Song No. 191 — Samba de Uma Nota Só | Antônio Carlos Jobim & Newton Mendonça (1960)

Samba de Uma Nota Só was introduced in 1960 by João Gilberto Pereira de Oliveira, recorded on April 4 and released in May as the opening track on his second solo album O Amor, O Sorriso e a Flor, arranged and conducted by Jobim and produced by Aloysio de Oliveira. The song was also released as the first single from the album and was a hit on numerous local charts in May and June 1960.

Samba de Uma Nota Só is one of 17 songs by the duo Jobim and Mendonça, 13 of which were recorded and two of which are lost. Although he is often seen as just one of Jobim’s lyricists, they composed their songs together, in “four hands”, as Newton himself once put it. Along with Desafinado and Meditação, Samba de Uma Nota Só is certainly Mendonça’s most famous song. He died of a heart attack on 22 November 1960 at the age of 33.

In Brazil, Samba de Uma Nota Só was a success in 1960 and 1961, but its popularity remained rather modest, with only eleven recordings, although it did include excellent versions by Sylvia Telles and Juarez Araújo, among others. On 13 February 1962, however, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd recorded their six-minute instrumental version in Pierce Hall of the All Souls Church in Washington D.C., which was released shortly afterwards on their album Jazz Samba. The album became a number one success in the USA and one of the pioneers of bossa nova jazz worldwide. This recording helped the song to international success, which reverberated in Brazil in 1963 and 1964 with numerous other recordings, making Samba de Uma Nota Só one of the iconic songs of bossa nova.

The adapted English lyrics titled One Note Samba were penned by American jazz lyricist and singer Jon Hendricks, with two different versions. The Italian lyrics were adapted by Giorgio Calabrese and the French by Eddy Marnay.

Selected recordings of Samba de Uma Nota Só:

1. João Gilberto from singles Samba de Uma Nota Só b/w Doralice (1960, Odeon BZB 1010), Doralice b/w Samba de Uma Nota Só (1960, Odeon 14.614) and the album O Amor, O Sorriso e a Flor (1960, Odeon MOFB 3151)

   
Artwork for O Amor, O Sorriso e a Flor by César G. Villela with photographs by Francisco Pereira

2. Sylvia Telles f from single Samba de Uma Nota Só b/w Se É Tarde, Me Perdoa (1960, Philips P-61.015-H) and the album Amor en Hi-Fi (1960, Philips P 630.419 L)

   

3. Fats Elpídio from the album Piano Bossa Nova (1960, RCA Victor BBL 1102)

   

4. Os Vocalistas Modernos from the album Novamente em Foco! (1960, Philips P 630.428 L)

   
Artwork for Novamente em Foco! by Ronald with photograph by Rovigati

5. Paulinho Nogueira from the album Brasil, Violão e Sambalanço! (1960, RGE XRLP 5088)

6. Os Farroupilhas from the album Os Farroupilhas na TV (1960, Columbia LPCB 37125)

   

7. Walter Wanderley from the album O Sucesso é Samba (1960, Odeon MOFB 3204)

   
Artwork for O Sucesso é Samba by César G. Villela with photographs by Francisco Pereira

8. Os Saxsambistas Brasileiros from the album Saxsambando (1960, Plaza PZ 303), reissued as Desafinado (1962, Dauntless/Áudio Fidelity [USA] DM 4304) Sax Sambando (196?, Plaza PZ 2203) and as Sambas Que Não Se Esquece (1970, Tropicana n/a) credited to Bil Bell

   
Artwork for Saxsambando by Michel Schachter

   

   
Artwork for Saxsambando by Michel Schachter

   

9. Renato de Oliveira aka Cid Gray from the album Samba… Samba… Samba! (1960, SBA SBA-001)

10. Radamés Gnattali from the album Segredo para Dois (1960, Continental LPP 3116)

11. Juarez Araújo from the album Juarez Araújo Sua Excia. O Sax (1961, Carroussell SELP 3009) aka O Inimitável Juarez (1962, Masterplay MDL 13019)

   

12. Leny Andrade from the album A Sensação (1961, RCA Victor BBL 1128)

   

13. Os 7 Velhinhos from the album Os 7 Velhinhos (1961, Musidisc XPL-5)

   

14. Carminha Mascarenhas from the album Em Cada Estrela uma Canção (1961, Copacabana CLP 11191)

   

15. Zé Maria from the album Chá Chá Chá & Companhia (1961, Tiger LP TR-006)

   

16. Geraldo Miranda from the album Dançando com Geraldo Miranda e Seus Novos Sons (1963, Odeon MOFB 3267)

17. Agostinho dos Santos from the EP No Carnegie Hall (Bossa Nova) (1962. RGE CD 80.144)

18. Luiz Loy from the album Luiz Loy e Sua Juventude Musical (1962, Odeon MOFB 3274)

   

19. Coral de Ouro Preto from the album Coral de Ouro Preto (1962, Odeon MOFB 3273)

20. Astor Silva e Oswaldo Borba from the album Metais em Brasa no Samba (1962, Philips P 630.477 L)

   

