Track Listing

1. Fool on the Hill - Sergio Mendes, Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
2. Festa
3. Casa Forte
4. Canto Triste
5. Upa, Neguinho
6. Lapinha
7. Scarborough Fair
8. When Summer Turns to Snow
9. Laia Ladaia (Reza)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22689 in Music
• Brand: Dig
• Released on: 2004-09-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .16 pounds

Customer Reviews

The best selling Sergio Mendes album and for good reason
The Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 formula on "Fool on the Hill" was quite simple. Take pop hits like the title track by the Beatles and "Scarborough Fair" by Simon & Garfunkle, add a bossa nova rhythm and some lavish string accompaniment by Dave Grusin to Mendes on the piano and the vocals by Lani Hall (Mrs. Herb Alpert) and Karen Philipp, and you have some easy listening hits. "Fool on the Hill" followed "Look Around," giving Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 two solid albums in 1968 (please, do not revive the debate over why it was not Brasil '68), although I have a slight preference for this collection, which made was the group's highest charting album at #3 on the Billboard Pop Album chart (but #1 in Jazz and #10 for Black Albums).

The reason is that while this album hooks you with the covers, both of which charted in the Top 20 ("Fool on the Hill" was #6 and "Scarborough Fair" made it to #16), it is the original compositions that you end up loving. The two best on this album are "Casa Forte" and "Upa, Neguinho," both of which were written (or co-written) by Edu Lobo, which are as fine as any of the group's original songs as they ever recorded. The best vocals are actually by Gracinha Leporace, who would be part of Brasil '77, on "Lapinha." You have to appreciate this type of bait and switch, where unsuspecting music lovers pick up an album for the hits and are introduced to the seductive sounds of Brazilian jazz.

In the Sixties this was the sound of international music and the opening of the door for pretty much all of the Latin American recording artists who came afterwards. "Fool on the Hill" was the best selling album by Sergio Mendes, although a large measure of the credit might be due not to the music but rather the cover, which folded out to show the group at a gorgeous sunset...sitting on top of a nude woman. Ah, to be in Rio at Carnival time...

Sergio Mendes is a genius
It's nice for Sergio Mendes to have all this attention again because of the revamped Mas Que Nada, but I think there will be little room for discussion when you compare it to the brilliant original, which isn't polluted by obnoxious rapping. His whole Brazil '66-discography is amazing: this is timeless, sweet, slightly exotic music that's upbeat with a hint of melancholy. So the same goes for this great record, which leans on two very good covers, but the originals are what's special here. The perfect blend between 60's pop and bossanova, sweet but not sappy, cheerful but not annoying, and always this sweet, glowing, after-summer vibe. He's the man.

Smooth as Silk
I recently decided I have been buying too much new music on CDs, and not listening to my large collection of great music on LPs. One of the first LPs on my platter (for the first time in years) was this great outting by Brazil 66. I couldn't believe how exciting, timeless, and classy (and even sexy) this music is. The singing and the instrumentation blend perfectly. Some of the rhythms get complex, yet they come off as smooth as silk in the hands of these great musicians. If you still don't know this music, this would be a great starting place. It is definitely one of their best. Also, though tame by today's standards, the cover of the LP once unfolded (and I presume the CD) is interesting--to say the least. I might also add that the range of sound in the music of Brazil 66 really shows off a good stereo system.