Repress!

Célia Regina Cruz recorded four self-titled albums for Continental between 1971 and 1977, ‘Amor’ in 1982 plus several more before she sadly passed away late in 2017. Célia was a Brazilian vocalist who worked frequently with master arranger-composer Arthur Verocai in her early years and many other heavyweights over the course of her extensive career.

This, her second self-titled LP from 1972, features an all-star line up including Arthur Verocai, Erasmo Carlos, Roberto Carlos, Marcos Valle, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Nonato Buzar and Vinicius de Moraes amongst others.

Célia’s version of ‘Na Boca do Sol’ – taken from this album – is arguably her most well-known and well-loved song. An incredible take on Verocai’s original, featuring waling fuzz guitars, strings, piano, horns and drums.

Needless to say clean, original versions of this record now change hands for silly money! We are very proud to be able to reissue it officially, at long last.

Official Mr Bongo reissue. Replica original gatefold artwork. Licensed from Warner Music.

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(180 gram pressing) Brazilian singer, guitarist, teacher and composer Célia recorded four self-titled albums for Continental between 1971 and 1977, 'Amor' in 1982 plus several more before. This, her first self-titled LP from 1970, feature arrangements by Rogério Duprat, Pocho Perez, Arthur Verocai & José Briamonte.

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Presenting an official reissue of Coke’s audacious, engrossing self-titled album from 1972, originally released on Manuel J. Mato’s collectible Sound Triangle Records imprint. It’s a heavy hit of Miami Latin-funk, dosed up with psychedelic garage rock and gritty soul excellence, making for an intoxicating blend of styles and genres on this highly sought-after LP.

Predominately sung in English, Coke’s only album under this moniker is a sumptuous melting pot of influences, tied together with bright funk drumming, flavourful organs and zesty horns. With a garage band attitude and sensibility, the lineup consisted of Paul Garcia on guitar, Ariel Hernandez on bass, Ruben Perez on drums, Jose Rubio on the keys, a host of guest horn players and Peter Fernandez on vocals, whose tone and delivery was often mistaken for that of a woman.

Produced by Mato, the record and band were well-received in Miami and Southern Florida at the time. Due to a lack of promotion outside of Florida and the threat of a lawsuit from the Coca-Cola corporation for usage of their name, the band fell into relative obscurity, becoming Opus following the dispute.

They say the cream always rises to the top though, with Coke being rediscovered by diggers and collectors searching for a rare groove. One of the standout cuts on the album 'Na Na' was recently featured on the soundtrack to the Netflix drama 'Griselda' (a biopic of Miami/Cuban crime boss Griselda Blanco). Other highlights include the crooner-jazz-rock ‘Got to Touch Your Face’, the psych ballad 'You Turn Me On' with a guitar line reminiscent of The Doors, and the Latin-rock groover, 'Te Amo Mas'.

Coke is a sensational crossover record, that draws from a sea of different influences. Fans of early Santana, garage-pysch, Nu Yorican and Latin-funk productions should all investigate this cherished album - it will have something for you.

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13 years in the making, Mr Bongo proudly presents a new compilation of beloved Brazilian disco and boogie finds from the legendary London disco connoisseurs, Horse Meat Disco. A labour of love, it showcases a tantalising cross-section of disco, funk, boogie, samba and MPB, from past to present. Unearthing tracks from the seemingly endless gold mine of Brazilian gems, the compilation features legends such as Jorge Ben, Gretchen, Marcos Valle and Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti, alongside unsung heroes including Zé Carlos and Carlos Bivar.

Over 20 years ago, the Horse Meat Disco crew (James Hillard, Severino Panzetta, Jim Stanton and Luke Howard) began their weekly residency at Eagle London back in 2003. That same year, Luke made his first visit to Brazil, beginning a musical love affair that is still going strong.

“I had always wanted to go to Brazil since I was a kid, and when I finally had the opportunity to go with Princess Julia, I was just blown away. I’ve visited Rio every year since 2003, and in that time, I’ve learned Portuguese and tried to discover as much as I can about Brazilian music and popular culture. I learned to dance samba with the Paraiso School of Samba in London and paraded three times at Rio Carnival. Brazilian music was a brand-new world for me to explore and get excited about—a whole universe of genius musicians, singers, and styles.”

9 years later, Mr Bongo invited Luke down to their Brighton HQ for a listening session of some of his favourite Brazilian boogie and disco 7" finds. A compilation was green-lit, but multiple licensing delays and the release of other HMD compilations meant that it lay dormant for years.