21. Laura Villa from the album Bossa Nova (1962, Polydor 46128)

22. Oscar Castro-Neves from the album Big Band Bossa Nova (1962, Audio Fidelity AFLP 1983)

   

23. Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd from the album Jazz Samba (1962, Verve Records [USA] V-8432 and 1963, Verve/Copacabana [BRA] VMLP 14006)

   
Artwork for Jazz Samba by Olga Albizu

24. Carlos Monteiro de Souza from the album Metais em Brasa na Bossa Nova (1963, Philips P 632.134 L)

   
Artwork for Metais em Brasa na Bossa Nova by Paulo Brèves with photographs by Mafra

25. Baden Powell from the album Baden Powell Swings with Jimmy Pratt (1963, Elenco ME-4)

   
Artwork for Baden Powell Swings with Jimmy Pratt by César G. Villela with photographs by Francisco Pereira

26. Héctor Costita aka Don Júnior from the  album Sambas N^o. 2 (1963, RGE XRLP 5208)

   

27. Alberto Mota from the album Quarteto de Alberto Motta (1963, Polydor LPNG 4078)

   

28. Ritmistas da Bossa Nova from the album Balanço & Bossa Nova (1963, Musiplay LPM 1105)

   

29. Orquestra Os Bossambistas from the album Só Danço Samba (1963, DIMP D-1014) re-released as  Bossa Brass Apresenta a Música Maravilhosa de Antônio Carlos Jobim credited to Bossa Brass (1966, Plaza Hi-Fi 13002)

   

30. Os Cariocas from the album A Bossa dos Cariocas (1963, Philips P 632.152 L)

    
Artwork for A Bossa dos Cariocas by Paulo Brèves

31. Trio Penumbra from the album Trio Penumbra em Bossa Nova (1963, Musicolor/Continental MLP 9084)

   

32. Orquestra Brasil Moderno from the album A Revolução (1963, Odeon MOFB 3357)

   

33. Sexteto de Jazz Moderno from the album Bossa Nova (1963, RCA Victor BBL-1222)

   

34. Turquinho from the album Samba de Bossa (1963, Chantecler CMG 2212)

   

35. Milton Banana from the album O Ritmo e o Som da Bossa Nova (1963, Audio Fidelity AFLP 1984)

   

36. Carioca from the album Samba… Ôba! (1964, Imperial/Odeon IMP 30.048)

   
Artwork for Samba… Ôba! by Eddie Moyna

37. Conjunto 3-D from the album Tema 3-D (1964, RCA Victor BBL 1287)

   

38. Eumir Deodato from the album Inútil Paisagem (1964, Forma FM-1)

Artwork for Inútil Paisagem by Patrícia Tattersfield

39. Modern Jazz Quartet with Laurindo Almeida from the album Collaboration (1964, Atlantic [USA] 1429), issued in Brazil as The Modern Jazz Quartet – Artista Convidado: Laurindo Almeida (1965, Philips SLP – 9175)

   

   

40. SylviaTelles from the album Sylvia Telles Sings the Wonderful Songs of Antônio Carlos Jobim (1965, Kapp Records [USA] KL-1451), issued in Brazil as The Music of Mr. Jobim by Sylvia Telles (1966, Elenco MEV-5)

   

Artwork for The Music of Mr. Jobim by Sylvia Telles by Eddie Moyna

41. Baden Powell from the album Ao Vivo no Teatro Santa Rosa (1966, Elenco ME-30)

   
Artwork for Ao Vivo no Teatro Santa Rosa by Eddie Moyna with photographs by Francisco Pereira and Paulo Lougus

42. Henrique Simonetti from the album Samba Maravilhoso (1971, Premier/RGE PRLP 1149)

Selected recordings of Samba de Uma Nota Só originally not issued in Brazil:

1. Caterina Valente from the album Caterina Show (1962, Decca [ITA] LKI 4702)

2. Caterina Valente from the EP Samba de Uma Nota Só (1962, Decca [POR] PEP1040)

   

3. Lalo Schifrin from the album Bossa Nova New Brazilian Jazz (1962, Audio Fidelity [USA] AFSD 5981)

   

4. Jean Claude Pascal from the album Jean Claude Pascal  (1962, La Voix de Son Maître [FRA] FDLP 1107)

   

5. June Christy from the single One Note Samba b/w Bossa Nova (1962, Capitol Records [USA] 4864) and the single Bossa Nova b/w One Note Samba (1963, Capitol Records [ITA] F.4864)

   

6. Coleman Hawkins from the album Desafinado: Bossa Nova & Jazz Samba (1962, Impulse! [USA] A-28)

7. Sacha Distel from the album Sacha Distel (1962, RCA Victor [FRA] 430.092)

   

8. Sérgio Mendes from the album Quiet Nights (recorded 1963, released 1966, Philips [USA] PHS 600.263)

   

