Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’77 – Pais Tropical

Released in 1971, this Sergio Mendes album took a more pop approach to songwriting with forgettable songs like So Many People. But the songs that stray from that formula, like Zanzibar, Tonga and the standard Asa Branca are the best on the album, along with Pais Tropical. Lani Hall was replaced by Gracinha Leporace on this album, a singer who grew up in Ipanema and provides a more Portuguese sound to the album. Overall a good album from the talented bandleader, who also performs dreadful vocals on I Know You.

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