Gita

Raul Seixas

1974

Cover of Gita
Top 100

Why This Album Matters

Gita, released in 1974, emerges as an unmistakable landmark in Raul Seixas's discography. The album stands out for its audacious fusion of mystical references and a clear socio-political stance, characteristics that define the artistic singularity of the "Maluco Beleza". The cover's iconography, with Raul dressed as a guerrilla fighter and holding a red guitar, already reveals the provocative and committed nature of the work. The sound of Gita explores the idiosyncrasies of Brazilian rock with lyrics that navigate between the esoteric, the philosophical, and the everyday. Songs such as the title track, inspired by the ancient Bhagavad Gita, or "Sociedade Alternativa", which draws from the work of Aleister Crowley, demonstrate the conceptual depth and cultural breadth that Raul Seixas brought to Brazilian popular music. It is an album that invites reflection and rebellion, wrapped in striking melodies.

Context

The release of Gita occurred at a particularly effervescent moment in Raul Seixas's career, marking his return to Brazil after a period of exile in the United States. This absence was imposed by the Brazilian military dictatorship, making the album's cover, with Raul dressed in guerrilla attire and holding a red guitar, a clear and defiant manifestation against the oppressive regime that had forced him to leave the country.

Recording

Gita was recorded at the Philips facilities, now known as Universal Music, in 1974. Production direction was handled by Marco Mazzola, with assistance from Tolbi and the expertise of technicians such as Ary Carvalhaes, Luigi Hoffer, João Moreira, and Luis Cláudio Coutinho. The mixing was also carried out by Marco Mazzola. The album's orchestration was developed by Miguel Cidras, while the arrangements were signed by Raul Seixas himself. The cutting of the final material was the responsibility of Joaquim Figueira. A wide range of musicians contributed to the sound, including Raul Seixas, Neco, and Tony Osanah on acoustic guitars; Luiz Cláudio Ramos, Rick Ferreira, Raul Seixas, Tony Osanah, and Alexandre on electric guitars; and José Roberto Bertrami, Miguel Cidras, and Jay Anthony Vaquer on keyboards.

Songs

The album Gita is a repository of some of Raul Seixas's greatest hits, many of them composed in partnership with Paulo Coelho. Among the standout songs is the title track, "Gîtâ", deeply inspired by the sacred Hindu book Bhagavad Gita. Another gem is "Sociedade Alternativa", which echoes the philosophy of occultist Aleister Crowley, and the melancholic "Medo da Chuva". Raul Seixas also solely authored notable compositions such as "O Trem das 7" and "S.O.S.". Curiously, the title track, "Trem das Sete", and "Loteria da Babilônia" (the latter with its title inspired by a short story by Jorge Luis Borges) address or mention Aleister Crowley in their lyrics. "S.O.S.", in turn, was identified by André Barcinski as having similarities to the song "Mr. Spaceman" by The Byrds. There was also the aim to record some songs in English, with translations by Marcelo Ramos Motta, to seek success in the United States, but this initiative did not materialise.

Legacy

Gita established itself as the most commercially successful album in Raul Seixas's career. In the year of its release, 1974, the work reached the milestone of 143,000 copies sold, an achievement that earned him the first gold disc of his artistic journey.

Rankings

Tracks

Credits

Arranged By

Miguel Cidras, Raul Seixas

Arranged By

Erlon Chaves

Arranged By

Ely Arcoverde, Miguel Cidras

Co-producer

Tobi

Conductor

Mario Tavares

Producer

Mazzola

12-String Acoustic Guitar

Raul Seixas, Tony Osanah

Accordion

Chiquinho do Acordeon

Acoustic Guitar

Neco, Raul Seixas, Rick Ferreira

Bass

Alex Malheiros, Ivan Machado, Juan Roberto Capobianco, Luizão Maia, Paulo César Barros, Sergio Barroso