Fast forward to 2024, and with the help of esteemed, Rio-based record collector Tee Cardaci, along with suggestions from HMD’s James Hillard, the dream of an HMD Brazilian compilation finally materialised. It’s a carefully curated collection that includes the electronic-boogie/italo-disco-esque 1984 groover 'Venha (Remix)' by the singer Ze Carlos, two cuts by Luiza Maura taken from her sought-after Deixa Girar 7", and Gretchen's sultry 'Ela Tem Raça, Charme, Talento E Gostosura' written by Jorge Ben.

At its core, this compilation captures the excitement and sense of discovery that won over Horse Meat Disco’s heart more than 20 years ago. A vibrant mix of feel-good flavours, it homes in on a sun-soaked strand of disco and boogie that has been enriched with the spirit of a nation where music serves as a central pillar of life.

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Good friends and Record Mission co-captains, Dan Tyler (one half of the Idjut Boys) and Nick The Record, take the reins for the third volume of the Mr Bongo Edits 12" series. With previous editions coming courtesy of Danny Krivit and Luke Una, Dan and Nick set their sights on a hand-picked selection of iconic ‘70s Cuban recordings for this three-track cosmic whirlwind. Across the A side, Dan picks out two Juan Pablo Torres tracks, with Nick taking on Grupo Los Yoyi on the B. Tweaking, extending and reworking the recordings with a dose of extra magic they remould the tracks to fit the sounds and structure of today’s dancefloors.

Having formed the Idjut Boys in the early ‘90s, Dan and Conrad McDonnell have crafted a dubbed-out, disco-tinged style that permeates their countless productions, remixes and DJ sets. Speaking of the two tracks Dan has chosen to rework for this EP he mentions, “Having been caught under an avalanche of good music from Mr Bongo, I took it upon myself to extend and add effects to a couple of the fantastic tracks from the Juan Pablo Torres LPs they recently re-issued. Just for disco jockey and barn dance use.”

First, Dan looks to Cuban maestro Juan Pablo Torres’ 1978 album 'Algo Nuevo', taking one of the standout tracks ‘Cacao’ and giving it more space to breathe. Teasing out the scatting vocal line and percussive climax that nods to George Kranz's ’83 electronic disco anthem 'Din Daa Daa', whilst adding more cosmic tripped-out synths and space echoed dubs, Dan builds the tension to fine effect. This track sounds immense on a big club system and the swirling synths felt like they were lifting the ceiling off when we played it at the amazing La Paloma ballroom in Barcelona.

Dan then turns his attention to Torres’ 1977 'Super Son' album, giving the psych-Latin-funk track 'Pastel En Descarga' a dub makeover. Rich in delay and drama, whilst maintaining and extending the breakers funk intro, he juices it up into a punchy, no-nonsense, cosmic-funk delight.

On the B side, Tangent co-founder, long-standing Life Force resident and seasoned rework master, Nick The Record, revisits an edit that he originally constructed in 2009. Clocking in at over double the length of the original cut, Nick’s edit of Grupo Los Yoyi’s 1977 cut 'Paco La Calle', is made with dancers firmly in mind. This secret weapon builds and simmers, with the drums and percussion pushing and pulling before the psychedelic synth lines return in a sweltering fashion. In this new 2025 version, Dan is drafted in to work some brilliant new synth lines into the mix.

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Source of an all-time 'Breaks and Beats' classic, Mr Bongo reissue Herman Kelly’s timeless 1978 album Percussion Explosion!. Immortalised in hip-hop folklore, when the anthemic 'Dance To The Drummer's Beat’ was featured on the influential Ultimate Breaks & Beats compilation series in 1986.

Percussion Explosion! was the brainchild of drummer, percussionist, producer and arranger, Herman Kelly and his percussive disco-funk group from Miami, 'Life', that featured Aaron McCarthy, Oliver Well, John DeMonica, Michal Cordoza and Travis Biggs. The album houses a collection of disco, funk and Latin-inspired cuts that were destined for greatness. Nestled within the grooves is the B-Boy and B-Girl’s anthem, 'Dance To The Drummer's Beat’, which contains a now legendary break. A cursory glance at Whosampled will show that it has been sampled in over 125+ songs. These include Double Dee & Steinski on their groundbreaking 1985 production 'Lesson 3 (History Of Hip Hop Mix)', as well as by DJ Shadow, N.W.A, Masters At Work, Run D.M.C. and a whole host of heavyweights across hip-hop, dance and pop music.

