Astrud Gilberto – Fly Me To The Moon (1965)

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Written in 1954 by Bart Howard, ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ was originally entitled ‘In Other Words’. It was first performed by Kaye Ballard and subsequently covered by Chris Connor, Johnny Mathis, Portia Nelson, Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee, Connie Francis, Joe Harnell, Paul Anka and Frank Sinatra amongst others. Joe Harnell’s arrangement in 1962 was the first in a bossa nova style – and by 1965, the genre’s royalty were on it. A year after the LP Getz/Gilberto had turned the singer Astrud Gilberto into a star, she produced this cover; my favourite.

9 of the best – sounds of Brasil

Rio 2016. Brasil! In no particular order, other than chronology:

João Gilberto – Chega De Saudade (1959)

Antônio Carlos Jobim – Desafinado (1959)

Stan Getz and the Gilbertos – Corcovado (1964)

Baden e Vinicius – Canto de Ossanha (1966)

Jorge Ben e Toquinho – Carolina Bela (1969)

Caetano Veloso – Alfomega (1969)

Jorge Ben – Taj Mahal (1972)

Elis Regina – Aguas De Marco (1972)

Jorge Ben – Cinco Minutos (1974)

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The most honourable mentions also go to: Francisco Alves for ‘Aquarela Do Brasil‘, Jorge Ben for ‘Mas Que Nada‘ and ‘Oba La Vem Ela‘, Os Mutantes for ‘A Minha Menina‘; Novos Baianos for ‘O Samba Da Minha Terra‘; Alcione for ‘Figa de Guiné‘; and Sergio Mendes for ‘Fanfarra Cabua-Le-Le‘.

Stan Getz & the Gilbertos – Corcovado (1964)

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More Palin in Brazil last night, and so more bossa nova on Samuelsounds. In 1964, Stan Getz and guitarist João Gilberto released the classic jazz-bossa nova long player Getz/Gilberto. It became one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time, and turned the singer Astrud Gilberto into a star. For me, ‘Corcovado’ even surpasses her rendition of ‘The Girl from Ipanema’, both of which feature on the album. However, for all the crossover appeal of her first verse in English, it is her husband João’s second verse in Portuguese that so perfectly sits alongside Getz’s sax. I defy you not to like this song about Rio’s statuesque mountain peak.