two volume's claim to represent the "world" of BP is met by containing both solo pieces, small group recordings and tunes with orchestra. A diversity not unusual for BP's albums, though.
"Vol. 1" is definitely worth looking out for. "Vol. 2" is a bit of a mixed bag, though. To put it in the words of "brazil-on-guitar.de", "the romantic string arrangements are done according to the European taste of that time", which is a nice way to say that most tracks flow strongly into easy-listening waters. Tracks as "A Volta" or "Formosa" with their fluffy strings-and-all are reminiscent of, say, Italian soundtracks of the time, while the adaptions of classical pieces tend to the "light" side.
Elsewhere Baden is scatting along the lovely theme of "Ijemanja" (a BP original, not the deMoraes/Powell composition "Canto De Ilemanja"), sings his "hit" composition of the time, the wonderful "Lapinha", with that charming whisper of his non-voice and finally delivers at least one hypnotic afro-samba groove chock-full with virtuoso guitar playing in "Ao Meu Amigo Pedro Santos". Also noteworthy is the enchanting pseudo-baroque adaption of the Brazilian standard "Lamento" by Pixinguinha and the one solo guitar piece, the unsual "Maritima".
Sure not one of Baden's best albums. But despite the unbalanced content i found plenty to enjoy.
Regarding the introductory remark about this album looking like a compilation:
BP albums pop-up regulary in my local thrift store. However, it is often hard to figure if these are regular albums or some of the countless cheap compilations and re-editions. Baden recorded for many different labels during his 40 year career, but much of his best stuff was done for the Brazilian Elenco label, French's Barclay and Festival labels and Germany's MPS records. These labels cover the mid-60s to mid-70s, a ten-year span that easily represents the pinnacle of Mr. Powell's career. Thus sticking with the aforementioned four labels is usually a safe way to go when buying Baden's music on vinyl.
Baden Powell: Le Monde Musical De Baden Powell, Vol. 2
Barclay 80.385, France, 1969
A1 Lapinha (B. Powell, P.C. Pinheiro) 4:15
A2 Nocturne N° 13, Opus 48 N° 1 (F. Chopin) 5:00
A3 Lamento (A. Pixinguinha) 3:35
A4 A Volta (B. Powell) 3:03
A5 Ao Meu Amigo Pedro Santos (B. Powell) 3:00
B1 Formosa (B. Powell, V. De Moraes) 2:48
B2 Aria (J.-S. Bach) 3:40
B3 Iemanja (B. Powell) 3:08
B4 Tres Historias (B. Powell) 2:09
B5 Largo (G.-F. Händel) 2:15
B6 Maritima (B. Powell) 4:31
Baden Powell (g, voc on A1, B1,3) Raymond Guiot (fl) Nelson Serra De Castro (d) Silvio Silviera (perc) Ivan Jullien (arr)
This gorgeous take on Chopin's Etude no3 in E major is not to be found on today's feature album, but sure worth a listen:
Baden whispering "Lapinha":
15 comments:
http://freetexthost.com/h2bxw3yli2
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A real beauty. Thanks, Porco.
Ah well, so it may not be "one of his best" but unnecessarily dismissive perhaps for the deutchlanders to accuse the orchestrations of being Euro easy listening of the era. Bert Kampfaert it ain't. Those arrangements - listening right now to Formosa - get pretty damn deep and sophisticated. That Ivan Jullien is absolutely no slouch.
Very lovely.
Milles grazis.
Thanks, LPR, for Baden Powell. Totally agree with your comments on Volume Two.
Baden Powell's music is full of melancholy and 'tristesse'; it doesn't need the rich and often sweetish texture of an entire orchestra resp. a chorus,- just a moody guitar and a kind of whispering/singing-along and you'll get a deeper insight into Brazilian culture and soul than with all this scarily exaggerated, pesky Brazilian Carnival kindergarten...
By the way, I don't get access to freetexthost.com. Anything wrong with it?
Access to freetexthost.com has always been variable in my experience. I thought I was the only geezer suffering - no-one else has mentioned it 'til you, Greeny.
Whatever points Vol 2 may qualify for on our personal authenticity quotients, I just wish to shout out that in purely "musical" measures of craft and artistry - completely separate from any presumed and perceived Brasilian cultural aesthetic - every single track has enough shit going on to become a diamond of its own definition.
Sanctimony at ten paces,
behind the bike-sheds,
noon.
I think your description of this album was very good and I enjoyed most the pieces that you mentioned as being standouts. The more "Easy Listening Classical" stuff I enjoyed too (more so on the 2nd listen) and it's not that it's bad stuff (indeed there's some really nice arranging on most of it) it's just that it really is a mixed bag as you said. I thought the sequencing of that mixed bag could have been much better as well or better yet, do 2 different albums and flesh out each of the opposing approaches (masterful guitar-centered Baden vs classical orchestral Baden) wholly on their own. Still, there is a lot to like about this album. Thank you LPR! I'm always all ears where Baden Powell is concerned.
LOL, Lazz,
i'm a "deutschlander", too - but you knew that, didn't you?
Thanks to all for your input, folks!
Never had any problems with freetext, but if it's a problem for some of you, i'm open for suggestions. If you're aware of a similar service, let me know.
Nice! Great rip,wonderful sound. Thank you. Vol 1 is on rutracker here....http://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3200048
Thanks deGallo!
Found Vol 1 on avax a while ago. Link's dead now, unfortunately.
I had no idea.
I just thought you were a cute pink pig in a cockpit.
(My granny says you bombed our chip-shop.)
:-) :-)
Good points brought up by LAZZ although he may be a little out of line with accusing you of bombing his chip shop! :-)
No.
That was Granny.
Nasty wrinkly and vindictive.
For whom fish and chips were a basic food group.
I'm a nice boy.
Fond of pigs.
Granny sent me an MP3 rendering of Volume 1 and suggests that your porcine eminence and chip-shop nemesis would be appreciative and deserving of access.
Are you accessible, sweet pink?
Say many thanks to Granny for the kind offer, will you?
Tell her the lucky pig already calls a flac rip his own. This was once shared on avax.
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