Devaneio was introduced in 1959 by Djalma Ferreira on the album Drink no Rio de Janeiro with vocals performed by Miltinho, featured crooner of Ferreira’s Millionários do Ritmo at the time. The song was released on EP the same year and on single in 1960 reaching number 14 on the year-end charts. This original version is sometimes credited to Miltinho alone, as for example on As 14 Mais, an album series by Columbia compiling annual hits.
The song was issued on single at least four more times, as A-side by Moacir Gomes in August 1960 and by Maurício Carlos in February 1961, and as B-side by Nilo Sérgio in 1959 and by Elza Laranjeira in December 1960, whose fine rendition arranged by Henrique Simonetti became probably the most popular one apart from the original. Usually recorded as a light-hearted fox, beguine or bolero, Nilo Amaro and his Cantores de Ébano and Os Três Tons in particular took a very different approach with their slowed down a cappella versions.
Miltinho re-recorded Devaneio in 1962 on his first greatest hits album while Djalma Ferreira reworked his song in 1966, produced by Leonard Feather, on his US release The Brazilliance of Djalma.
The romantic Devaneio was a popular tune around 1960 that could hardly keep up with the changing taste, however, it’s a sentimental little gem which is worth to be remembered.
Selected recordings of Devaneio:
1. Djalma Ferreira featuring Miltinho from the album Drink no Rio de Janeiro (1959, Discos Drink DF-LPA-13.005)
Art work for album and EP Drink no Rio de Janeiro is by Joselito with photograph by Mafra
2. Nilo Sérgio from the single Blue Star b/w Devaneio (1959, Musidisc M-8.008-a) and the album Dançando Suavemente (1960, Musidisc XPL-3)
Art work for Dançando Suavemente with painting by Aldemir Martins
3. Elza Laranjeira from the single Ninguém é de Ninguém b/w Devaneio (1960, RGE RGE 10.275-a) and the album Ternura (1961, RGE XRLP 5102)
4. Waltel Branco from the album Dance Conosco (1960, Copacabana CLP 11171)
5. Moacir Gomes from the single Devaneio b/w Felicidade Criança (1960, Continental 17.833-a) and the album As Maiorais de 1960 (1960, Continental LPP 3137)
6. Carlos Lacerda from the album O Governador do Teclado interpreta Djalma Ferreira (1961, Carroussell SELP 3007)
7. Cauby Peixoto from the album Cauby Canta Novo Succesos (1961, RCA Victor BBL 1123)
8. Quarteto Excelsior from the album Coquetel Dançante Vol. 4 (1961, RCA Victor BBL 1116)
9. Agostinho dos Santos from the album Agostinho Canta Sucessos (1961, RGE XRLP 5096)
10. Severino Araújo from the album Calla Corazon (1961, Continental LPP 3163)
11. José Magalhães Rocha from the album Pensando em Você (1961, Mocambo LP 40063)
12. Trio Harmônico from the album Chá-Chá-Chá Twist etc. (c.1961, Mocambo LP 40163)
13. Miltinho from the album Os Grandes Successos de Miltinho (1962, RGE XRLP 5135)
14. Araken Peixoto from the album Araken Ontem e Hoje (1962, Discos Drink LP-DF-13.012)
15. Nilo Amaro e Seus Cantores de Ébano from the album Os Anjos Cantam Vol. 2 (1962, Odeon MOFB 3355)
Art work for Os Anjos Cantam Vol. 2 with photograph by Mafra
16. Os Três Tons from the album Os Três Tons (1963, Polydor LPNG 4075)
Art work for Os Três Tons by Paulo Brèves with photograph by Mafra
Selected medleys including Devaneio:
1. Octeto Columbia & João Leal Brito ‘Britinho from the album Sambas e Boleros (1959, Columbia LPCB 37079)
2. Orquestra Românticos de Cuba from the album Os Fabulosos Românticos de Cuba (1960, Musidisc Hi-Fi 2046)
3. Sylvio Mazzucca from the album Sylvio Mazzucca – Baile de Sucessos N°. 2 (1961, Columbia LPCB 37157)
4. Miltinho from the album Miltinho ao Vivo (1965, RGE XRLP 5281)
Selected recordings of Devaneio originally not issued in Brazil:
1. Djalma Ferreira from the album The Brazilliance of Djalma (1966, Editora Djalma and Fields [USA] ST-13001)
DEVANEIO
Era a saudade do passado • Era um olhar em meu caminho • Agora é sombra do passado • É uma sombra de lado • Já não tão vivo sozinho
É minha crença no que creio • É a certeza que és minha • Meu, sonho lindo devaneio • Amanhã é você • Só você, vida inteirinha
