Song No. 11 — Tim Dom Dom | João Mello & Codó (1963)

Tim Dom Dom was introduced in 1963 by either Carlos Lacerda on his album Um Piano da Bahia, Leda Soares on her self-titled EP, Jorge Ben on his debut album Samba Esquema Novo, or perhaps Lauro Paiva on his eponymous album Tim… Dom… Dom… Num Órgão Moderno com Lauro Paiva. The exact order of the recordings and their releases is unclear, as it is for Codó’s own recording on his album Alma do Mar – O Violão de Codó, which is sometimes given as 1963 as the year of release, although the catalogue number indicates 1964, as Polydor usually released chronologically numbered.

Although a peppy and catchy song, Tim Dom Dom had only brief success in its time before it was finally rediscovered with new recordings in 1997.

While Codó’s own performance is a pared-down accompanied guitar solo, pianists João Donato and Carlos Lacerda offered more jazzy interpretations, the latter giving the song additional strings to accompany his lively performance.

Os Intocáveis, one of those obscure groups that released only one album on which the musicians were not named due to contractual obligations, played their swinging interpretation featuring an excellent baritone saxophonist who remains to be identified.

Sérgio Mendes recorded Tim Dom Dom on his US debut album Brasil ’66, produced by Herb Alpert and featuring vocals by Lani Hall and Janis Hansen—the album that boosted Mendes’s international career with the success of his version of Jorge Ben’s Mas Que Nada.

Perhaps the most famous version was recorded by Jorge Ben on his debut album Samba Esquema Novo, using Tim Dom Dom as a very suitable vehicle for his playful vocal style, backed by Carlos Monteiro de Souza’s band. Maestro Monteiro de Souza himself was the last to record Tim Dom Dom in his heyday, with a contemporary interpretation on his dance album Pra Frente.

My sincere thanks to the Jornal RelevO for publishing this article in their column RelevO presents Brazilliance: The song of the month for the sophisticated connoisseur!

Selected recordings of Tim Dom Dom:

1. Carlos Lacerda from the album Um Piano da Bahia (1963, Audio Fidelity AFLP 1998)

   

2. Jorge Ben from the album Samba Esquema Novo (1963, Philips P 632.161 L)

  
Art work for Samba Esquema Novo by Paulo Brèves with photographs by Mafra

3. Lauro Paiva from the album Tim… Dom… Dom…Num Órgão Moderno com Lauro Paiva (1963, Caravelle LP-CAR 33.003)

   

4. Codó from the album Alma do Mar – O Violão de Codó (1964, Polydor LPNG 4093)

    
Art work for Alma do Mar by Paulo Brèves

5. Os Intocáveis from the album Os Intocáveis (1964, Audio Fidelity AFLP 2004)

   

6. Carlos Penha & Nonato Silva from the EP Carlos Penha & Nonato Silva (1964, Philips 440.635-PT)

7. Luiz Chaves from the album Projeção (1964, RGE XRLP 5233)

  

8. João Donato from the album Muito à Vontade (1964, Polydor LPNG 4085)

   
Art work for Muito à Vontade by Paulo Brèves

9. Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 from the album Herb Alpert Presents Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 (1966, A&M Records SP 4116)

   
Artwork for Herb Alpert Presents Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 by Peter Whorf Graphics

10. Carlos Monteiro de Souza from the album Pra Frente (1968, Parlophone/Odeon PBA 13006)

TIM DOM DOM

Tim, tim, tim, tim —• Faz o tamborim tim, tim, tim •— E o violão faz tim dom —• Batendo igual ao meu coração •— Tim dom dom

Tim, tim, tim, tim •— Faz o tamborim tim, tim, tim •— E o violão faz tim dom •— Batendo igual ao meu coração

Você gostou •— Quando ouviu meu samba, sambou •— Fez a turma toda gostar •— Do seu jeito bom de gingar, de sambar

Tim, tim, tim, tim •— Faz o tamborim tim, tim, tim •— E o violão faz tim dom •— Batendo igual ao meu coração •— Tim dom dom

Tim, tim, tim, tim •— Faz o tamborim tim, tim, tim •— E o violão faz tim dom •— Batendo igual ao meu coração

Você gostou •— Quando ouviu meu samba, sambou •— Fez a turma toda gostar •— Do seu jeito bom de gingar, de sambar

Você gostou •— Quando ouviu meu samba, sambou •— Fez a turma toda gostar •— Do seu jeito bom de gingar, de sambar

Tim, tim, tim, tim •— Faz o tamborim tim, tim, tim •— E o violão faz tim dom •— Batendo igual ao meu coração

Tim, tim, tim, tim •— Faz o tamborim tim, tim, tim •— E o violão faz tim dom •— Batendo igual ao meu coração —• Tim dom dom