Drums

Gustavo Schroeter, Mamão, Paulinho Braga

Electric Organ

Miguel Cidras

Guitar

Gay Vaquer, Luiz Claudio Ramos, Raul Seixas, Rick Ferreira, Tony Osanah

Piano

José Roberto Bertrami, Miguel Cidras, Rick Ferreira

Edited By

Jairo Gualberto

Lacquer Cut By

Joaquim Figueira

Mixed By

Mazzola

Recorded By

Ary Carvalhaes, João Moreira, Luigi Hoffer, Luis Cláudio Coutinho

Technician

Luis Cláudio Coutinho, Paulo Sergio, Zé Guilherme

Podcasts

T02E02: Gita - Raul Seixas (1974)

Discoteca Básica Podcast · Parasol Storytelling

1h 15min·8 Mar 2021

O disco que colocou o Brasil inteiro para cantar os segredos ocultos de uma Sociedade Alternativa. Convidado do episódio: Pedro Bial. Assinantes do CLUBE DISCOTECA BÁSICA têm acesso a conteúdo extra. Saiba como assinar: https://podcastdiscotecabasica.com/assine/     E se alguém gritar “TOCA RAUL!” e você não souber tocar nenhum instrumento? Corra já para a MusicDot, uma escola de música online com

Raul Seixas - GITA

Poesia Cantada · Fillipe Queiroz

9 min·1 Feb 2026

Prepare-se para uma viagem intensa pelos caminhos da filosofia, da espiritualidade e da música brasileira. 🎶✨Neste episódio do POESIA CANTADA, mergulhamos fundo em Gita, uma das canções mais emblemáticas de Raul Seixas — uma obra que mistura rock, misticismo e questionamentos existenciais de forma única.Entre versos que provocam, símbolos ocultos e mensagens que atravessam gerações, vamos desvend

CMM #369 - Raul Seixas: Gita

CMM · Crazy Metal Mind

1h 41min·15 Jan 2024

Episódio originalmente publicado em 28/09/2018. No 368º episódio do Podcast mais Rock’n Roll da internets Rômulo Konzen, Marcel Pfütz e Carlos Augusto batem papo sobre o disco Gita do Raul Seixas.   Trilha sonora do podcast (na ordem): *Raul Seixas - Gita *Raul Seixas - Sociedade Alternativa *Raul Seixas - S.O.S. *Raul Seixas - Super-Heróis *Raul Seixas - As Aventuras de Raul Seixas na Cidade de

Raul Seixas: Descobrindo e Produzindo Krig-Ha, Bandolo! e Gita

Ouvindo Estrelas · Marco Mazzola

22 min·12 Aug 2024

EPISÓDIO #04 - DESCOBRINDO E PRODUZINDO RAUL SEIXAS: KRIG-HA, BANDOLO! E GITA Ao ser convidado para uma reunião apenas para acompanhar a diretoria, o jovem Marco Mazzola conhece um produtor musical chamado Raulzito, que acompanhava Sérgio Sampaio. Após uma conversa despretensiosa, Mazzola fica sabendo que aquele Rauzito também era compositor, músico e existia um grande artista ainda não reveleado.

Episódio 204 - Os 50 anos de Gita, do Raul Seixas

Prisioneiros do Rock

1h 54min·20 Apr 2024

Uma das obras-primas de Raul Seixas e seu disco mais vendido, Gita completa em 2024 seu 50º aniversário.  Neste episódio, conversamos sobre as letras geniais, os arranjos riquíssimos, Paulo Coelho, Bruce Springsteen, Aleister Crowley e tudo mais que envolve Gita e Raul. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Videos

The album "Gita" and the sacred songs of Raul Seixas!!!!

Canal Musicália

Por Dentro de Krig-Ha, Bandolo! e Gita — Raul Seixas: Segredos e Bastidores dos Clássicos (EP 04)

Ouvindo Estrelas

RAUL SEIXAS - GITA | ALBUM [REVIEW]

Discomaníacos

Episódio 10 - Raul Seixas - Discografia + Bio - 1974 - Gita + O Rebu - PARTE FINAL

Sylvio Passos

GITA - RAUL SEIXAS - O DISCO

Roque Batista

RAUL SEIXAS: TRACK BY TRACK OF "GITA" (feat. Flávio Bandeira) | TUPFS Review #136

Tomar Uma

Books

Analyses

Discogs

Gita – Discogs

discogs.com