Brazil 45, number 23:

A. Sonia Santos - Poema Ritmico Do Malandro (Balanço Do Crioulo) / AA. Joao Donato - Cala Boca Menino

'Poema Ritmico Do Malandro (Balanço Do Crioulo)' is a beautiful track from the instantly recognisable Sonia Santos. Drifts from classic to psychedelic samba, laden with strings, horns and crown noise. Originally released on 7” by Copacabana in 1971, but never on an album, and now fetches up to £100 per copy. A different version of this song also appears on the truly excellent Zito Righi 'Alucinolandia' LP

'Cala Boca Menino' is the second track on Brazil 45’s taken from Joao Donato’s much sought after and requested Quem É Quem LP. Quirky percussion, bubbling keys, horns and a hypnotic vocal. Donato is a hugely prolific force in Brazilian music and worked with the likes of including Tom Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, Cal Tjader, Dom Um Romao and Gilberto Gil amongst others. Cala Boca Menino was released on a 7” in 1973 in Brazil, but is very difficult to find at a reasonable price and in good condition these days.