When the album was released in 1978 it came out on two different labels, Alston Records and Electric Cat. Each label pressed different versions of 'Dance To The Drummer's Beat’, with the former featuring a 4:12 version and the latter a longer 5:09 version that has a different structure, crowd noise at the start and overdubbed percussion.

For this Mr Bongo reissue, we have chosen the classic 4:12 version from the Alston Records release, which would later find its way on to the illustrious Ultimate Breaks & Beats compilation. To make matters even more confusing the Alston version art on the back cover also states the track length as 5:09, whilst the centre label lists it correctly as 4:12.

Aside from the much celebrated 'Dance To The Drummer's Beat’, the album includes a range of other fantastic overlooked cuts. From the percussive soul stepper 'Share Your Love', to the beautiful Latin-flavoured 'A Refreshing Love' or the party disco-funk groover 'Who's The Funky D.J.?'.

This wonderful and inspirational record features an important piece of hip-hop heritage and deserves a place in every collection.

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the 41st release in our signature Brazil 45’s series. Turning the spotlight to two monster funk/bossa nova cuts from Rosa Maria, we reissued a double header of firm favourites here at Mr Bongo HQ. Originally released on 7” in 1972 via Tapecar, copies of the OG are extremely difficult to get your hands on.

The A side houses ‘Deixa Nao Deixa’, with its distinct afro-Latin feel courtesy of the guitar, horns and percussion. Add in the catchy lead vocal, strong harmonies, funk/bossa drum grooves, shuffling percussion and the continuous build to the end, and you have one of the greatest Brazilian funk records ever pressed.

‘Avenida Atlantica’ takes the B side. Funk and bossa drum grooves alternate underneath the layers of vocals, horns, piano and percussion for a fiery, energetic dancefloor heater.

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the 54th release in our signature Brazil 45’s series. For this 7” double header we turned our attention to two outstanding boogie gems from Hanna and Almir Ricardi.

Up first, ‘Deixa Rodar’ is an essential midtempo disco/boogie jam taken from Hanna’s 1979 Deixa Rodar LP from 1979. A tip off from our good friend Mark ‘GV’ Taylor, this is a sure-fire way to light up any dancefloor and was featured in DJ Koco’s incredible Brazil 45’s mix.

On the B side, ‘To Parado Na Tua’ is another killer midtempo disco/boogie cut, this time from Almir Ricardi in 1984. Produced by the legendary duo of Lincoln Olivetti and Robson Jorge it exudes that feel-good boogie flavour they are famous for. Taken from the sought after and now fairly pricey ‘Festa Funk’ LP on RGE.

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the 66th release in our signature Brazil 45’s series. Two supreme MPB/bossa-nova cuts courtesy of our leading Brazil 45’s lady, Claudia.

On the A side, ‘Deixa o Morro Cantar’ features on Claudia’s very first 7”, released in 1965 by RGE Brazil. A classy, horn-infused number that really brings out the warming tone of Claudia’s iconic voice.

Take to the flip for Claudia’s version of the legendary ’Mas Que Nada’. It’s a jazzier, folk-funk take on the Jorge Ben classic, that provides a great alternative version of this timeless song.

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Proudly presenting our reissue of a bona fide Latin classic from 1979 by the Cuban-born violinist Alfredo De La Fe. Based in New York and Colombia, Alfredo worked with some of the greats in Latin music including Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colon and Roberto Roena, alongside disco and soul icons like Sylvester and Aquarian Dream.

His debut album, Alfredo, is sublime and comprises two distinct halves. The A-side is a fine outing of Latin dancefloor workouts, with Alfredo innovatively incorporating the violin as a key element of his songwriting. Take to ‘Toca Alfredo Toca’ or ‘Charangueando’ to hear Alfredo’s violin solos placed centre stage, a unique dimension to Latin music which he helped to pioneer at the time.

Side two though is where things get interesting and unexpected. ‘Hot To Trot’ is a string-laden, Latin groover with a heavy dose of disco-funk and bubbling Brazilian percussion. It is sheer genius and still ignites a dancefloor to this day. The track became a favourite with the iconic New York DJ Larry Levan and was spun in one of the ground zero blueprints of modern clubbing, the Paradise Garage. This tune has been a mainstay amongst DJs ever since its release, has featured on compilations by Louie Vegas, Dave Lee and Danny Krivit over the years and is a record that never leaves our bag.

