1971 December - 'Evie' Johnny Mathis / 'Desacato'

7 December 1971 - Amiga n. 81 - Research done by NOPEM, Pesquisa de Mercado.

1. Desacato - Antonio Carlos & Jocafi (RCA) (2)
2. Oh me oh my - B.J. Thomas (Scepter-Top-Tape)
3. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
4. Co-co - The Sweet (RCA)
5. It's too late - Carole King (Ode-A&M-Odeon)

6. Fire and rain - James Taylor (WB-Philips)
7. Impossivel acreditar que perdi você - Marcio Greyck (CBS)
8. Lourinha - Wanderlea (Polydor)
9. Black-skin blue-eyed boys - The Equals (President-Cid)
10. Echoes and rainbows - Black Swan (Ember-Cid)

11. Have you ever seen the rain? - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Liberty-RCA)
12. Izabella - Renato & seus Blue Caps (CBS)
13. Ainda queima a esperança - Diana (CBS)
14. Independência ou morte - Zedi (Tapecar)
15. You've got a friend - James Taylor (WB-Philips)

16. Acapulco gold - Mason-Dixon (Jubilee-Top-Tape)
17. I'm so happy - Trio Galleta (Odeon)
18. Oho oha - Los Angeles (Hispa-Vox-Continental)
19. Barbarella - Archaeopterix (Kuckuck-Cid)
20. Butterfly - Danyel Gerard (CBS)

As 1971 approached its end, 'Amiga' magazine Brazilian-charts got more and more foreign-hit dominated. There were 12 foreign hits among the Top 20 in the first week of December 1971; more than half of it made up of European pop music acts like German band Archaeopterix; French singer Danyel Gerard who sings in German; Black Swan, another French singer who sings in English; Trio Galleta, an Argentine rock-band who sing in broken-English; Los Angeles, a Spanish combo who sing in... well, Spanish; Gilbert Montagnè, a blind French singer who sang in English and could play a mean piano; The May Fair Set, a Belgian rock-outfit who sang in English; plus French act Michel Laurent and French Canadian singer Marc Hamilton.

Rio de Janeiro's Independent labels

For some unfathomable reason Rio de Janeiro became the site of a series of new independent labels that started springing up as of 1970 and 1971.

Equipe must have been the first of such independent companies. It started around 1966 and made a lot of money with the release of a few albums by instrumental rock-band The Pop's and then young Adriana and Osvaldo Nunes.

In early 1970, Top-Tape, a brand-new Rio de Janeiro independent label got to press & distribute Scepter Records' catalogue and had a #1 hit with B.J. Thomas' 'Raindrops keep fallin' on my head'. Soon, Top-Tape was pressing all kinds of low-profile foreign-acts from unknown labels that made it up at the charts.  

By early 1970, brand-new record label Tapecar was signed by Motown-Tamla to press and distribute their records in Brazil. Motown's records had been pressed previously by Fermata (1965-1966) and Mocambo-Rozenblit (1967-1968-1969). As Motown never had a real smash-hit in Brazil except the Four Tops' 'Reach out I'll be there' in 1967 - Tapecar must have won the contract with Motown easily. Tapecar was really lucky because their very first Motown-release was a hit: Jackson Five's 'I'll be there'. 

Tapecar was so successful with their foreign-act catalogue that they started producing their own Brazilian material having reached #1 with Zedi's 'Independência ou morte' by late 1970.

Cid Discos was another indie that cropped up suddenly in 1971 and charted constantly. 

If I ever get more information about these independent labels I will let you know.

Extended-plays (compactos-duplos)

1. Evie - Johnny Mathis (CBS) (4)
2. Love story - Johnny Mathis (CBS)
3. De tanto amor - Claudette Soares (Philips)
4. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS) 
5. Super Erótica - Os Carbonos (New Records-Beverly)

6. Love story - Francis Lai (Paramount-RGE)
7. Co-co - The Sweet (RCA)
8. Quem mandou você errar? - Claudia Barroso (Continental)
9. Sua estupidez - Gal Costa (Philips)
10. Baby eu te amo - Wanderley Cardoso (Copacabana)

Albums (long-plays) 

1. Memórias de um sargento de milícias - Martinho da Vila (RCA)
2. Love story - Johnny Mathis (CBS)
3. Tapestry - Carole King (Ode-A&M-Odeon)
4. Tim Maia vol. 2 (Polydor)
5. O cafona (Internacional) 

