Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
1967
Why This Album Matters
Released in 1967, Beach Samba is a studio album by the acclaimed Astrud Gilberto, featuring arrangements by Eumir Deodato and Don Sebesky. Although some critics consider it one of the artist's less impactful works for Verve in the 60s due to its more pop inclination, the album still offers an auditory experience that blends bossa nova with North American orchestral pop sensibilities. On this record, Gilberto's smooth, playful, and ethereal voice is the highlight, supported by lush instrumentation that includes notable collaborators such as Ron Carter, Toots Thielemans, Marcos Valle, and Claudio Slon. It is a work that, despite its pop orientation, manages to capture the relaxing and pleasant essence of beachy bossa nova.
Recording
Beach Samba was produced by Creed Taylor. The technical team included Brooks Arthur, Val Valentin, and Rudy Van Gelder as engineers. For reissues, Michael Lang coordinated, Suha Gur mastered, Aric Lach Morrison assisted with production, and Peter Pullman carried out the editing. The design was handled by Jack Anesh and David Krieger, with photography by Jerry Schatzberg and Chuck Stewart.
Songs
The track selection on Beach Samba is notable for its more pop approach, although some of these choices stand out positively. Among them, Tim Hardin's beautiful "Misty Roses" is particularly praised. Another highlight is the song "Não Bate O Coração", where Astrud Gilberto lets loose with confident and daring scats, a style she rarely explored before or after this album. The record also includes compositions by names such as Chico Buarque, Luiz Bonfá, and Marcos Valle.
Legacy
The album's critical reception, according to AllMusic's review by Richie Unterberger, awarded it three stars, noting its more pop inclination. However, Beach Samba achieved lasting recognition, being included in the influential book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Don Sebesky, Eumir Deodato
Creed Taylor
Astrud Gilberto
Julio Ruggiero, Ron Carter
Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Harvey Shapiro, Maurice Bialkin, Maurice Brown, Seymour Barab
Bobby Rosengarden, Claudio Slon, Grady Tate
Hubert Laws, Seldon Powell
Earl Chapin, Jim Buffington, Ray Alonge, Tony Miranda
Barry Galbraith, Marcos Valle, Toots Thielemans
Toots Thielemans
Margaret Ross
Ben Aronov
Alan Douglas, Dom Um Romao, Jack Jennings
Ben Aronov, Warren Bernhardt
Tony Studd, Urbie Green, Warren Covington, Wayne Andre
Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal, Jimmy Nottingham, Marvin Stamm
John Barber
George Devens
David Mankovitz, David Schwartz, Harold Coletta, Richard Dickler
Arnold Eidus, Gene Orloff, George Ockner, Harry Katzman, Leo Kruczek
Toots Thielemans
Bill Hammond, Hubert Laws, Phil Bodner, Stan Webb
Val Valentin
Brooks Arthur
Rudy Van Gelder
David Krieger, Jack Anesh
Stan Levine
Jerry Schatzberg
Podcasts
1001 Album Club · Birch
Again we have another Samba / Bossa Nova Gilberto Album? Some of us find the 60's pop great and some of us wish the Gilberto's would just go away.
Analyses
Beach Samba – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
Musicology: Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba 1967 - Blogger
madshoesmusicology.blogspot.com
Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba 1967 One of Gilberto's less impressive '60s Verve outings, primarily due to the more pop-oriented song selection. Much of this is just standard pleasant Gilberto: offhand vocals and a sumptuous Brazil pop-cum-U.S. orchestration feel (Ron Carter and Toots Thielemans are among the sidemen).
Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba (1967) | Toque Musical
toque-musicall.com
oba, boa canoeiro i had the craziest dream bossa na praia (beach samba) my foolish heart dia das rosas (i think of you) you didn't have to be so nice
Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba - Review - 1001 Albums You Must Hear ...
1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.net
The featured classic album is "Beach Samba" by Astrud Gilberto (Verve Records, 1967) - "a more pop-oriented song selection"
Beach Samba - Astrud Gilberto - Reviews - 1001 Albums
1001albumsgenerator.com
At times I wished I were just listening to the album without needing to multitask, but the bright and lively samba actually kept me pretty driven while the jazzy, beachy vibes keep things feeling mellow and unrushed.
Discogs
Beach Samba – Discogs
discogs.com