Gilberto Gil

Planet Rhythm's Pure Brazil series is a goldmine for any treasure-seeker who loves classic Brazilian pop. They've unearthed an English version of Os Mutantes' "A Minha Menina" (the charmingly ridiculous "She's My Shoo Shoo"), an early version of "De Noite Na Cama" (later covered by Marisa Monte), and the interstellar hit "Take It Easy My Brother Charlie."

For many armchair travelers, Brazil is not a country: It is a single slender beach in Rio de
Janeiro -- the famous Ipanema -- and life there is not much more than string bikinis and
sensual music. Hence Caipirinha, the most egregious of these three albums, culled from
Universal's bounteous Latin catalog. Conceived as a party platter, Caipirinha throws
together Gilberto Gil's elegantly abra- sive "Aquele Abraco" and Jorge Ben's sultr... More >