Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso: Tropicalia Ou Panis Et Circensis Vinyl LP

This is it, the album that started a revolution and launched the careers of Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and Os Mutantes (not to mention getting Gil and Veloso sent to jail, and Gil temporarily exiled from Brazil). Its importance in Brazilian history - both musical and political - can't be understated. But more than any of that, it's just a damn good record that documents some of Brazil's most talented musicians in their prime, and the beginning of the Tropicalia movement. Most of the tunes here were penned by Gil & Veloso, with additional contributions from Tom Ze and Vincente Celestino and arrangements from Rogerio Duprat. Drop the needle anywhere, and you'll find something worth listening to: Veloso's original version of "Baby," Mutantes's "Panis et Circensis," Gil's "Miserere Nobis," the classic "Bat Macumba," Nara Leao's "Lindoneia" and the whole gang (Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa and Os Mutantes) going in on "Parque Industrial." Highly recommended.

• black vinyl pressing
• original release year: 1968
• music label: Philips 2025

reviewed by larry byrd 04/2008