Other highlights include the cosmic, layered string, Latin jazz version of 'My Favourite Things' that opens into a psychedelic percussive jam and the mesmerising ‘Que Rico Bailo Yo’. Also be sure to check the epic closer 'Canto Del Corazon', which fuses avant-garde elements into a bass-gliding funk before morphing into a brilliant Latin final section.

This is a true masterpiece from the trailblazing “El violín de la salsa” and one that deserves a place in every collection.

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Following the success of ‘The Original Sound of Mali’ compilation, we return with another explorative delve into the wonders of Malian music compiled by French writer, journalist and Grammy-nominated compiler Florent Mazzoleni and Mr Bongo’s very own David Buttle. Restoring, reissuing and contextualising iconic tracks from Ousmane Kouyaté & Ambassadeurs Internationaux, Rail Band, Les Messagers du Mali, Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou and many more, the second compilation in this series dives ever further into the richness of post-independence music emanating out of Mali. One in which traditional foundations and instrumentation, blended with modern musical advances and influence.

Following Mali’s independence, after ten years of maturation, the 1970s saw modern Malian culture revealed to the world through musical anthologies and overviews of national and regional productions. It was a remarkably fertile period of the country’s musical history, with state-sponsored bands and orchestras now able to be documented and recorded by sound engineers.

Mali has always had a diverse storytelling tradition through music, with each province and ethnic group having its own unique character and nuances. As influences and sounds from the West drifted over the Atlantic, Malian musicians began hearing artists like John Lee Hooker, Wilson Pickett, Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz and James Brown. Elements and ideas from blues, soul, rock and funk led to bands covering artists they’d heard from these genres. The Tjiwara Band de Kati’s raw cover version of Pickett’s soul / R&B classic ‘In The Midnight Hour’ and the James Brown funk-channelling cut ‘Get Up James’ from Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako, are two such examples featured on this compilation.

Most bands also relied on playing in hotels in Mali’s capital, Bamako, which naturally became where they honed their sound. With guests wanting to hear the influence of foreign styles and modern instrumentation becoming more available, this fusion of Western ideas with traditional Malian rhythms and organic instruments led to a one-of-a-kind musical excellence.

The second volume in this series, captures the raw energy of Mali in this period, with a spread of sounds that radiated from Mali’s newly recorded musicians. The afrobeat rhythms of Ousmane Kouyaté and mesmerising Malian classic from Bouba and Sokona Sacko, sitting side by side with the swirling hypnotism of Tentemba Jazz du Mali and a ngoni-infused, percussive dancer from Allata Broulaye. Elsewhere, the deep African desert music of Mystère Jazz de Tombouctou rubs shoulders with the grandeur of the Rail Band, powered by Salif Keita’s iconic vocals.

Those are just a handful of the recordings highlighted on this compilation, which includes an extensive booklet looking at the history and relevance of the tracks written by Florent Mazzoleni. With so much enchanting, deep and mind-expanding music coming out of Mali in this period, ‘The Original Sound of Mali 2’ is a perfect aid to discovering the richness of music this country has to offer.

Vinyl LP housed in a gatefold sleeve with A5 booklet liner notes.

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A. Sonia Santos - Poema Ritmico Do Malandro (Balanço Do Crioulo) / B. / João Donato - Cala Boca Menino

Back in stock due to popular demand, the 23rd release in our signature Brazil 45’s series served up a double header of classics from Sonia Santos and João Donato.

First up, 'Poema Ritmico Do Malandro (Balanço Do Crioulo)' is a beautiful track from the instantly recognisable Sonia Santos. A song that drifts from classic to psychedelic samba, laden with strings, horns and crowd noise. First released on 7” by Copacabana in 1971, but never on an album, originals fetch up to £100 per copy. A different version of this song also appears on the truly excellent Zito Righi Alucinolandia LP.

On the B side, 'Cala Boca Menino' is taken from João Donato’s much sought after and requested Quem É Quem LP. Quirky percussion, bubbling keys, horns and a hypnotic vocal. Donato is a hugely prolific force in Brazilian music and worked with the likes of including Tom Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, Cal Tjader, Dom Um Romao and Gilberto Gil amongst others. ‘Cala Boca Menino’ was released on a 7” in 1973 in Brazil, but is very difficult to find at a reasonable price and in good condition these days.

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A. Georgette - Kiriê / B. Claudia - Com Mais De 30

Back in stock due to popular demand, the 26th release in our signature Brazil 45’s series. For this 7 inch, we shone the light on two Brazilian masterpieces from Georgette and Claudia that are firm favourites of some of the biggest DJs in the business, including Gilles Peterson, Four Tet and Floating Points.