6. As 14 Mais vol. 25 - various Brazilian artists
7. Só o amor constrói - Wanderley Cardoso (Copacabana)
8. Som Ecodinamic (Part Two) - various US hits (Tapecar)
9. Pendulum - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Liberty-RCA) 
10. Carpenters (A&M-Odeon)

7 December 1971 - songs with most air-play on the radio around the country:

1. De tanto amor - Claudette Soares (Philips)
2. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
3. Você - Tim Maia (Polydor)
4. Impossivel acreditar que perdi você - Marcio Greyck (CBS)
5. Oh me oh my - B.J. Thomas (Scepter-Top-Tape)

6. Só o amor constrói - Wanderley Cardoso (Copacabana)
7. Só o amor constrói - Dom & Ravel (RCA)
8. Capim gordura - Os Populares (RCA)
9. Eu queria ter você comigo - Franc Landi (Orange-Tapecar)
10. You've got a friend - James Taylor (WB-Philips)

11. Kyrie - Trio Ternura (CBS)
12. Segure tudo - Martinho da Vila (RCA)
13. You gotta have love in your heart - Supremes (Motown-Top-Tape)
14. Seu reverendo - Benedito Nunes (Continental) 
15. Eu já amei você - Franco (Fermata)

The Equals, a mixed-race British band with Eddie Grant as its leader had charted in Brazil in 1968 with 'Baby come back'. Now, 3 years later they show up with 'Black-skin blue-eyed boys', released by independent label Cid Discos; Danyel Gerard, a French singer sings in German and English.

14 December 1971 - Amiga n. 82 - Research done by NOPEM, Pesquisa de Mercado.

1. Desacato - Antonio Carlos & Jocafi (RCA) (3) 
2. It's too late - Carole King (Ode-A&M-Odeon)
3. Oh me oh my - B.J. Thomas (Scepter-Top-Tape)
4. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
5. Lourinha - Wanderlea (Polydor)

6. Co-co - The Sweet (RCA)
7. Fire and rain - James Taylor (WB-Philips)
8. Ainda queima a esperança - Diana (CBS)
9. Impossivel acreditar que perdi você - Marcio Greyck (CBS)
10. Echoes and rainbows - Black Swan (Ember-Cid)

11. I am so happy - Trio Galleta (Odeon)
12. You've got a friend - James Taylor (WB-Philips) 
13. Izabela - Renato & seus Blue Caps (CBS) 
14. Black-skin blue-eyed boys - The Equals 
15. Have you ever seen the rain? - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Liberty-RCA) 

16. Independência ou morte - Zedi (Tapecar)
17. Acapulco gold - Mason-Dixon (Jubilee-Top-Tape)
18. Butterfly - Danyel Gerard (CBS)
19. Se Deus me ouvisse - Silvana (Copacabana)
20. Oho aha - Los Angeles (Hispa-Vox-Continental)

'Desacato' was the runner-up at Rio de Janeiro's VI International Song Festival but went to #1 in the charts while the winner, 'Kyrie' with Trio Ternura, was a lacklustre. The Festival itself was running dry and would die of 'natural causes' in 1972; Carole King's 'It's too late' finally catches up with the crowd and is #2.   

Extended-plays (compactos-duplos)

1. Evie - Johnny Mathis (CBS) (5) 
2. De tanto amor - Claudette Soares (Philips)
3. Love story - Johnny Mathis (CBS)
4. Co-co - The Sweet (RCA)
5. Super Erótica - Os Carbonos (New Records-Beverly)

6. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS) 
7. Love story - Francis Lai (Paramount-RGE)
8. Sua estupidez - Gal Costa (Philips)
9. Quem mandou você errar? - Claudia Barroso (Continental)
10. Baby eu te amo - Wanderley Cardoso (Copacabana) 

Albums (long-plays)

1. Memórias de um sargento de milícias - Martinho da Vila (RCA)
2. Tapestry - Carole King (Ode-A&M-Odeon)
3. Tim Maia vol.2 (Polydor) 
4. Rosa dos ventos - Maria Bethania (Philips)
5. Negro é lindo - Jorge Ben (Philips)

6. Love story - Johnny Mathis (CBS) 
7. As 14 Mais vol. 25 - various Brazilian artists (CBS)
8. Pendulum - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Liberty-RCA)
9. Mar de rosas - The Fevers (London) 
10. O cafona (Internacional) - novela foreign songs (Som-Livre)

Martinho da Vila, had been a sergeant himself for most of his adult life, releases his 3rd album 'Memoirs of a Militia Sergeant' which goes to the top of the charts. On the left, Martinho wears his Army uniform while he has a few puffs on his fag. On the right, Martinho wears civilian clothes. Come to think of it, Martinho had always been cool... even wearing a military uniform.

