Jorge Ben – Jorge Ben – LP

Audio Clarity

Released in 1969, and now reissued by Audio Clarity,  it was Jorge Ben’s first album with Trio Mocoto, a group that would be backing him along the 70’s on many other seminal albums, such as For a Bruta (1970), Negro E Lindo (1971) and A Tabua de Esmeralda (1974).

The present album is said to have influenced the “Tropicália” movement, as three tracks from this set, “Que pena”, “Pais tropical” and “Charles, Anjon 45” were immediately covered by Gal Costa (the former two), and Caetano Veloso (the latter), two key artists of that Brazilian musical and artistic movement. This album is considered a samba soul classic, and quite possibly Ben’s greatest album ever. In contrast to the cerebral output of the “Tropicália” camp in 1969, this album is much more visceral and personal, and yet no less revolutionary.

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