'Kiriê' by Georgette is simply one of ‘those’ tracks. It gets better with every listen and you hear something different every time. Taken from the hard to obtain ‘A Moca do Mar’ LP on Tapecar in 1976, previously unavailable on 7”, you won’t forget this one in a hurry. Long championed by Gilles Peterson and co, the tight uplifting guitar changes, layered percussion and super-subtle strings radiate under Georgette’s vocal, backed by a chorus of male vocals.

The flip features one of Claudia’s best, ‘Com Mais de 30’ a cover of Marcos Valle and Paulo Sérgio Valle’s original version. Fuzz guitars, joyous piano, huge drums, percussion and Claudia’s soaring vocal make for a heavy yet uplifting MPB/funk track of the highest order. Originally released on her hard to find ‘Jesus Cristo’ LP on Odeon in 1971. Also featured on Four Tet and Floating Points iconic Plastic People closing party mix.

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A. Marcio Lott - Tema De Baby / B. Silvio Cesar - A Festa

Back in stock due to popular demand, the 33rd release in our signature Brazil 45’s series. A spellbinding pairing of Marcio Lott’s rarer than hen’s teeth, sun-soaked groover ‘Tema de Baby’ and the samba-rock fusion flavours of Silvio Cesar ‘A Festa’.

Marcio Lott’s ‘Tema de Baby’ is a REALLY rare one. We spent a long time trying to license this and were delighted to be able to release it as part of this series. Laid back sunshine samba-rock/funk/MPB, laced with Ramsey Lewis-esque piano and wah-wah guitars and lovely vocals top it off. Originally released on 7” by Tapecar in 1974.

Silvio Cesar’s ‘A Festa’ was brought to our attention - like many others in this series - by the almighty duo Brazilian Beats Brooklyn. A firm favourite here with everyone at Mr Bongo it’s a certified stormer from the opening beat. Jazzy, samba-rock fusion that touches on disco when the hi-hats open up. Floating synth lines, tough drums and crowd noise throughout add to the scintillating vibe. Taken from his LP ‘Som E Palavras’ released in 1977, as also featured on our Brazilian Beats Brooklyn compilation.

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the 12th release in our signature Brazil 45’s series saw a reissue of two certified classics from Brazil’s rich musical tapestry.

On the A side, Brazilian Samba luminary Elza Soares, covers Jorge Ben’s classic ‘Mas Que Nada’. Originally featured on her brilliant 1970 Sambas & Mais Sambas LP on Odeon, it’s tougher drums, punchy piano and Elza’s stunning vocal tones make this a perfect dancefloor heater. With over 34 albums to her name in a career that spanned 60 years, Elza is a certified legend of Brazilian music.

Little is known about the artist responsible for the B side track, Elizabeth. Nicknamed ‘Gatinha do Mato’ (loosely translated as ‘Jungle Cat’) she was involved in the Jovem Guarda movement that fused rock n roll and youth culture with Brazilian styles in the ‘60s.

‘Vou Falar-Lhe Francamente’ is a majestic, horn-infused number laced with emotion, that we originally found at one of our favourite, now defunct, spots ‘Tony’s Hits’ in Sao Paulo. The record was originally released on 7” on RGE in 1970.

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the 18th release in our signature Brazil 45’s series saw Elys Camargo’s ‘Taieiras’ and ‘Não Aguento Você’ by Trio Esperança issued for the first time on 7”.

First up, ‘Taieiras’ from Elys Camargo’s 1972 album Cantos Da Minha Gente on RCA. An infectious, folk-leaning, call and response number that transports you instantly to Brazil. Although Elys recorded 12 albums between 1960 and 1983, little is known about her. DJ Yoda sampled ‘Taieiras’ in his 2012 track ‘U No Likey Like That’ featuring Roots Manuva and Kid Creole & The Coconuts.

On the B side, ‘Não Aguento Você’ by Trio Esperança. A Rio vocal trio formed by siblings Mário, Regina and Evinha Correia José Maria (the latter of which recorded the stunning classic, ‘Esperar Pra Ver’), whose three older brothers we’re The Golden Boys.

‘Não Aguento Você’ is a sun-kissed, psychedelic stunner, taken from their self-titled 1971 album. The original line up recorded seven albums for Odeon Brazil between 1963 and 1975.

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the 19th release in our signature Brazil 45’s series shone a light on Wilson das Neves’ brilliant cover of Average White Band’s ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ and an all-time Mr Bongo Brazilian funk favourite in the form of Som Três – Tanga.