14 December 1971 - songs with most air-play on the radio around the country: Radio Record S.Paulo (Darcio Campos); Radio Princesa de Porto Alegre (Edgard Hudson); Radio Planalto de Brasilia (Edson Venturini); Radio Bahia-Salvador (Valdir Serrão); Radio Globo do Rio de Janeiro-GB (Haroldo de Andrade); and Radio Itatiaia de BH-MG (Roberto Abras).

1. Construção - Chico Buarque de Hollanda (Philips)
2. Segure tudo - Martinho da Vila (RCA)
3. Independência ou morte - Zedi (Tapecar)
4. Oho aha - Los Angeles (Hispa-Vox-Continental)
5. Passion of love - Magnetic Sounds (New Records-Beverly) 

6. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS) 
7. Desacato - Antonio Carlos & Jocafi (RCA)
8. Evie - Johnny Mathis (CBS)
9. Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey - Paul & Linda McCartney (Apple-Odeon)
10. Pão e mel para meu chá (Toast and marmalade for tea) - Luiz Fabiano (Continental)

11. San Bernardino - Christie (Epic)
12. Butterfly - Danyel Gerard (CBS)
13. Mas que doidice - Antonio Carlos & Jocafi (RCA)
14. Vou morrer com ela - Odair José (CBS)
15. Sinfonia n. 40 Mozart - Waldo de los Rios (Hispa-Vox-Continental)

16. It's too late - Carole King (Ode-A&M-Odeon)
17. You've got a friend - James Taylor (WB-Philips)
18. Love story - Shirley Bassey 
19. Kyrie - Trio Ternura (CBS)
20. E o destino desfolhou - Paulo Sergio (Caravelle)

Magnetic Sounds were actually Brazilian rock-band Os Carbonos. They were accomplished instrumentalists who could play almost anything - including instrumentals that were over-dubbed with a lot of heavy-breathing aping Jane Birkin-Serge Gainsbourg's 'Je t'aime moi non plus'. New Records was a new label that belonged to Beverly Records that was a subsidiary of Copacabana Discos.

Silvana had last been in the charts in 1964, comes back 7 years later with 'Se Deus me ouvisse'. Wanderlea had been Queen of Brazilian Rock since 1965, changed her style and charts again with pop-music festival's 'Lourinha'.

21st December 1971 - Amiga n. 83 - Research done by NOPEM, Pesquisa de Mercado.

1. Desacato - Antonio Carlos & Jocafi (RCA) (4)
2. Oh me oh my - B.J. Thomas (Scepter-Top-Tape)
3. It's too late - Carole King (Ode-A&M-Odeon)
4. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
5. Butterfly - Danyel Gerard (CBS)

6. I am so happy - Trio Galleta (Odeon) 
7. You've got a friend - James Taylor (WB-Philips)
8. Ainda queima a esperança - Diana (CBS)
9. Impossivel acreditar que perdi você - Marcio Greyck (CBS)
10. Co-co - The Sweet (RCA)

11. Echoes and rainbows - Black Swan (Ember-Cid)
12. Izabela - Renato & seus Blue Caps (CBS)
13. Fire and rain - James Taylor (WB-Philips)
14. Lourinha - Wanderlea (Polydor)
15. Se Deus me ouvisse - Silvana (Copacabana)

16. Have you ever seen the rain? - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Liberty-RCA)
17. Minha historia (Gesubambino) - Chico Buarque de Hollanda (Philips)
18. K-Jee - The Nite Liters (RCA)
19. Oho aha - Los Angeles (Hispa-Vox-Continental)
20. Acapulco gold - Mason-Dixon (Jubilee-Top-Tape)

Extended-plays (compactos-duplos)

1. Evie - Johnny Mathis (CBS) (6) 
2. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
3. De tanto amor - Claudette Soares (Philips) 
4. Love story - Johnny Mathis (CBS) 
5. Co-co - The Sweet (RCA)

