Cartola

Cartola

1976

Cover of Cartola
Top 100

Why This Album Matters

Released in 1976, the album Cartola, also informally known as Cartola II, is a masterpiece that not only consolidated the rediscovery of Angenor de Oliveira, the master Cartola, but also established itself as one of the pillars of Brazilian popular music. Considered a definitive record of almost five decades of experiences, loves, sorrows, and resistance transformed into samba, the album overflows with the composer's genius and moral elegance. Distancing itself from a supposed 'late debut', this work presents a popular chamber sound, where each arrangement is meticulously elaborated to highlight Cartola's deep and restrained voice, without excesses or deficiencies. His compositions, replete with poetry and striking melodies, elevate samba to a level of literary and universal art, making this album essential for understanding the depth and sophistication of the genre in Brazil.

#8

On this album, Cartola wanders between melancholic joy and pure pain, in musical poems that seem to have been carved in the most rustic, authentic and pain-filled manner possible.

Bruno Yutaka Saito · Rolling Stone Brasil

Read more

Context

The album Cartola was the second studio album by the Rio de Janeiro samba artist, released in 1976 by the Discos Marcus Pereira label. This release occurred at a moment of late, but deserved, recognition for the artist, who, like many geniuses, only recorded his first LP in his sixties, after a long period of ostracism during which many considered him missing or even deceased. The album's production was overseen by Juarez Barroso, whose work on this album would be the last of his career, as he passed away a month before its release. Cartola's re-emergence to the wider public began to take shape in the 1960s, when young musical talents, such as Nara Leão and Paulinho da Viola, began to extol his work, paving the way for the samba master to finally receive the acclaim he was due.

Recording

The production of the 1976 Cartola album was the responsibility of Juarez Barroso, who, regrettably, would pass away a month before the album's release, marking this as his final work. The album was again released by the Discos Marcus Pereira label. The album's arrangements were conceived in an economical and organic manner, emphasising Cartola's voice and guitar and allowing the melodies to breathe, which contributed to the intimate and sophisticated atmosphere of the work. In terms of instrumentation, Cartola featured renowned musicians, such as young Guinga, who accompanied him on guitar on the recording of "O Mundo É um Moinho". The ensemble was completed with Canhoto (Waldiro Frederico Tramontano) on cavaquinho, Altamiro Carrilho on flute, Dino 7 Cordas (Horondino José da Silva) on 7-string guitar, Gilson de Freitas on surdo, and Elton Medeiros on ganzá, forming a 'popular chamber sound' that enhances the depth of the compositions.

Songs

The 1976 album is a treasure trove of timeless compositions, bringing together sambas that would become anthems of Brazilian music. Among the most acclaimed tracks are "As Rosas não Falam", "Preciso Me Encontrar", and "O Mundo É um Moinho", the latter featuring the special participation of young Guinga on guitar. Cartola's lyrical and melodic depth is evident in each song, addressing themes such as love, solitude, the passage of time, and the philosophy of life with singular delicacy and elegance. In addition to these, the album presents other notable compositions by Cartola himself, such as "Minha", "Aconteceu", "Sei Chorar", "Cordas de Aço", and "Não Posso Viver Sem Ela". The inclusion of "Peito Vazio", a partnership with Elton Medeiros, and "Senhora Tentação", by Silas de Oliveira, further enriches the repertoire. The album also stands out for the participation of his daughter, Creusa, who contributes vocals on the tracks "Sala de Recepção" and "Ensaboa", adding a personal and familial touch to the work.

Despite having his first samba recorded by Francisco Alves in 1929 ("Que infeliz sorte", rights sold to Mário Reis), and making his debut as a singer aboard the ship Uruguai in 1940, on a record produced by classical maestros Leopold Stokowski and Heitor Villa-Lobos (see p. 48), Cartola only released his first solo album in 1974, aged 65.

Tárik de Souza · 300 Discos Importantes

Legacy

The 1976 album Cartola was a resounding critical success, immediately recognised as one of the great albums of Brazilian music. Its importance was cemented over time, culminating in its notable 8th position on Rolling Stone Brasil magazine's list of the "100 greatest albums of Brazilian music". The album's impact was immense, opening doors and opportunities that Cartola had never experienced in his career. His work became timeless, with numerous compositions being re-recorded by an endless list of acclaimed artists, including names such as Elis Regina, Paulinho da Viola, Jair Rodrigues, Nelson Gonçalves, Zeca Pagodinho, Ney Matogrosso, Cazuza, and Beth Carvalho, who considered Cartola the best interpreter of his songs. This album is not just a landmark in his discography, but Cartola's reckoning with the world, consolidating his status as a true national treasure of Brazilian music and, even today, it continues to be rediscovered, receiving re-releases in special editions.