Wilson das Neves was a legendary Brazilian percussionist most well known for being part of Os Ipanemas. The A side of this 7” houses his cover of Average White Band’s ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ recorded with his ‘conjunto’ ensemble. It takes the track into funky samba territory, laden with percussion and horns. Originally released on the Som Quente É O Das Neves LP in 1969.

On the flip side, a Mr Bongo all-time Brazilian funk favourite. Blistering drums, feverish vocals and peaking piano packed into just over 2 minutes. Som Três were a trio formed by prolific pianist, arranger and producer Cesar Camargo Mariano. ‘Tanga’ originally appeared on the Um É Pouco, Dois É Bom, Este Som Três É Demais LP on Odeon Brazil in 1970.

Both of these Brazilian beauties were previously unreleased on 7”.

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Repress!

Brazil 45, number 15 - remastered with refreshed artwork.

A. Bossa Tres - Imprevisto / AA. Ana Rosely - Skim Dum Dum Dum

In Mr Bongo’s opinion, 'Imprevisto' is one of the most unmistakable Brazilian jazz records ever made. Dramatic intro and hypnotic piano line, decorated with panned percussion before the hats come in. Then the upright bass. A true classic.

Bossa Três formed in 1961 in Rio. They spent most of their early years touring jazz clubs in the USA, before the original line up and their pianist (and perhaps most well-known band member) Luis Carlos Vinhas, returned to Brazil. This is the final track on their Em Forma! LP from 1965, released on Forma. The original pressing of this Brazil 45 was the first time ‘Imprevisto’ had been released on a 7”.

We know very little about Ana Rosely. She released four 7” 2-track records between 1975 and 1984, the latter featuring the brilliant ‘Skim Dum Dum Dum’. The original version was released by RGE Discos in 1984, which came as a surprise to us given the sound. It is very difficult to find an original copy in good condition and they are, as ever, increasing in price.

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Tracklist:
A. Warm
B. If The Feeling Is Right

Press play on Beverley Skeete’s ’Warm' and a wave of evocative, vivid images of sultry, sun-kissed summer days will wash over you.

'Warm' is UK street-soul / electronic boogie at its finest. An infectious groove that features an amazing vocal performance invites you to fall in love. Beverley Skeete is an under-the-radar talent and you only need to dip into the sheer number of productions she has been involved with to see the pedigree of her artistry. It includes working with superstars such as Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, Bronski Beat, Elton John, Boy George, and Maxi Priest, to name just a few. She was also the vocalist for the 90s global house hit 'Passion' by Gat Decor. Beverley continues to work in music to this day and, in 2021, released her most recent album, 'Liberty’.

'Warm' was Beverly's third solo single for the fabled UK record label Elite. Released in 1985, it was produced by the stellar underground production team of A Sojka / de Jongh Production. This duo is better known as Andy Sojka (Atmosfear, 3rd Army, et al) and Richard de Jongh. Elite was set up by Sojka in 1979 and was a hotbed for underground UK talent that often became staples of the most discerning US dancefloors too. 'Warm' and the equally remarkable soulful-dancer 'If The Feeling Is Right' are lesser-known jams from the label’s catalogue, but they have rightfully been championed by the diggers and collectors, and what beauties they are!

Official Mr Bongo replica reissue of the original Elite release.

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the 41st release in our signature Brazil 45’s series. Turning the spotlight to two monster funk/bossa nova cuts from Rosa Maria, we reissued a double header of firm favourites here at Mr Bongo HQ. Originally released on 7” in 1972 via Tapecar, copies of the OG are extremely difficult to get your hands on.

The A side houses ‘Deixa Nao Deixa’, with its distinct afro-Latin feel courtesy of the guitar, horns and percussion. Add in the catchy lead vocal, strong harmonies, funk/bossa drum grooves, shuffling percussion and the continuous build to the end, and you have one of the greatest Brazilian funk records ever pressed.

‘Avenida Atlantica’ takes the B side. Funk and bossa drum grooves alternate underneath the layers of vocals, horns, piano and percussion for a fiery, energetic dancefloor heater.

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Brazil 45, number 21:

Azimuth - A Manha

Key track from their all-time classic self-titled 1975 LP on Som Livre. Lush percussion laden, rhodes driven jazz-fusion groover. The legendary trio are one of the most well-known and most loved Brazilian exports, still regularly touring, including dates worldwide. Most prolific during their time signed to Milestone, where they released 10 LP’s between 1979 and 1988.

