Review: Joao Gilberto’s Chega de Saudade

At long last, Joao Gilberto’s groundbreaking landmark bossa nova album, Chega de Saudade, has been reissued by the folks over at Cherry Red Records in the UK.  Originally released in 1959, this album teamed Gilberto with songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim and lyricist/poet Vinicius de Moraes. Earlier recordings by other artists in Brazil hinted slightly at bossa nova, but Gilberto’s newly developed guitar stylings and hushed, understated vocals became the template for the bossa nova explosion that would soon follow.  This is where it all began.

Many of the songs on this collection would become well known either by Gilberto’s hands, or through others’ recordings. “Chega de Saudade” of course is a classic that has appeared on many Brazilian albums in years past. “Bim Bom” made arguably its most famous appearance on an album by Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66. Dating back even further, one of Mendes’ earliest albums features “Ho Ba La La” as the lead-off track.  The original version of “Desafinado”, now practically a pop standard (even Sinatra recorded it), appears here as well.  Some of the other tracks are not as well known, but are a joy to listen to, such as the playful “Lobo Bobo”.

Sonically it won’t win any major awards, but given the recording date, we’re lucky to hear it as cleanly as it is presented here.  The bass is rather thin, but Gilberto’s guitar and vocals are up front and crystal clear.  It’s interesting to note that the title track was originally released as a 78RPM “single” back in 1959.

In addition to the twelve original album tracks, we are treated to three songs from an EP of songs from the “Black Orpheus” film soundtrack, sung by Gilberto.  And filling up the rest of the album are songs from this album as covered by Gilberto’s contemporaries, including the popular vocal group Os Cariocas, Elizete Cardoso, a young Walter Wanderley, Bola Sete, and others.  As a whole, the CD is a document of the early bossa nova movement in Brazil, from its beginnings and its earliest followers.  Highly recommended for Brazilian music fans!  Chega De Saudade is available from Amazon.