9. The Dave Pell Octet from the album The Dave Pell Octet Plays Today’s Hits in Jazz (1963, Liberty [USA] LRP-3298)

10. The Hi-Lo’s from the album The Hi-Lo’s Happen To Bossa Nova (1963, Reprise Records [USA] R-6066)

   

11. Dominique Michel from the album Un P’tit Bout d’Femme (1963, Apex Francais [CAN] ALF 1559)

   

12. Laila Kinnunen from the EP Bossa Nova (1963, Scandia [FIN] SEP 179)

13. The Howard Roberts Quartet from the album H.R. Is A Dirty Guitar Player (1963, Capitol Records [USA] T 1961)

   

14. Peggy Lee from the album I’m a Woman (1963, Capitol Records [USA] ST 1857)

   

15. Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan from the album Recorded Live at Basin Street East (1963, RCA Victor [USA] LSP-2635)

16. Nancy Wilson from the album Today, Tomorrow, Forever (1964, Capitol Records [USA]  ST 2082)

17. Preben Kaas and Jørgen Ryg from the album Preben Kaas Og Jørgen Ryg (1964, Polydor [DEN] LUPM 7022)

   

18. André Previn from the album The Popular Previn (1965, Columbia [USA] CS 9094)

   

19. Manfred Burzlaff Quartet featuring Gloria Steward from the album Jazz For Dancing (1965, Elite Special [GER] SO LPS-283)

   

20. Clare Fischer from the album So Danço Samba (1965, World Pacific Records [USA]  ST-1830)

   

21. Alan Haven with Tony Crombie from the album Latin Sounds for the Small Hours (1967, Fontana [UK] DTL202)

22. Horacio Malvicino from the album The Brazilian Touch of Malvicino (1967, Microfon [ARG] I-159)

23. The Brass Choir Conducted by Warren Kime from the album Brass Impact (1967, Command [USA] RS 33-910)

   

24. Kōnosuke Saijō and His Bossa Nova Quintet from the album Massachusetts in Bossa (1968, Crown [JAP] GW-5023)

25. Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim from the unissued album Sinatra–Jobim (1969, Reprise), partly issued as Sinatra & Company (1971, Reprise Records [USA] FS-1033 + 1973, Reprise Records/Continental RLLP 2019)

26. Duncan Lamont from the album Best of the Bossa Novas (1970, Music For Pleasure [UK] MFP 1357)

   

27. Nico Gomez from the album Nico Gomez et Son Orchestre (1975, Music For Pleasure [FRA] 2MO46-13248)

SAMBA DE UMA NOTA SÓ

Eis aqui este sambinha feito numa nota só • Outras notas vão entrar, mas a base é uma só • Esta outra é consequência do que acabo de dizer • Como eu sou a consequência inevitável de você

Quanta gente existe por aí que fala tanto e não diz nada • Ou quase nada • Já me utilizei de toda a escala e no final não sobrou nada • Não deu em nada

E voltei pra minha nota como eu volto pra você • Vou cantar em uma nota como eu gosto de você • E quem quer todas as notas: Ré, mi, fá, Sol, lá, si, dó • Fique sempre sem nenhuma, fica numa nota só

ONE NOTE SAMBA

This is just a little samba • Built upon a single note • Other notes are bound to follow • But the root is still that note • Now this new one is the consequence • Of the one we’ve just been through • As I’m bound to be the unavoidable consequence of you

There’s so many people who can talk and talk and talk • And just say nothing • Or nearly nothing

I have used up all the scale I know and at the end I’ve come to nothing • Or nearly nothing

So I came back to my first note • As I must come back to you • I will pour into that one note • All the love I feel for you • Anyone who wants the whole show • Re mi fa sol la si do • He will find himself with no show • Better play the note you know

English lyrics by Jon Hendricks

ONE NOTE SAMBA

In Brazil, they have a samba • With a simple melody • Just a single note is sounded • And repeated constantly

Well my love is like that samba • With that simple melody • Just a single, steady feeling • That’s repeated constantly

That’s the way my love is like • The sun that shines above • Is ever burning, a burning fire • I will leave you never • For I know that you’ll forever be • Returning my great desire

So my single note’s a symbol • Of the love I have for you • And my single note’s repeated • For my love is constant, too

Yes, if ever I should leave you • I would cry a while and then • I’d return to you, my true love • And my single note again

In Brazil, they have a samba • With a simple melody • Just a single note is sounded • And repeated constantly

Well my love is like that samba • With that simple melody • Just a single, steady feeling • That’s repeated constantly

My love is like that samba • Just a single, steady feeling • That’s the way my love is like • The sun that shines above • Is ever burning, a burning fire • I will leave you never • For I know that you’ll forever be • Returning my great desire

English lyrics by Jon Hendricks

Song No. 174 — Foi a Noite | Antônio Carlos Jobim & Newton Mendonça (1956)

Foi a Noite was introduced in 1956 by Sylvia Telles, arranged by Antônio Carlos Jobim and conducted by Léo Peracchi. The recording took place on June 7th and was released as A-side in August as her second single and reached number 18 in 1956 and number 73 in 1957 on the year-end charts.

