Senhor Samba
Cyro Monteiro
1961
Why This Album Matters
Senhor Samba, released in 1961, is a significant album in Cyro Monteiro's discography, representing his first full foray into the LP era. The album highlights the unmistakable style of 'Formigão', the affectionate nickname by which he was known, an interpreter who revolutionised the way samba was sung with his 'suingue', vitality, and unique ability to modulate and improvise his voice. The work is a testament to his mastery in reconciling samba tradition with a performance that was both robust and full of swing. This work is special for capturing the essence of Cyro Monteiro, an artist who, even after decades in his career, sounded remarkably youthful and vibrant. The LP's back cover itself, written by Vinicius de Moraes, already highlighted the singer's rare qualities, stating that 'Cyro, beyond being an exceptional singer and man, is a great embrace for all humanity', demonstrating the charisma and depth of his art. With his syncopated interpretation and rhythmic displacement, Cyro Monteiro was fundamental in the evolution of vocal samba performance, imprinting a characteristic charm and good humour on his shows.
Context
Cyro Monteiro already had a consolidated career spanning nearly three decades in the Brazilian music scene before the release of Senhor Samba. Born in 1913, the Rio-born singer gained prominence in the radio era in Rio de Janeiro from the 1930s onwards, known for his ability to mark the rhythm with a matchbox. He collected hits such as "Se acaso você chegasse" (1937), "Oh! Seu Oscar" (1939), and "O bonde de São Januário" (1940), immortalising compositions by great samba artists. The 1950s was a challenging period for the artist, who had faced respiratory problems since the late 40s and even underwent surgery in 1959. Senhor Samba marks Cyro Monteiro's return to the music scene after this brief hiatus, reaffirming his presence and relevance during a vibrant period for Brazilian music, on the cusp of bossa nova's consolidation, but with traditional samba still pulsating strongly.
Recording
The album Senhor Samba was released in 1961 by the Columbia record label. The album's sound features orchestral and choral accompaniment, under the musical direction and arrangements of Astor. A notable detail that adds historical value to the work is the LP's back cover notes, which were written by none other than the poet and composer Vinicius de Moraes, extolling Cyro Monteiro's figure and talent.
Songs
Senhor Samba features a repertoire of twelve tracks that highlight Cyro Monteiro's versatility and charisma in interpreting sambas. Among the standout compositions are "Quatro Loucos Num Samba", authored by Cyro himself in partnership with Mary Monteiro, and "Liberdade Demais", by Hélio Nascimento and Mariano Filho. The album also includes "Teléco-téco", a samba signed by Vinicius de Moraes, and "Malandro Bamba", by Pedro Caetano, demonstrating Cyro's curation in choosing great composers. Other notable tracks are "Minha Marilú", a partnership between Cyro Monteiro and Dias da Cruz, and "Chora, Coração", by Denis Brean and Oswaldo Guilherme, which exemplify the repertoire's melodic and lyrical richness.
Legacy
Senhor Samba was received as an album 'full of swing, fun, and super cool', with Cyro Monteiro sounding 'remarkably young and vibrant' for someone with almost thirty years in his career. The album's relevance was amplified by the back cover notes written by Vinicius de Moraes, which became an integral part of its history. The album has been reissued in different formats over the years, including an LP version in 1962 and CD reissues in 1994, 1998, and an unspecified year, which attests to its value and continuous demand. On the Discogs platform, Senhor Samba boasts an average rating of 4.53 out of 5 stars, based on 15 reviews, which reflects a lasting positive reception among collectors and music lovers. Although information about specific sales is not available, its constant reissuing and the high appraisal from specialised critics and the public indicate its prominent place in the samba canon and Cyro Monteiro's discography.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Astor Silva
Sérgio Cabral
Dirceu Côrte-Real
Books
Analyses
Cyro Monteiro - Sr. Samba (1961) | Órfãos do Loronix
orfaosdoloronix.wordpress.com
Let's start the Sunday Samba post presenting a Samba legend and his debut LP, Cyro Monteiro, a renowned Samba interpreter, active on recordings since 1936. This 1961 album can be considered a late debut in the format, since the 10-inches age started in the early 50's.
Blog da Música Brasileira: 1961 - Sr. Samba - Cyro Monteiro
blogdamusicabrasileira.blogspot.com
Da parceira com Elizeth, foi gravado em 1966 o antológico disco "A Bossa Eterna de Elizeth e Ciro", cheio de pot-pourris e sambas que marcaram a carreira de ambos. Neste disco, o "Sr. Samba" nos traz um repertório sensacional de sambas e músicas que parecem ter sido feitas exclusivamente para ele.
The Music of Parallel Realities: Cyro Monteiro - Sr. Samba (1961)
parallelrealitiesmusic.blogspot.com
As this album by the great Cyro Monteiro was presented on Loronix more than a decade ago, I am, as usual in such cases, pointing to Órfãos do Loronix where Zecalouro 's original text about it is reprinted.
Cliquemusic : Disco : SR. SAMBA
cliquemusic.com.br
SR. SAMBA Cyro Monteiro (1961) 1961 CBS Faixas 1 Quatro loucos num samba (Mary Monteiro, Cyro Monteiro) 2 Liberdade demais (Hélio Nascimento, Mariano Filho) 3 Teléco-teco (Vinicius de Moraes) 4 Malandro bamba (Pedro Caetano) 5 Cara feia (Ivan Ferreira, Homero, Renato) 6 Com fome não (Oziel Peçanha, Noacy B. de Marconez) 7 Irene (Zé)
Cliquemusic : Disco : SR. SAMBA
cliquemusic.com.br
Cyro Monteiro (1961) 1961 CBS Faixas 1 Quatro loucos num samba (Mary Monteiro, Cyro Monteiro) 2 Liberdade demais (Hélio Nascimento, Mariano Filho) 3 Teléco-teco (Vinicius de Moraes) 4 Malandro bamba (Pedro Caetano) 5 Cara feia (Ivan Ferreira, Homero, Renato) 6 Com fome não (Oziel Peçanha, Noacy B. de Marconez) 7 Irene (Zé)
Discogs
Senhor Samba – Discogs
discogs.com