6. Super Erótica - Os Carbonos (New Records-Beverly) 
7. Quem mandou você errar? - Claudia Barroso (Continental) 
8. Love story - Francis Lai (Paramount-RGE) 
9. Sua estupidez - Gal Costa (Philips)
10. Friends - Elton John (Paramount-Young-RGE)

Albums (long-plays) 

1. Tapestry - Carole King (Ode-A&M-Odeon) (1)
2. Memórias de um sargento de milícias - Martinho da Vila (RCA)
3. Santana (CBS)
4. You've got a friend - Johnny Mathis (CBS) 
5. Tim Maia vol. 2 (Polydor)

6. Explosão musical - The Fevers (London)
7. Rosa dos ventos - Maria Bethania (Philips)
8. As 14 Mais vol. 25 - various Brazilian artists (CBS)
9. Construção - Chico Buarque de Hollanda (Philips)
10. Love story - Johnny Mathis (CBS)

21st December 1971 - songs with most air-play on the radio around the country: Radio Bandeirantes de S.Paulo (Humberto Marçal); Radio Cultura de Salvador (Joceval Costa Lima); Radio Itatiaia de BH-MG (Tarcisio Rabelo); Radio Nacional de Brasilia-DF (Elias Curi); Radio Palmares de Maceió-AL (Petrucio C.Melo) and Radio Tupi do Rio de Janeiro-GB (Paulo Giovanni). 

1. A vida é mesmo assim - Claudia Barroso (Continental)
2. Segure tudo - Martinho da Vila (RCA)
3. Todos estão surdos - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
4. Impossivel acreditar que perdi você - Marcio Greyck (CBS)
5. Love story - Johnny Mathis (CBS)

6. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
7. Construção - Chico Buarque de Hollanda (Philips)
8. A festa do Santo Reis - Tim Maia (Polydor)
9. Don't let it die - Hurricane Smith (Odeon)
10. Write the music, sing your song - Hurricane Smith (Odeon) 

11. Cotidiano - Chico Buarque de Hollanda (Philips)
12. Um certo dia para 21 - Paulinho da Viola (Odeon) 
13. Capim gordura - Luiz Carlos Vinhas & Os Kalangos (Tapecar) 
14. Borriquito - Peret (Ariola-Beverly) 
15. Daria tudo para você estar aqui - Nelson Ned (Copacabana)

16. Doce, doce amor - Jerry Adriani (CBS)
17. Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey - Paul & Linda McCartney (Apple-Odeon)
18. Se Deus me ouvisse - Silvana (Copacabana)
19. Lady Rose - Double Play (Young-RGE)
20. It's too late - Carole King (Ode-A&M-Odeon)

28 December 1971 - Amiga n. 84 - Research done by NOPEM, Pesquisa de Mercado.

1. Oh me oh my - B.J. Thomas (Scepter-Top-Tape) (1) 
2. I am so happy - Trio Galleta (Odeon)
3. You've got a friend - James Taylor (WB-Philips)
4. Butterfly - Danyel Gerard (CBS)
5. Desacato - Antonio Carlos & Jocafi (RCA)

6. Co-co - The Sweet (RCA)
7. Ainda queima a esperança - Diana (CBS)
8. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
9. It's too late - Carole King (Ode-A&M-Odeon)
10. Izabela - Renato & seus Blue Caps (CBS)

11. Se Deus me ouvisse - Silvana (Copacabana)
12. Impossivel acreditar que perdi você - Marcio Greyck (CBS)
13. Echoes and rainbow - Black Swan (Ember-Cid)
14. Seu reverendo - Benedito Nunes (Continental) 
15. Mangueira, minha querida madrinha - Zuzuca (Epic)

16. Arrebita - Roberto Leal (RGE)
17. Rain - The May Fair Set (Polydor)
18. Hello buddy - The Tremeloes (CBS)
19. The fool - Gilbert Montague (CBS)
20. Fire and rain - James Taylor (WB-Philips)

Extended-plays (compactos-duplos)

1. Evie - Johnny Mathis (CBS) (7)
2. Amada amante - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
3. Baby eu te amo - Wanderley Cardoso (Copacabana)
4. Co-co - The Sweet (RCA) 
5. Love story - Johnny Mathis (CBS)

