Amor Demais was introduced in 1961 by saxophonist Zito Righi on his debut album Sax de Ouro. Although co-composer Silvio César was featured on this album as guest vocalist with Parti, the song was recorded as an instrumental.
The first vocal version of Amor Demais was recorded by Ted Moreno in 1962 on his album Receita de Saudade. Silvio César recorded the song only in early 1963 as the title track on his debut album, accompanied by Ed Lincoln’s band and featuring Waltel Branco on guitar.
Amor Demais is one of about a dozen compositions by Silvio César in collaboration with Ed Lincoln including Parti, Vivendo e Aprendendo, Nunca Mais and Olhou Pra Mim.
Selected recordings ofAmor Demais:
1. Zito Righi from the album O Sax de Ouro (1961, Musidisc XPL-15)
2. Ted Moreno from the album Receita de Saudade (1962, Copacabana CLP 11247)
3. Silvio César from the album Amor Demais (1963, Musidisc Hi-Fi 2074)
4. Lila de Oliveira from the album Gosto a Noite (1963, CBS 3728)
5. Cauby Peixoto from the album Cauby Interpreta (1964, RCA Victor BBL 1260)
6. Elis Regina & Zimbo Trio from the album O Fino do Fino (1965, Philips P 632.780 L)
AMOR DEMAIS
A canção é o lamento do amor demais • Quem chorou, quem sofreu • Quem perdeu a paz • Vem dizer na canção • O que chorou seu coração
Vem, a noite é linda, vem cantar • Vem, toda a tristeza vai passar • Só assim tu serás • Amor sem fim, amor demais
Djalma Ferreira & Seus Milionários do Ritmo, Miltinho — Drink no Rio de Janeiro
(1959) Discos Drink DF-LPA-13.005
Djalma Ferreira & Seus Milionários do Ritmo, Luís Bandeira — Convite ao Drink
(1960) Discos Drink LP-DF-13.006
Djalma Ferreira & Seus Milionários do Ritmo, Miltinho — Drink
(1958) Discos Drink LPP-DF-13.001
Djalma Ferreira & Seus Milionários do Ritmo — Depois do Drink
(1959) Discos Drink DF-LPP-13.004
This double page spread from the book features some extravagant gatefold sleeves unequalled in Brazil in their time.
Djalma Neves Ferreira (1913–2004) was a pianist and composer who disliked the theory of sheet music and staves. Nonetheless he wrote a number of very popular compositions like Cheiro de Saudade, Samba no Perroquet, Devaneio and Lamento which rapidly became standards. His song Recado also became a favourite of hepcats like Hank Mobley, the Modern Jazz Quartet and Lalo Schifrin.
He started to study piano and violin at the age of twelve. In 1936, he made his first recording, and in 1944, after years of travelling the nightclub circuit in several South American countries, he formed Os Milionários do Ritmo. This outfit with varying members was Djalma Ferreira’s backing group on his eleven albums from 1953 to 1960 which featured guest singers like Jair Rodrigues, Helena de Lima, Luiz Bandeira and Miltinho.
Djalma Ferreira founded his own record label Discos Drink which released his albums until 1960 including the one with João Leal Brito’s alias Mirian Presley as well as one by Araken Peixoto. In addition, he was the owner of the nightclub Drink in Rio de Janeiro with the aptly titled house band Conjunto Drink. In 1963, Djalma Ferreira leased the nightclub to Cauby Peixoto, relocated to the US to perform in Las Vegas, and started a collaboration with the composer, producer and jazz critic Leonard Feather.
Djalma Ferreira’s trademark instruments were the Solovox and the B3, both by Hammond Organ Co. In 1958, when Ed Lincoln was bass player with the Milionários do Ritmo, Djalma Ferreira was wounded by a gunshot caused by a business rivalry. Unexpectedly, Ed Lincoln was instructed to play the organ within a few hours to fill in for Ferreira. Prior to the accident, Lincoln wasn’t even allowed to touch Ferreira’s B3 though he was interested to learn. After this, the Hammond organ became Ed Lincoln’s favourite instrument, and the one which brought him to fame.
