Vassourinha
Vassourinha
1976
Why This Album Matters
The album Vassourinha, released in 1976, is a crucial compilation that rescues and celebrates the brief, yet intense, career of singer Mário Ramos de Oliveira, artistically known as Vassourinha. Although the LP was edited decades after his untimely death, it condenses the legacy of one of the most promising talents in samba and choro from the golden era of Brazilian radio. This work allows later generations to access the twelve 78 rpm recordings that the artist made before his tragic passing at the age of 19. Through this record, it is possible to appreciate Vassourinha's singular voice, which with his distinctive style, high-pitched timbre, and mischievous inflections, made him known as the successor to Luís Barbosa, the inventor of 'samba de breque'. The compilation transcends a mere collection, functioning as an essential sonic document for understanding the evolution of samba and the contribution of an artist who, in a very short time, left an indelible mark on Brazilian popular music of the first half of the 20th century.
Context
Mário Ramos de Oliveira, known as Vassourinha, began his musical career at a very young age, debuting on Rádio Record in São Paulo at 12 years old in 1935, after winning a talent contest. He initially worked as an office boy at the radio station, which inspired his artistic name. During his brief life, he mingled with great names in music such as Carmen Miranda, Aurora Miranda, Francisco Alves, and Orlando Silva. In 1941, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he recorded his first albums. His career was tragically cut short by health problems in 1942, at the age of 19. The 1976 album emerged in a context of valuing Brazilian musical memory, compiling the material that this young talent had recorded.
Recording
The 1976 album Vassourinha is, in reality, a compilation of the twelve original 78 rpm recordings that Vassourinha made during his very short career, between 1941 and 1942. These recordings were made by the Columbia record label and later re-edited by Continental. For the 1976 compilation, released by Continental Cultural in the 'Ídolos MPB' series, production and research were overseen by J. L. Ferrete, with special collaboration from Miécio Caffé. The remastering for the 2002 CD version, which reproduces the 1976 LP, was supervised by Charles Gavin as part of the 'Arquivos Warner' series.
Songs
The twelve tracks on the album Vassourinha represent the entirety of the artist's phonographic work and are a testament to his talent in samba, choro, and carnival marches. Songs like "Seu Libório", "Emília", and "Juracy" stand out as sambas full of bossa, where Vassourinha's melancholic and subtle voice is a central element, even in the more cheerful compositions. He had a style reminiscent of Luís Barbosa, using high-pitched timbres and mischievous inflections that made him unique. Other notable tracks include "Ela Vai à Feira", "Chik Chik Bum", and "Apaga a Vela", which exemplify Vassourinha's versatility within the genres of the era, often accompanied by Benedito Lacerda e Seu Regional or Chiquinho e Seu Ritmo.
Legacy
Despite his premature death in 1942, at the age of 19, Vassourinha left a significant legacy in Brazilian music, especially in samba. The release of the album Vassourinha in 1976 by Continental Cultural, as part of the 'Ídolos MPB' series, was fundamental in preserving and reintroducing the singer's work to new generations. Subsequently, the album was re-released on CD in 2002 by Warner, in the 'Arquivos Warner' series, which attests to the enduring nature of his importance and the recognition of his contribution to the history of Brazilian popular music. A short film about the singer, 'A voz e o vazio: a vez de Vassourinha', directed by Carlos Adriano in 1998, won international awards, including the golden plaque at the 36th Chicago International Film Festival, and was considered one of the ten best films of its genre about music by the É Tudo Verdade festival in 2004, demonstrating the lasting impact of his art.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
J. L. Ferrete
Benedito Lacerda E Seu Conjunto, Chiquinho Moraes E Sua Orquestra
Alberto Calçada, Milton Araújo
Oscar Paolillo
Francisco C. Gongora
Miécio Caffé
Films
Books
Analyses
Vermute com Amendoim: Disco da semana: 1976 - Vassourinha
vermutecomamendoim.blogspot.com
O cantor de sucesso garantido foi pego de surpresa por uma doença que até hoje ninguém sabe muito bem o que era. E aos 19 anos, vítima de um "mix muito louco de tuberculose, reumatismo e tudo mais que se pudesse pensar em termos de moléstias", como disse o pessoal do Gafieiras, Vassourinha faleceu. Músicas:
Cliquemusic : Disco : VASSOURINHA
cliquemusic.com.br
Vassourinha (1976) 1976 Warner Music/Continental 5050466077523 Faixas 1 "Seu" Libório (Alberto Ribeiro, João de Barro) 2 Juracy (Antônio Almeida, Ciro de Souza) 3 Emília (Haroldo Lobo, Wilson Batista) 4 Ela vai à feira (Roberto Roberti, Almanyr Greco) 5 Chik chik bum (Antônio Almeida) 6 Apaga a vela (João de Barro)
Discogs
Vassourinha – Discogs
discogs.com