6. Sua estupidez - Gal Costa (Philips)
7. De tanto amor - Claudette Soares (Philips) 
8. Super Erótica - Os Carbonos (New Records-Beverly) 
9. Quem mandou você errar? - Claudia Barroso (Continental) 
10. Love story - Francis Lai (Paramount-RGE)

Albums (long-plays) 

1. Explosão musical - The Fevers (London) 
2. Santana (CBS)
3. Memórias de um sargento de milícias - Martinho da Vila (RCA) 
4. You've got a friend - Johnny Mathis (CBS)
5. Construção - Chico Buarque de Hollanda (Philips)

6. Tim Maia vol. 2 (Polydor)
7. A vida é mesmo assim - Claudia Barroso (Continental)
8. Roberto Carlos (CBS)
9. Tapestry - Carole King (Ode-A&M-Odeon) 
10. Rosa dos ventos - Maria Bethania (Philips)

28 December 1971 - songs with most air-play on the radio around the country:

1. Imagine - John Lennon (Apple-Odeon)
2. Seu reverendo - Benedito Nunes (Continental)
3. Sol e pedra - Paulinho da Viola (Odeon)
4. Oh me oh my - B.J. Thomas (Scepter-Top-Tape)
5. Because I love you - Majority One (Tuba-Top-Tape)

6. Doce, doce amor - Jerry Adriani (CBS)
7. Evie - Johnny Mathis (CBS)
8. Não quero dinheiro - Tim Maia (Polydor)
9. Is that the way? - Tiny Tim (Polydor)
10. I found someone of my own - Free Movement (MCA-Chant)

11. Pingo de amor - Paulo Diniz (Odeon)
12. Help, get me some help - Tony Ronald (Movie-play-Epic)
13. Mamy blue - Pop-Tops (RCA) 
14. Detalhes - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
15. Tristeza - Wilson Simonal (Odeon) 

16. Me deixa em paz - Ivan Lins (Philips)
17. Jesus - Jeremy Faith (Decca-Steam-Machine)
18. Lady - Michel Laurent (AZ-Top-Tape) 
19. Todos estão surdos - Roberto Carlos (CBS)
20. De noite na cama - Erasmo Carlos (Philips) 

Chico Buarque de Hollanda who had been back from exile in Europe - releases the album 'Construção' (Construction site) a masterpiece - where he tells the sad story of a construction worker who falls from the scaffold of a high-rise building and stops the traffic on a Saturday. The lower photos show Chico in Europe; the one on the right Chico poses with Portugal's footballer Euzébio. 

Hybrid English galore! Argentine band Trio Galleta mangles the words in 'I am so happy' and take it to the top of the charts - a song clearly inspired by Bill Dill & the Rondell's 'I've been hurt' the Argentinians had covered earlier in their career. The May Fair Set, a Belgian band sell a lot of 'Rain'; French blind pianist and singer Gilbert Montagnè belts 'The fool' and sells a lot of singles; French former rock'n'roll sensation Michel Laurent sings about a 'Lady' from the Mississippi in his own language.

Paulinho da Viola's 3rd album yielded at least one single: 'Um certo dia para 21', the story of a man who falls asleep and forgets he's a hunted by the police who knows him as Number 21.

At year's end all record companies release their albums with an eye at Christmas sales. Polydor released Tim Maia's ('Hoje é dia de Santo Reis'); CBS released Roberto Carlos ('Detalhes'); Philips had Chico Buarque's explosive 'Construção', Maria Bethania's 'Rosa dos Ventos' and Jorge Ben's 'Negro é lindo'; Continental had Claudia Barroso's 'A vida é mesmo assim' and Columbia (CBS) Santana's III album ('Everybody's everything') and Johnny Mathis' 'You've got a friend'.

Benedito Nunes' 'Seu reverendo' - a regional Northeastern hit that went national.

    

Top Tape spend more money manufacturing their sleeves than their vynil records. Look at this glossy diptych double-album sleeve called 'Som ecodinamic'. English grammar was trampled but who cared? It is only a compilation of danceable US hits divided into up-tempo ditties bunched together on the  'Hot side' ('You gotta have love in your heart' with the Supremes & the Four Tops) and more melodic tunes like Gladys Knight & The Pips' 'One less bell to answer' allotted to a 'Slow side'. Top Tape compilation albums came in hand for when one threw a party because one didn't have to keep on changing tracks. You just put the LP on the turntable and came back 20 minutes later to flip it to the other side while people danced their worries away.