Modo Livre
Ivan Lins
1974
Why This Album Matters
Modo Livre, released in 1974, represents a watershed in Ivan Lins' discography, marking a significant artistic shift in his career. This, the composer's fourth album and the first for the RCA Victor label, signalled a search for a more refined and socially engaged musical identity. The album established a bridge between samba, jazz, and soul music, genres that Ivan Lins had already explored, but now with a more pronounced harmonic and melodic complexity. The sophisticated musicality, combined with lyrics that, often veiled, offered commentary on the sociopolitical context of Brazil at the time, earned the album a prominent place in MPB.
Context
Before Modo Livre, Ivan Lins had experienced considerable success with songs such as "Madalena", popularised by Elis Regina, and his participation in Rede Globo programmes, which associated him with a sound closer to soul and a commercial appeal. However, this phase also drew criticism from sections of the press and even colleagues from the University Artistic Movement (MAU), who questioned the alignment of his music with the politically engaged MPB of the time and his relationship with the military dictatorship. In light of this criticism and the need to reinvent himself, Ivan Lins broke with the Philips record label and sought a new artistic path. Modo Livre emerges as this response, a self-proclaimed "free mode" of expression, where the artist freed himself from previous constraints to embrace a more critical and elaborate song-writing style, during a period of intense political repression in Brazil.
Recording
The album Modo Livre was recorded at RCA studios in 1974, produced by Raymundo Bittencourt. The arrangements, considered brilliant and sophisticated, were the responsibility of conductor Arthur Verocai, who contributed significantly to the album's jazzy and elaborate sound. The album's credits reveal the presence of prominent MPB and Brazilian jazz musicians of the 1970s, including Wagner Tiso (piano and organ), Robertinho Silva (drums and percussion), Maurício Einhorn (harmonica), Márcio Montarroyos (flugelhorn), Laércio de Freitas (organ), João Cortez (drums), Luiz Alves (electric bass) and the vocal groups MPB-4 and Quarteto em Cy on backing vocals. Ivan's then-wife, Lucinha Lins, also participated on vocals.
Songs
The songs on Modo Livre present a rich lyrical and melodic tapestry, highlighting the debut of Ivan Lins' partnership with lyricist Vitor Martins on the track "Abre Alas". This song, which would become a classic, inaugurated one of Brazilian music's most fruitful collaborations. Other tracks such as "Tens (Calmaria)" and "Não Tem Perdão" are notable for their lyrics which, in a subtle manner, address themes such as resistance and the pain of oppression experienced during the military dictatorship, using metaphors to circumvent censorship. The album also includes a reinterpretation of Caetano Veloso's "Avarandado", which takes on new colours with Ivan Lins' rendition, and the track "Deixa Eu Dizer", which would become one of his greatest hits.
Legacy
Despite a modest start in sales, with around 10,000 LP copies sold at the time, Modo Livre is today recognised as a fundamental album in Ivan Lins' discography and in the history of MPB. Its importance lies in the consolidation of Ivan Lins' artistic identity and the beginning of his most engaged and critically acclaimed phase. The album was reissued on CD for the first time in 2001, as part of the "RCA – 100 Anos de Música" series, and also re-released in Japan in the same year, which attests to its lasting value. The track "Abre Alas" remains one of the artist's greatest successes and a symbol of his partnership with Vitor Martins, which would generate countless MPB classics, solidifying Ivan Lins' influence on Brazilian and international music, especially in jazz. The album is frequently cited in lists and discussions about the best albums in Brazilian music.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Aquiles, Magro, Miltinho, Ruy
