hypersongs

Pérola Negra

Ten songs, all by Melodia, with Perinho Albuquerque directing the music.
Luiz Melodia, 1973

Portuguese Wikipedia, Slipcue and the Noize Record Club reissue page name Guilherme Araújo as producer, while Metrópoles names Sérgio Carvalho. Perinho Albuquerque directed the music and Arthur Verocai arranged at least one track. Hyldon and Piau play guitar, Dominguinhos accordion, Altamiro Carrilho flute, Márcio Montarroyos trumpet and Rildo Hora harmonica, among others. The cover was photographed by Rubens Maia at a Copacabana scrapyard, with Melodia lying in a bathtub over black beans, not coffee as many assumed. Metrópoles says "Farrapo Humano" bothered the censors for its passionate chorus.

It did not sell well despite positive reviews. AllMusic gave 4.5 of 5, Rolling Stone Brasil's 2007 list of the 100 greatest Brazilian records placed it 32nd, and the Discoteca Básica poll put it 21st among 500 Brazilian albums. Slipcue hears a gentle samba-canção, jazz-tinged songs recalling Stevie Wonder and Gilberto Gil and, on side two, bluesy R&B. Noize Record Club reissued it on vinyl in 2020 and Universal in 2024.

Track listing

  1. Estácio, Eu e Você2:15
  2. Vale Quanto Pesa3:11
  3. Estácio, Holy Estácio2:29
  4. Pra Aquietar2:46
  5. Abundantemente Morte3:27
  6. Pérola Negra2:49
  7. Magrelinha2:06
  8. Farrapo Humano3:12
  9. Objeto H2:25
  10. Forró de Janeiro3:15

More from Luiz Melodia

Maravilhas Contemporâneas (1976), Mico De Circo (1978), Nós (1980), Felino (1983), Claro (1987), Pintando O Sete (1991), Relíquias (1995), Acústico Ao Vivo (1999), Luiz Melodia Convida Ao Vivo (2002), Estaçāo Melodia (2007), Especial MTV - Estação Melodia Ao Vivo (2008), Zerima (2014)

Sources

  1. Pérola Negra (álbum), Wikipedia (Portuguese)
  2. Jukebox sentimental: Luiz Melodia, Metrópoles
  3. Luiz Melodia, Slipcue