However, Sylvia Telles was not the first to record Foi a Noite, because Osny Silva had already recorded the song with Luiz Arruda Paez and his orchestra in April 1956, but his version was only released as B-side in November 1956.

Aloysio de Oliveira, artistic director at Odeon at the time, was reluctant to label Telles’s recording with Jobim’s arrangement as a samba-canção. Years later Oliveira declared: “The recording had been prepared by the previous management. […] I entered the studio ignoring the music, the arrangement and the interpreter. […] The impact I had is still indescribable. The melodic construction was an entirely new thing within Brazilian standards. The simple, impeccable arrangement provided a harmonic sequence that enhanced the melody in an unusual way. The interpretation was brilliant. Sylvia Telles managed to penetrate us with her hoarse and soft voice and stir all our emotions. Well, I was definitely facing something I didn’t expect to find. It was bossa nova in its greatest form: expression”.

Although Foite a Noite by Telles and Jobim is a samba-canção and not yet the bossa nova that João Gilberto would trigger the following year with his guitar beat on Elizete Cardoso‘s album Canção do Amor Demais, the song is decisive for the transition in the mid-50s.

Foite a Noite became an instant hit with numerous recordings in the years that followed. Four of them are also noticeable because the arrangements were reutilised: In 1958, the arrangement by either Henrique Simonetti, Lyrio Panicali or Renato de Oliveira for Cauby Peixoto’s recording conducted by Lúcio Milena was reused on the album João Leal Brito ”Britinho” recorded using his pseudonym Al Brito. In 1961, José Pacheco Lins, better known as Pachequinho, reused his arrangement for Ernâni Filho’s version on the Newton Mendonça tribute album Em Cada Estrela uma Canção soon afterwards for his own album Música do Coração.

Internationally, Fui a Noite was recorded twice in 1965, titled It Was Night, by Bud Shank with João Donato and Rosinha de Valença as well as by Vic Dana with English lyrics by Gene Lees.

Selected recordings of Foi a Noite:

1. Sylvia Telles from the single Foi a Noite b/w Menino (1956, Odeon 14.077) and the album Carícia (1957, Odeon MODB 3076)

   

2. Osny Silva from the single Saudade Danada b/w Foi a Noite (1956, Odeon 14.109)

3. Helena de Lima from the album Dentro da Noite (1956, Continental LPP 38)

4. Turma da Gafieira from the album Samba em Hi-Fi (1957, Musidisc Hi-Fi 2009)

   
Artwork for Samba em Hi-Fi with photograph by Mafra

5. Tito Madi from the album Chove Lá Fora (1957, Continental LPP 52)

   

6. Claudette Soares from the single Foi a Noite b/w Escolinha do Bebop (1957, Repertório 9.074) and the album Falando de Amor (1958, Repertório LP 15014)

7. Almir Ribeiro from the single Foi a Noite b/w Laura (1958, Copacabana 5.879) and the album Onde Estou? (1958, Copacabana CLP 11023)

    

8. Agostinho dos Santos from the album Antônio Carlos Jobim e Fernando César na Voz de Agostinho dos Santos (1958, Polydor LPNG 4018)

9. Cauby Peixoto from the album Nosso Amigo Cauby (1958, Columbia LPCB 37008)

   

10. João Leal Brito ”Britinho” aka Al Brito from the album Arco-Iris Musical (1958, Columbia LPCB 37035)

    

11. Isaura Garcia from the album Foi a Noite (1958, Odeon MOCB 3031)

12. Carlos José from the album Revelação (1958, Polydor LPNG 4013)

   

13. Alan Gordon e Hugo Lander from the album Dois Americanos no Rio (1958, Rádio 0060-GV)

   

14. Luis Arruda Paes from the album Piano Romântico – Luis Arruda Paes, Seu Piano e Sua Orquestra (1959, Odeon MOFB 3089)

   

15. Sérgio Ricardo from the album Depois do Amor (1961, Odeon MOFB 3239)

   
Artwork for Depois do Amor by César G. Villela with photograph by Francisco Pereira

16. Ernâni Filho from the album Em Cada Estrela uma Canção (1961, Copacabana CLP 11191)

   
Artwork for Em Cada Estrela uma Canção by Sérgio Malta with photograph by Ronaldo Goyanes

17. Pachequinho from the album Música do Coração (1961, Copacabana CLP 11202)

   
Artwork for Música do Coração by Sérgio Malta

18. Moacyr Marques ‘Bijú’ from the album Samba Geléia (1962, Pawal P-20.015), also released on the album Berimbau Sambas (1964, Destaque D-7021) credited to Conjunto BemBossa

   

   

19. Mr. Samba & Seus Skindôs Rítmicos from the album Mr. Samba’s Authentic Brazilian Bossa Nova (1963, RGE XRLP-5.197) aka This Is Bossa Nova (1963, RGE LP3-1090)

   