Playlist Djalma Ferreira:
1. Devaneio (Djalma Ferreira – Luis Antônio) from the album Drink no Rio de Janeiro (1959) with Miltinho
2. Volta(Djalma Ferreira – Luiz Bandeira) from the album Convite ao Drink (1960) with Luiz Bandeira
3. Recado (Djalma Ferreira – Luis Antônio) from the album Drink no Rio de Janeiro (1959)
4. Lamento(Djalma Ferreira – Luis Antônio) from the album Drink (1958) with Miltinho
5. Samba no Perroquet (Djalma Ferreira) from the album Parada de Dança No. 1 (1953)
Among Djalma Ferreira’s numerous compositions, the fabulous Murmúrio is one of his most notable. Penned with Luis Antônio, the song was originally recorded on the album Convite ao Drink, featuring Luiz Bandeira crooning just two verses in front of a chorus. Murmúrio was covered more than 45 times, including versions by Maysa, Cauby Peixoto, Erlon Chaves, Elis Regina and Miltinho who scored one of his biggest hits with this tune.
Playlist Murmúrio:
1. Djalma Ferreira from the album Convite ao Drink (1960) with Luiz Bandeira
2. Miltinho from the album Miltinho (1961)
3. Izio Gross from the album Isto é Bossa (1961)
A lovingly compiled video including original footage which gives an impression of an evening in Ferreira’s nightclub “Drink” around 1959 featuring Djalma Ferreira on organ, Ed Lincoln on piano, Waltel Blanco on bass and Hugo on drums with Miltinho on vocals.
Discos Drink applied very unique and stylish artwork to its covers. Some albums were produced with lavish gatefold sleeves to open in the centre. Although the design is very consistent, the artwork was created by several designers.
The picture on the inside of the gatefold sleeve for Drink came in two versions, both shot in the nightclub Drink and showing Djalma Ferreira on organ, Ed Lincoln on piano, Araken Peixoto on trombone, Waltel Branco on bass, Plínio Araújo on drums and singer Miltinho with a tambourine.
The artwork for Depois do Drink is by Frama with an uncredited photograph.
The artwork for Convite ao Drink with various colour settings including green, gery and yellow is by Joselito with photograph by Mafra.
The artwork for Drink no Rio de Janeiro is by Joselito. The photograph by Mafra on the inside of the gatefold sleeve was reused for two accompanying EPs.
Zito Righi’s biography is hardly detectable, except for the fact that he shared the alias of Bob Fleming with Moacyr Silva. In fact, only the first two Bob Fleming albums were recorded by Moacyr Silva whereas all subsequent albums featured Zito Righi.
Zito Righi (*1924) extensively played concert halls and nightclubs, and released four albums under his name: Sax de Ouro in 1961, The Song is You in 1962, Ribamar & Zito Righi in 1963, and Alucinolandia in 1968. A tenor sax player with a coaxing tone, Zito Righi invited singers Pedrinho Rodrigues, Sylvio Cézar, Toni Vestane and Francineth to join him on his debut album Sax de Ouro.
Playlist Zito Righi:
1. Sim Ou Não (Zito Righi) from the album Ribamar & Zito Righi (1963)
2. Não Diga Nada – Eu Não Sei Me Repetir (Carlito – Noacy de Marcenes – Jota Santos – Herondino Silva) from the album Sax de Ouro (1961)
3. Deep Purple(Peter DeRose) from the album Este é Bob Fleming (1961)
4. Toma Lá Dá Cá (Toni Vestane) from the album Sax de Ouro (1961) with Toni Vestane
5. Misty (Erroll Garner – Johnny Burke) from the album The Song is You (1962)
The art work for Sax de Ouro is uncredited.
Caçulinha is the stage name of Rubens Antônio da Silva (*1940), a multi-instrumentalist and composer. At the age of eight he started with the accordion, which remained his trademark instrument, and later completed his skills with piano and organ amongst others. Caçulinha recorded with a wide range of artists such as Elizeth Cardoso, Cyro Monteiro, Dóris Monteiro and Miltinho and was an exclusive on the TV program ‘O Fino da Bossa’ hosted by Elis Regina and Jair Rodrigues.
Playlist Caçulinha:
1. Vivo Sonhando (Antônio Carlos Jobim) from the album Samb’ação (1965)
2. Faceira (Ary Barroso) from the album Samb’ação (1965)
The artwork for Samb’ação is by Antônio Melero ‘Antoninho’.
The first vocal version of Amor Demais was recorded by Ted Moreno in 1962 on his album Receita de Saudade. Silvio César recorded the song only in early 1963 as the title track on his debut album, accompanied by Ed Lincoln’s band and featuring Waltel Branco on guitar.
Brazilliance 