Prelude
Eumir Deodato
1973
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
Prelude, the eighth studio album by Brazilian keyboardist Eumir Deodato, released in 1973, is a seminal work in classical jazz fusion, considered by many to be an example of 'elevator music with a special touch'. Its innovative sound and the reinvention of well-known themes established it as an album of great musical relevance. The album is unmistakable for its signature track, "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)", a vibrant arrangement of the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Furthermore, Prelude houses one of the most sampled drum breaks from early hip hop, present in the opening bars of the track "September 13", which became legendary and fundamental to many classic songs of the genre.
Recording
The album Prelude was recorded at the prestigious Van Gelder Studios, an iconic location for jazz recording. Production was handled by Creed Taylor, whilst Eumir Deodato was responsible for the arrangements and conducting the sessions. Rudy Van Gelder served as sound engineer, ensuring the technical quality of the recording.
Songs
Among the tracks, the funk-influenced reinterpretation of Richard Strauss's "Introdução" from Also Sprach Zarathustra, entitled "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)", is one of the main highlights. Another notable point is the beginning of the song "September 13", which features a breakbeat that became legendary and was widely used in various hip hop productions. The album features a stellar cast of musicians, including guitarist John Tropea on three tracks, bassists Ron Carter and Stanley Clarke, and Billy Cobham on drums, all of whom contributed to the work's sonic richness and complexity.
Legacy
Prelude became the most successful recording in Eumir Deodato's career and for CTI Records. The funk version of "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" was awarded the 1974 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and performed excellently on international pop charts, reaching second place in the USA, third in Canada, and seventh in the United Kingdom. In 1977, the album was briefly re-released with the title "2001" and an alternative cover. In October 2017, the album received a Super Audio CD re-release from the British label Dutton Vocalion, remastered in stereo and surround from the original analogue tapes. This double edition, accompanied by Deodato 2, from 1973, made the quadraphonic mixes of both albums available for the first time in over 40 years.
Tracks
Credits
Eumir Deodato
Creed Taylor
Ron Carter
Charles McCracken, Harvey Shapiro, Seymour Barab
Billy Cobham
Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke
John Tropea
George Marge, Hubert Laws, Phil Bodner, Romeo Penque
Jim Buffington, Peter Gordon
Jay Berliner
Airto Moreira
Ray Barretto
Eumir Deodato
Bill Watrous, Garnett Brown, George Strakey, Paul Faulise, Wayne Andre
Joe Shepley, John Frosk, Marky Markowitz
Alfred Brown, Emanuel Vardi
David Nadien, Elliot Rosoff, Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman
Rudy Van Gelder
Bob Ciano
Pete Turner
Duane Michals
Podcasts
O Som do Vinil | Podcast · Canal Brasil
Charles Gavin apresenta "Prelude", álbum de maior êxito do músico Eumir Deodato. Lançado em 1972, o disco recebeu diversos prêmios internacionais, inclusive o Grammy de Melhor Performance Instrumental Pop/Rock.
Books
Os 500 Maiores Álbuns Brasileiros de Todos os Tempos
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The largest Brazilian music election ever conducted: 162 specialists, spanning journalists, critics, musicians, producers and podcasters, each nominated 50 essential albums, supported by a masterlist of more than 2,000 works. Led by Ricardo Alexandre with tabulation by Sérgio Jomori, it was published in December 2022 as a 200-page hardcover book with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
300 Discos Importantes da Música Brasileira
Charles Gavin, Tárik de Souza, Carlos Calado, Arthur Dapieve · 2008
Conceived by Titãs drummer and musical researcher Charles Gavin, the 434-page book brings together covers and reviews of albums released between 1929 and 2007. The texts were written by journalists Tárik de Souza, Arthur Dapieve and Carlos Calado.
Analyses
Prelude – Wikipedia
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
MUSICA&SOM: Eumir Deodato - Prelude (1973)
tabernanovostempos.blogspot.com
The reason for all this remains to be understood: that's what we thought when, with our eyes closed and minds open, we listened to Eumir Deodato's album for the umpteenth time. This, and the tremendous musical quality it possesses.
Eumir Deodato - Prelude - by Rafael Morettini - Um Catálogo
umcatalogo.substack.com
Besides featuring in practically all lists of the ten best jazz albums of all time, these albums sold fewer copies than "Prelude", released by Eumir Deodato in 1973.
Eumir Deodato - Prelude (1973) | Altamont
altamont.pt
Infusing it with creativity and modernity, Eumir Deodato once again plays a trick on the classics, by tinkering with "Prelude To The Afternoon Of a Faun", by Claude Debussy.
Disco 'Prelude', de Eumir Deodato, mescla diferentes ritmos e foi ...
cbn.globoradio.globo.com
Eumir Deodato is one of the most respected and sought-after musicians. The LP 'Prelude' is from 1973. Its repertoire is rich in references to Latin music, funk, and bossa nova.