Osmar Milito e Quarteto Forma - America Latina

‘America Latina’ is taken from the soundtrack to the Rede Globo soap opera "Selva De Pedra”, released on Som Livre in 1972. A cheerful, upbeat MPB song with a killer chorus drop. Milito began his career in 1964 artists as Nara Leão, Maria Bethania, Vinicius de Morais, Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben and Elis Regina amongst others. He worked in the USA with Chico Buarque and Sergio Mendes for several years in the 70’s, also appearing alongside artists including Liza Minelli, Mark Murphy, Spanky Wilson and Sammy Davis Jr. As sampled on Madvillain ft. M.E.D 'Raid', and featured in the Floating Points and Fourtet Plastic People mix!

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Sometimes the best things take time to come into fruition, and here we are, ready to finally unleash Brazil45 number 88 - the missing 7"! Featuring two Mr Bongo favourites that we have been longing to share with the world.

First up is a lesser-known Brazilian Boys track titled 'Super Herois’. This slightly trippy and quirky funk-rock groove is taken off an obscure 7" on CID records and was originally released in 1975. 'Super Herois' is super catchy, addictive and a guaranteed complete earworm. It’s a muti genre, crossover nugget that will branch scenes and tick all sorts of boxes.

On the flip is the driving, jazz-rock-samba dancefloor joint 'Tudo Ai’, a cut taken from Rubinho E Mauro Assumpção's highly sought after 1972 album 'Perfeitamente, Justamente Quando Cheguei’. Originally released on Tapecar Records, this short in stature track packs a real punch!

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A. Sonia Santos - Poema Ritmico Do Malandro (Balanço Do Crioulo) / B. / João Donato - Cala Boca Menino

Back in stock due to popular demand, the 23rd release in our signature Brazil 45’s series served up a double header of classics from Sonia Santos and João Donato.

First up, 'Poema Ritmico Do Malandro (Balanço Do Crioulo)' is a beautiful track from the instantly recognisable Sonia Santos. A song that drifts from classic to psychedelic samba, laden with strings, horns and crowd noise. First released on 7” by Copacabana in 1971, but never on an album, originals fetch up to £100 per copy. A different version of this song also appears on the truly excellent Zito Righi Alucinolandia LP.

On the B side, 'Cala Boca Menino' is taken from João Donato’s much sought after and requested Quem É Quem LP. Quirky percussion, bubbling keys, horns and a hypnotic vocal. Donato is a hugely prolific force in Brazilian music and worked with the likes of including Tom Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, Cal Tjader, Dom Um Romao and Gilberto Gil amongst others. ‘Cala Boca Menino’ was released on a 7” in 1973 in Brazil, but is very difficult to find at a reasonable price and in good condition these days.

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This is certainly both a mysterious one and an elusive one! Who were Grupo Natureza ?(Nature Group), and why is this release such a rarity?

'Pode Acreditar' was pressed on Som Livre Records in 1981 and it is believed very few copies were released into the commercial market. Those familiar with the productions of Lincoln Olivetti and Robson Jorge will no doubt recognise their hallmark sound here and that this single is 'probably' the work of the pair or one member at least. They were a regular in-house production team at Som Livre at the time, and there is a definite resemblance to Adriana's song 'Sei la Amor' from 1978 which Lincoln Olivetti was involved in.

Very little information is available about this release. A tantalising comment by Brazilian collector ‘bargainvinyl1’ on the original release’s Discogs page suggests 'Pode Acreditar' was a reaction to the Baby Consuelo and Pepeu Gomes pro-marijuana song 'O Mal é o Que Sai da Boca do Homem’, which caused controversy with Brazil's governing military dictatorship at the time. Though condemning marijuana's use, the word "baseado" (joint) is mentioned in the song, and this could be the reason behind the release being pulled by the heads of Som Livre and consequently it becoming one of the rarest releases on the label.

Whilst its back-story is not crystal clear, it is an undeniable sun-drenched, laid-back boogie groove with AOR touches by the clandestine group. Pure 80s Rio-vibes, super-catchy and an ear-worm that sticks with you throughout the day.

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the 19th release in our signature Brazil 45’s series shone a light on Wilson das Neves’ brilliant cover of Average White Band’s ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ and an all-time Mr Bongo Brazilian funk favourite in the form of Som Três – Tanga.

Wilson das Neves was a legendary Brazilian percussionist most well known for being part of Os Ipanemas. The A side of this 7” houses his cover of Average White Band’s ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ recorded with his ‘conjunto’ ensemble. It takes the track into funky samba territory, laden with percussion and horns. Originally released on the Som Quente É O Das Neves LP in 1969.