Rankings

Tracks

Credits

Music Director, Arranged By, Acoustic Guitar

Horondino José Da Silva

Producer, Liner Notes

Juarez Barroso

Backing Vocals

Coral De Joab

12-String Acoustic Guitar

Zé Menezes

Acoustic Guitar

Guinga, Meira

Bassoon

Airton Barbosa

Caixa, Tamborim, Ganzá

Elton Medeiros

Cavaquinho

Canhoto

Cuica, Agogô

Nenê

Flute

Altamiro Carrilho

Pandeiro

Jorginho

Reco-reco, Agogô

Wilson Canegal

Surdo

Gilson

Tenor Saxophone

Abel Ferreira

Trombone

Nelson Martins Dos Santos

Engineer, Mixed By

Norival Reis

Layout

Tonhão

Podcasts

Brazuca Sounds #93: Cartola (1976)

Brazuca Sounds · Leandro Vignoli

44 min·12 May 2026

In episode #93, we celebrate 50 years of Cartola's second album, released in 1976 by the record label Marcus Pereira Discus. Nearly 50 years into his career, Cartola released his debut featuring many of his early sambas and chorinhos. This follow-up is completed with songs written exclusively for this album, such as "As Rosas Não Rosam", arguably his most popular song. Among other famous iconic sa

T01E08: Cartola - Cartola (1976)

Discoteca Básica Podcast · Parasol Storytelling

1h 19min·27 Oct 2020

UM CLÁSSICO DA MÚSICA BRASILEIRA que levou mais de 40 anos para virar realidade. Convidada do episódio: Teresa Cristina.    Tem mais conteúdo para assinantes do CLUBE DISCOTECA BÁSICA: Assina lá! https://podcastdiscotecabasica.com/assine/   Seja no Morro da Mangueira ou nos apartamentos da zona sul, sempre tem gente tocando um instrumento. Com os 10% de desconto no nosso link da MusicDot, fica mui

Cartola (1976): por que este é um dos maiores discos da música brasileira?

Vinilteca · José Ono Junior e Guilherme Colpani

38 min·16 Feb 2026

Cartola gravou o disco mais importante da sua vida quando muitos já acreditavam que ele tinha sido esquecido.Lançado em 1976, este álbum não soa como uma estreia tardia, mas como o registro definitivo de quase 50 anos de vida, dor, amor e resistência transformados em samba.Neste vídeo, a Vinilteca mergulha fundo no disco Cartola (1976), analisando faixa a faixa, contexto histórico, bastidores das

Videos

Cartola - Cartola (1976) | SOM DOIS | ALBUM REVIEW

Som de Peso

CARTOLA (1976) | OBRA-PRIMA DO SAMBA BRASILEIRO

A MÚSICA, O FILME E O LIVRO

Cartola e o seu fantástico disco de 1976 | Disco do Dia | Alta Fidelidade

Alta Fidelidade

Films

Books

Analyses

Cartola – Wikipedia

Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia

CartolaThe 100 Greatest Albums of Brazilian Music

Bruno Yutaka Saito · Rolling Stone Brasil

Cartola foi pedreiro, lavador de carro, contínuo e o que mais lhe rendesse uns trocados, viu e cantou de tudo. Só não teve tempo de ver que este seu segundo disco mudaria a cabeça de quem o ouvisse, pelas décadas seguintes. Entre sam bas antigos e então inéditos, neste álbum, Cartola passeia entre a alegria melancólica e a pura dor, em poemas musicais que parecem ter sido lapidados da maneira mais rústica, autêntica e sofrida possível. Não há otimismo desvairado para alguém que só gravou seu primeiro disco aos 65, dois anos antes. Fosse para selecionar apenas os clássicos, basta dizer que estão ali “As Rosas Não Falam", “O Mundo É um Moinho" e “Preciso Me Encontrar", de Candeia, em versão definitiva. Esta última, aliás, de tempos em tempos é redescoberta por uma geração inteira, do cineasta Walter Salles, que a colocou na trilha do filmeCentral do Brasil(1998), ao DJ Guab (atração do Tim Festival deste ano), que a apresentou remixada aos indies das descoladas danceterias paulistanas.

Cartola e sua obra-prima de 1976 - Cantinho do Disco

cantinhododisco.com.br

Em resumo, Cartola de 1976 não é apenas um álbum; é uma obra-prima que continua a emocionar e inspirar, mantendo o legado de Cartola vivo para novas gerações. Seu impacto no samba e na música brasileira como um todo é um testemunho do talento incomparável de um dos maiores compositores do gênero.

50 anos do disco que eternizou Cartola - by Tiago Ferreira

namiradogroove.substack.com

O Carnaval é uma época bem propícia para relembrar Cartola, um dos fundadores da Mangueira. Passada a festança, vamos relembrar aquela que é considerada uma das - se não "a" - maiores obras-primas do samba: o álbum homônimo de 1976.

O Histórico Disco De Cartola ( 1976) - Visão Plural

visaoplural.com.br

Neste vídeo, a Vinilteca mergulha fundo no disco Cartola (1976), analisando faixa a faixa, contexto histórico, bastidores das gravações, músicos envolvidos, a importância de Dona Zica e o impacto cultural de canções eternas como "As Rosas Não Falam", "O Mundo é um Moinho" e "Preciso Me Encontrar".

Discogs

Cartola – Discogs

discogs.com