20. Bud Shank, João Donato and Rosinha de Valença from the album Bud Shank & His Brazilian Friends (1965, Pacific Jazz Records ‎[USA] ST-89) released in Brazil as Bud Shank/Donato/Rosinha de Valença (1965, Elenco MEV-8)

   

   
Artwork for Bud Shank/Donato/Rosinha de Valença by Eddie Moyna

21. Maria Creuza from the album Maria Creuza (1972, RGE 303.0014)

22. Agostinho dos Santos from the album Agostinho dos Santos (1973, Continental SLP 10.118)

   

23. Quarteto Nostalgia from the album Quarteto Nostalgia (1977, Beverly AMCLP 5433)

Selected medleys including Foi a Noite:

1. Ribamar from the album Duas Faces de Amor (1965, Equipe EQ 804), also released as Bastante Intimo credited to Quinteto Romantico (1965, Spot 33004) and Nosso Encontro de Amor credited to Ribamar (1969, Equipe EQC 853)

   
Artwork for Duas Faces de Amor by Joselito

   

   
Artwork for Nosso Encontro de Amor by Joselito

2. Dóris Monteiro and Miltinho from the album Dóris, Miltinho e Charme (1970, Odeon MOFB 3649)

   

3. Waleska from the album Waleska (1975, Copacabana COLP 12034)

   
Artwork for Waleska by Antônio José Castilho with photograph by Mafra

FOI A NOITE

Foi a noite, foi o mar eu sei • Foi a lua que me fez pensar • Que você me queria outra vez • E que ainda gostava de mim • Ilusão eu bebi talvez • Foi amor por você bem sei • A saudade aumenta com a distância • E a ilusão é feita de esperança • Foi a noite • Foi o mar eu sei • Foi você

Song No. 164 — Desafinado | Antônio Carlos Jobim & Newton Mendonça (1959)

Desafinado was introduced in February 1959 by João Gilberto as A-Side to Hô-bá-lá-lá, his second solo single. Recorded in November 1958, the song was also included on his 1959 debut album Chega de Saudade, both arranged and conducted by Antônio Carlos Jobim.

Desafinado, meaning “off-key” or “out of tune”, was Jobim and Newton’s answer to nightclub singers they had to accompany and who sang out of tune which helped critics to claim that bossa nova was a new genre for singers who can’t sing. This samba was intended to appear to be a defense of the ‘out-of-tune’ singing but actually be demanding so only an accomplished vocalist was able to perform it skilfully.

Like other Jobim compositions, the sheet music of Desafinado subsequently appeared with missing measures and melodic and harmonic modifications which annoyed Jobim as he stated in an 1994 interview, “What I find lamentable, in the case of the editors, is that they would have edited my songs all wrong. This is what upsets me. And then it all goes off to the whole world! That is the disaster! […] One of the projects I’m working on is the revision of my own compositions because the editors got everything wrong. They got the melody wrong, the harmony wrong, and the rhythm wrong“

In Brazil, Desafinado was first picked up by Ney e Seu Conjunto, an unidentified outfit that released the song as a B-side, followed by at least six more recordings that year. After only a few recordings in 1960 and 1961, at least 25 versions were released in 1963, probably triggered by the sudden international success of the song. However, Newton Ferreira de Mendonça was not allowed to experience this. Following Desafinado, he composed two more classics with Jobim, Meditação and Samba de Uma Nota Só, before his untimely death in November 1960 of a heart attack at the age of 33.

In February of 1962, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd recorded an instrumental version which was released in April as the title track of their album and in a shortened version as the leading single. This version helped paving the way for the international success of the song as well as bossa nova. In September 1962, the first version with English lyrics was released by Pat Thomas as the leading single and title track of her second album, arranged by Lalo Schifrin. In November 1962, Ella Fitzgerald released her version recorded with Marty Paich. All three singles hit the US Billboard Charts before João Gilberto performed the song at the famous Carnegie Hall Concert on November 21, 1962. Jobim recorded his first version in 1963 on the US album The Composer of Desafinado Plays, released in Brazil the following year by Elenco as Antônio Carlos Jobim.

The first English lyrics titled Slightly Out of Tune, introduced in 1962 by Pat Thomas and Ella Fitzgerald, were written by Jon Hendricks and “Jessie Cavanaugh” (a pseudonym used by the music publishing house The Richmond Organisation). In 1967, English lyrics by Gene Lees titled Off-key were more closely based on the original and recorded by Frank Sinatra and Antônio Carlos Jobim.

Desafinado is not only an ingenious composition but became a bossa nova classic that was recorded around the world, including by Bulgarians Lea Ivanova and Eddy Kazassian, Jamaicans Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, French jazz guitarist and chanteur Sacha Distel, Finnish songstress Laila Kinnunen and many more.