Claudio Cartier, Cynara, Cyva, Dorinha Tapajós, Luna, Regininha, Roberto Quartin, Severino Filho, Sidinho, Suzana, Tavinho Bonfá
Wagner Santos
Joãozinho Da Percussão
Robertinho Silva
Luiz Alves
José-Carlos Cocarelli
Marcio Montarroyos
Celso Woltzenlogel, Copinha, Jorginho da Flauta
Ricardinho
Sidney Mattos
Arthur Verocai
Mauricio Einhorn
Kleber Veiga, Moacir Freitas
Laércio De Freitas, Wagner Tiso
Lucinha Lins
Chico Batera
Ivan Lins
Nilton Delfino Marçal
Aizik Geller
Gilberto
João Kibelkstis, Stelio Carlini, Walter Silva
Paulo Frazão
Ney Tavora
Osmar Zandomenigui
Henrique Gastaldello
Raymundo Bittencourt
Ivan Klingen
Podcasts
PodCália · Gigola
O Ano era 1974.Um dos períodos mais difíceis da história do nosso país para se fazer arte.Afinal, o AI-5 inaugurou o período mais sombrio da ditadura militar, além de ter reforçado o autoritarismo do presidente.Por isso, Ivan Lins decidiu que era hora de mudar o rumo de sua carreira, desenvolvendo canções que tocassem na ferida e a alertassem as pessoas sobre toda opressão que ocorria no Brasil.S
Books
Dicionário de Figuras de Linguagem nas Canções de Ivan Lins e Vítor Martins
Wagner Azevedo · 2024
Uma análise aprofundada das figuras de linguagem presentes nas letras das canções de Ivan Lins e seu parceiro Vítor Martins, fundamental para compreender a riqueza poética de sua obra.
The 500 Greatest Brazilian Albums of All Time
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The election was spearheaded by journalist Ricardo Alexandre, creator of the Discoteca Básica podcast. Ricardo consulted 162 specialists including journalists, YouTubers, podcasters, musicians, record-shop owners and producers. The result was published as a 200-page hardcover book, with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
Songbook Ivan Lins - Vol. 2
Ivan Lins · 2005
Segundo volume do songbook de Ivan Lins, contendo partituras e letras adicionais de suas composições, complementando o estudo de sua vasta discografia.
Songbook Ivan Lins - Vol. 1
ALMIR CHEDIAK
Este songbook oferece partituras e letras das canções de Ivan Lins, sendo uma ferramenta essencial para o estudo de sua obra musical.
Analyses
ClyBlog: Ivan Lins - "Modo Livre" (1974)
cly-blog.blogspot.com
Seja por desatenção ou ignorância dos censores, a música fortemente denunciadora de Ivan não se limitou apenas a este disco, mas a uma série irrepreensível produzida ao longo de 6 anos.
Cliquemusic : Disco : MODO LIVRE
cliquemusic.com.br
1974 RCA Victor 103.0092 Faixas 1 Rei do carnaval (Ivan Lins, Paulo César Pinheiro) 2 Deixa eu dizer (Ronaldo Monteiro, Ivan Lins) 3 Avarandado (Caetano Veloso) 4 Tens (Calmaria) (Ronaldo Monteiro, Ivan Lins) 5 Não tem perdão (Ronaldo Monteiro, Ivan Lins) 6 Abre alas (Vitor Martins, Ivan Lins) 7 Chega (Ivan Lins) 8 Espero (Ronaldo Monteiro ...
Modo Livre - Ivan Lins - iFolha
ifolha.com.br
Quarto trabalho do cantor Ivan Lins, o álbum "Modo Livre" foi lançado em 1974 pela gravadora RCA. O disco que marca a estreia da parceria do músico com o compositor Vitor Martins na canção "Abre Alas", que comemora 40 anos, traz a releitura de "Avarandado", música de Caetano Veloso.
Ivan Lins - Modo Livre | 1974
discosqueouvi.blogspot.com
O álbum foi reeditado em CD, pela primeira vez, em2001 pela gravadora Kuarup na série RCA - 100 Anos de Música, pela então denominada BMG. Modo Livre atingiu a marca de 10 mil cópias vendidas em LP, desde o seu lançamento.
Ivan Lins - Modo Livre (1974) - musicasdonordeste.net
musicasdonordeste.net
Quarto trabalho do cantor Ivan Lins o álbum Modo Livre foi lançado em 1974 pela gravadora RCA com a produção de Raymundo Bittencourt e arranjos do maestro Arthur Verocai.
Discogs
Modo Livre – Discogs
discogs.com