Selected recordings of Desafinado:

1. João Gilberto from the single Desafinado b/w Hô-bá-lá-lá (1959, Odeon ‎14.426) and the album Chega de Saudade (1959, Odeon MOFB 3073)

   
Artwork for Chega de Saudade by César G. Villela with photographs by Francisco Pereira

2. Maurílio Santos from the album Convite Para Dançar Vol. 2 (1959, RCA Victor BBL 1043)

   

3. Jota Cláudio e Pepe Cabral from the album Dois Amigos em Ritmo de Dança (1959, Polydor LPNG 4054)

   

4. Zé Maria from the album Presente Musical (1959, Internacional CID 27017)

   

5. Zaccarias from the album Música, Maestro! (1959, RCA Victor BBL 1040)

   

6. Os Saxsambistas Brasileiros from the album Saxsambando (1960, Plaza PZ 303), reissued as Desafinado (1962, Dauntless/Áudio Fidelity [US] DM 4304) and as Sax Sambando (196?, Plaza PZ 2203) and as Sambas Que Não Se Esquece (1970, Tropicana n/a) credited to Bil Bell

  
Artwork for Saxsambando by Michel Schachter

   

   
Artwork for Sax Sambando by Michel Schachter

  

7. Carminha Mascarenhas e Ernâni Filho from the album Em Cada Estrela uma Canção (1961, Copacabana CLP 11191)

   
Artwork for Em Cada Estrela uma Canção by Sérgio Malta

8. Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd from the single Desafinado b/w One Note Samba (Samba de uma Nota Só) (1962, Verve [US] VK-10260) and the album Jazz Samba (1962, Verve [US] V6-8432 and 1963, Verve/Copacabana [BRA] VMLP 14006)

   
Cover painting for Jazz Samba by Olga Albizu

9. Oscar Castro Neves from the album Big Band Bossa Nova (1962, Audio Fidelity AFLP 1983)

  

10. Agostinho dos Santos from the EP No Carnegie Hall (1962, RGE CD 80.144)

11. Laura Villa from the album Bossa Nova (1962, Polydor 46128)

12. Antônio Carlos Jobim from the album The Composer of Desafinado Plays aka Antônio Carlos Jobim (1963, Verve Records [USA] V6-8547 and 1964, Elenco [BRA] ME-9)

  
Artwork for Antônio Carlos Jobim is by César G. Villela with photograph by Francisco Pereira.

13. Julinho from the album 100% Bossa (1963, Masterplay MDL 13025)

   
Artwork for 100% Bossa with photograph by Mafra

14. Os Cariocas from the album A Bossa dos Cariocas (1963, Philips P 632.152 L)

15. Breno Sauer Quinteto from the album Sambabessa (1963, RGE XRLP 5193)

16. Pedrinho Mattar from the album Bossa Nova (1963, Farroupilha LPFR-600)

17. Sexteto de Jazz Moderno from the album Bossa Nova (1963, RCA Victor BBL 1222)

  

18. Trio Tenumbra from the album Trio Penumbra em Bossa Nova (1963, Musicolor/Continental MLP 9084)

   

19. Orquestra Brasil Moderno from the album A Revolução (1963, Odeon MOFB 3357)

   

20. Portinho from the album Fogo nos Metais (1963, Philips P 632.138 L)

   

21. Turquinho from the album Samba de Bossa (1963, Chantecler CMG 2212)

   

22. Ritmistas da Bossa Nova from the album Balanço & Bossa Nova (1963, Musiplay LPM 1105)

   

23. Roberto Menscal from the album A Bossa Nova de Roberto Menescal e Seu Conjunto (1963, Elenco ME-3)

  
Artwork for A Bossa Nova de Roberto Menescal e Seu Conjunto by César G. Villela with photographs by Francisco Perreira

24. Orquestra Os Bossambistas from the album Só Danço Samba (1963, DIMP D-1014), reissued as Bossa Brass Apresenta a Música Maravilhosa de Antônio Carlos Jobim (1966, Plaza Hi-Fi 13002) credited to Bossa Brass

Artwork for Só Danço Samba by Michel Schachter

  
Artwork for Bossa Brass Apresenta a Música Maravilhosa de Antônio Carlos Jobim by Joselito

25. Milton Banana from the album O Ritmo e o Som da Bossa Nova (1963, Audio Fidelity AFLP 1984)

   

26. Stan Getz and João Gilberto with Antônio Carlos Jobim from the album Getz/Gilberto (1964, Verve Records [USA] V6-8545 and Odeon [BRA] MOFB 291)

  
Cover painting for Getz/Gilberto by Olga Albizu

27. Sérgio Mendes e Bossa Rio from the album Você Ainda Não Ouviu Nada (1964, Philips P 632.701 L)

   
Artwork forVocê Ainda Não Ouviu Nada by Licínio Almeida with photographs by Paulo Namorado

28. Carioca from the album Samba Ôba! (1964, Imperial IMP. 30.048)

   
Artwork for Samba Ôba! by Eddie Moyna with photograph by Sampaio

29. Dalila from the album Sensação! (1964, PolydorLPNG 4086)

  
Artwork for Sensação! by Paulo Brèves with photgraph by Mafra

30. Rio 65 Trio from the album Rio 65 Trio (1965, Philips P 632.749 L)

   

31. Lyrio Panicali from the album Nova Dimensão (1965, Odeon MOFB 3408)

   
Artwork for Nova Dimensão by Joselito

32. César Camargo Mariano from the album Octeto de César Camargo Mariano (1966, Som MaiorSMLP 1516)

  

33. Antônio Carlos Jobim from the album A Certain Mr. Jobim (1967, Warner Music [USA] WS-1699 and 1974, Continental [BRA] 3.01.404.051)

   

34. J. T. Meirelles from the album Brazilian Beat Vol. 2 (1967, London/Odeon LLB 1029)

   

35. Lenita Bruno from the album Lenita Bruno em Hollywood (1968, Fermata FB 235)

Selected recordings of Desafinado originally not issued in Brazil:

1. Pat Thomas from the single Desafinado (Slightly Out of Tune) b/w One Note Samba (1962, Verve Records ‎[USA] VK 10269) and the album Desafinado (1962, MGM Records ‎‎[USA] SE 4103)

  

2. Laurindo Almeida & The Bossa Nova Allstars from the album Viva Bossa Nova! (1962, Capitol Records ‎‎[USA] T 1759)

  

3. Dizzy Gillespie from the album Dizzy on the French Riviera (1962, Philips ‎[USA] PHS 600-048)

   

4. Ella Fitzgerald from the single Desafinado (Slightly Out of Tune) b/w Stardust (Bossa Nova) (1962, Verve Records ‎‎‎[USA] VK 10274)

5. Lalo Schifrin from the album Lalo = Brilliance (1962, Roulette ‎[USA] R 52088)

  

6. Tito Puente from the album Bossa Nova by Puente (1962, Roulette ‎[USA] R-25193)

   

7. Julie London from the single Slightly Out of Tune (Desafinado) b/w Where Did the Gentlemen Go (1962, Liberty [USA] 55512) and the album The End of the World (1963, Liberty ‎[USA] LRP-3300)

  

8. Quincy Jones from the album Big band Bossa Nova (1962, Mercury ‎[USA] SR 60751)

  

9. Sacha Distel from the EP Bossa Nova (1962, RCA Victor ‎[France] 86.004 M)

   

10. Les 3 Ménestrels from the EP Faits Pour S’aimer (Desafinado) (1962, Fontana ‎[France] 460.846 ME)

  

11. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass from the album The Lonely Bull (1962, A&M Records ‎‎[USA] A&M 101)

  

12. Laila Kinnunen from the single Yön Äänet (Recado) b/w Epävireiset Sydämet (Desafinado) (1962, Scandia [Finland] KS 458) and the EP Bossa Nova (1963, Scandia [Finland] SEP 179)

13. Pierre Sellin ‎from the EP Desafinado (1962, Fontana ‎[France] 460.847 ME)

14. Los 3 de Castilla from the EP Bossa Nova (1962, Philips ‎[Spain] 433 896 PE)

  

15. Izio Gross from the album Bossa Nova in Rhythm (1963, Kristal Linea Económica Kubaney [Mexico] KS-1154)

16. Dick Hyman & Mary Mayo from the album Moon Gas (1963, MGM Records ‎[USA] SE-4119)

  

17. L’Orchestre Brésilien ‘Ritmo da Bossa’ from the album Bossa Nova (1963, Barclay [France] CDF 532)

18. Coleman Hawkins from the album Desafinado – Coleman Hawkins Plays Bossa Nova & Jazz Samba (1963, Impulse ‎[USA] A-28)

19. Lea Ivanova & Eddy Kazassian Combo from the album Lea Ivanova & Eddy Kazassian Combo (1963, Qualiton ‎[Hungary] LPX 7237)

  

20. Sérgio Mendes from the album Quiet Nights (recorded 1963, released 1966, Philips [USA] PHS 600.263)

   

21. The Hi-Lo’s from the album The Hi-Lo’s Happen to Bossa Nova (1963, Reprise Records ‎[USA] R9-6066)

  

22. René Touzet from the album Bossa Nova – Brazil to Hollywood (1963, GNP Crescendo ‎[USA] GNP 87)

23. The Dave Pell Octet from the album The Dave Pell Octet Plays Today’s Hits in Jazz (1963, Liberty [USA] LST-7298)

24. Eydie Gormé from the album Blame it on the Bossa Nova (1963, Columbia ‎[USA] CS 8812)

   

25. Zdenka Vučković from the EP Ritam Kiše (1964, Jugoton ‎[Yugoslavia] EPY-3339)

26. Byron Lee and The Dragonaires from the album Caribbean Joy Ride (1964, Starline [Jamaica] FLP 103)

  

27. Clare Fischer from the album So Danço Samba (1965, World Pacific Records ‎[USA] 1830)

   

28. Doris Day from the album Latin for Lovers (1965, Columbia ‎‎[USA] CS 9110)

   

29. Tamba Trio from the album Brasil Saluda a Mexico (1966, Philips ‎[Mexico] 10087)

  

30. Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim from the withdrawn 8-track cartridge Sinatra Jobim (1969, Reprise Records [USA] 8FH 1028)

  

31. Duncan Lamont from the album Best of the Bossa Novas (1970, Music For Pleasure ‎[UK] MFP 1357

   

32. Sônia Rosa from the album Sensitive Sound of Sônia Rosa (1970, Express [Japan] VSCD-606)

33. Jula De Palma from the album Jula Presenta (1974, RCA ‎[Italy] TPL1-1032)

  

Ella Fitzgerald, enjoying her performance of Desafinado on Swedish television in 1963

DESAFINADO

Se você disser que eu desafino, amor • Saiba que isto em mim provoca imensa dor • Só privilegiados têm ouvido igual ao seu • Eu possuo apenas o que Deus me deu

Se você insiste em classificar • Meu comportamento de anti-musical • Eu mesmo mentindo devo argumentar • Que isto é Bossa Nova, que isto é muito natural • O que você não sabe, nem sequer pressente • É que os desafinados também têm um coração

Fotografei você na minha Roleiflex • Revelou-se a sua enorme ingratidão • Só não poderá falar assim do meu amor • Ele é o maior que você pode encontrar

Você com a sua música esqueceu o principal • Que no peito dos desafinados • No fundo do peito bate calado • Que no peito dos desafinados – Também bate um coração

SLIGHTLY OUT OF TUNE

Love is like a never-ending melody • Always have compared it to a symphony • A symphony conducted by the lighting of the moon • But our song of love is slightly out of tune

Once your kisses raised me to a fever pitch • Now the orchestration doesn’t seem so rich • Seems to me you’ve changed the tune we used to sing • Like the bossa nova, love should swing

We used to harmonize, two souls in perfect time • Now the song is different and the words don’t even rhyme • Cause you forgot the melody our hearts would always croon • So what’s good’s a heart that’s slightly out of tune

Tune your heart to mine the way it used to be • Join with me in harmony and sing a song of loving • We’ve got to get in tune again before too long

Ther’ll be no desafinado • When your heart belongs to me completely • Then you won’t be slightly out of tune • You’ll sing along with me

[English lyrics by Jon Hendricks and “Jessie Cavanaugh”]

OFF-KEY

When I try to sing you say I’m off key • Why can’t you see how much this hurts me • With your perfect beauty and your perfect pitch • You’re a perfect terror • When I come around must you always put me down

If you say my singing is off key my love • You will hurt my feelings don’t you see my love • I wish I had an ear like yours • A voice that would behave • But all I have is feelings and the voice God gave

You insist my music goes against the rules • But rules were never meant for lovesick fools • I wrote this little song for you but you don’t care • Its a crooked song oh but all my love is there

The thing that you would see if you would play your part • Is even if I’m out of tune I have a gentle heart • I took your picture with my trusty Rolleiflex • And now all I have developed is a complex

Possibly in vain I hope you weaken oh my love • And forget these rigid rules that undermine my dream of • A life of love and music with someone who’ll understand

That even though I may be out of tune • When I attempt to say how much I love you • All that matters is the message that I bring • Which is my dear one I love you

[English lyrics by Gene Lees]

Song No. 63 — O Tempo Não Desfaz | Newton Mendonça (1961)

O Tempo Não Desfaz was introduced in 1960 by Geny Martins as A-side to É o Fim. The song was one of the last compositions by Newton Ferreira de Mendonça who died in late 1960 at the age of 33 after suffering his second heart attack. Mendonça is best known for the songs he composed together with Antônio Carlos Jobim such as Desafinado, Meditação, Discussão, Foi a Noite and Samba de Uma Nota Só.

O Tempo Não Desfaz was recorded only three more times at its time, first by Ernani Filho on a tribute album that also featured Carminha Mascarenhas and Marisa Gata Mansa on vocals in front of a top-class orchestra conducted by José Pacheco Lins aka Pachequinho and featuring Irany Pinto, José Luiz aka Formiga, Ed Maciel, Zé Bodega, Aurino Ferreira de Oliveira.

The next year, O Tempo Não Desfaz was included on A Voz Balanco… Samba 35 mm, the fabulous solo debut by singer Sandra, who died in a car crash a few days after she received an award for this very album. Marco Ruppi, who arranged Sandra’s album along with Celso Murilo, besides both also playing saxophone and organ, reutilized all arrangements from Sandra’s album the following year on Sambalanço credited to Orquestra Moderna de Sambas.

Selected recordings of O Tempo Não Desfaz:

1. Geny Martins from the single O Tempo Não Desfaz b/w É o Fim (1961, Sinter 650-a)

2. Ernani Filho from the album Em Cada Estrela uma Canção (1961, Copacabana CLP 11191)

   
Art work for Em Cada Estrela uma Canção by Sérgio Malta

3. Sandra from the album A Voz Balanço… Samba 35mm (1962, Pawal P-20.016)

   

4. Orquestra Moderna de Sambas from the album Sambalanço (1963, Pawal P-20.023)