On the flip side, a Mr Bongo all-time Brazilian funk favourite. Blistering drums, feverish vocals and peaking piano packed into just over 2 minutes. Som Três were a trio formed by prolific pianist, arranger and producer Cesar Camargo Mariano. ‘Tanga’ originally appeared on the Um É Pouco, Dois É Bom, Este Som Três É Demais LP on Odeon Brazil in 1970.

Both of these Brazilian beauties were previously unreleased on 7”.

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Back in stock due to popular demand, the first ever release in our iconic Brazil 45's imprint!

Kicking off a series that has now clocked in over 100 releases, it all began with this stunning double header highlighting two essential Brazilian tracks from Claudia and Cizinha.

Claudia’s 'Deixa Eu Dizer' is an absolute must have Brazilian record. A timeless voice that lifts this beautiful MPB track to stratospheric heights. As sampled by Marcelo D2 on one of our favourite Brazilian hip hop records 'Desafabo', the track features on Claudia’s stunning album of the same name and had never been released on 7" until this point.

On the flip, a sun dappled, heartfelt and hard to come by track from Cizinha. Originally released on Rozenblit in 1968, it had been, and more importantly still is, a firm favourite of ours. Shimmering horns, deft flutes and a tight percussion section providing the perfect basis to this sweet samba groove.

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Brazil 45, number 83.

For number 83 in the Brazil 45 series, we pulled out a real treat. It features two tracks from Roberto De Melo Santos. Born in 1949 in Recife (Brazil), and despite a small discography, he is considered among the true icons of Brazilian soul music under his artist alias, Di Melo.

His self-titled debut album from 1975 has long been collectible for its irresistible Brazilian-funk sound, pleasing the Brazilian, B-Boy breaks, funk collectors, and sample hunters alike. With original copies for the album now fetching crazy sums, we felt these tracks needed another moment in the sun for all to enjoy.

For this release we selected two of our favourite cuts from this cult album, ‘Kilariô' and ‘Pernalonga'. Coincidentally these two gems were released on Odeon Records in 1975 as a rare promo campacto (a Brazilian 7", which plays at 33rpm). 'Kilariô' is a pure Brazilian-soul classic. All the right elements gel together, whilst Di Melo works his relaxed vocal magic over the top. ‘Pernalonga', with its catchy guitar and horns intro, loose break-beat drum, has the feel-good factor which some may recognize as one of the samples behind N.A.S.A featuring David Byrne, & Chali 2na's 'The People Tree' from 2009.

Di Melo is still recording to this day, releasing an album with Cotonete on Favorite Recordings in 2019 - a true don.

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Brazil 45, number 44 - remastered with refreshed artwork.

A. Jorge Ben - Xica da Silva / AA. Myriam Makeba - Xica da Silva

Two classic cuts from Jorge Ben and Miriam Makeba take either side of this Mr Bongo Brazil 45 reissue.

’Xica Da Silva’ is one of Jorge Ben’s most well-known and well-loved cuts, housed on the legendary Africa Brazil LP that deserves a place in every collection. A magical MPB cut, it instantly transports you to the shores of Rio de Janeiro. With a low-slung funky samba flavour, Ben’s absorbing vocal recounts the legend of one of Brazil's oldest black icons.

On the flip side, Miriam Makeba serves up an entrancing, slowed-down, grooved-out version of ‘Xica da Silva’. A highly influential singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist from South Africa, this low and slow interpretation is doused in strutting guitar, off-beat piano stabs and hypnotic drums providing the perfect platform to let Miriam’s vocal shine through.

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Brazil 45, number 22 - remastered with refreshed artwork

A: Rita Lee & Tutti Frutti - Agora É Moda / AA: Pete Dunaway - Supermarket

Mr Bongo’s Brazil 45’s series serves up another pair of Brazilian classics in the form of Rita Lee & Tutti Frutti ‘Agora É Moda’ and Pete Dunaway ‘Supermarket’.

'Agora É Moda' is a psychedelic, disco-boogie-groove monster brought to our attention by Greg Caz and Sean Marquand aka Brazilian Beats Brooklyn. Originally released on Rita Lee’s 1978 album Babilônia LP on Som Livre, this sublime track is drenched in squelching guitar licks, funk drums and sensuous cosmic vocal flavours.

Lee was the lead singer of Brazilian psychedelic rock band Os Mutantes and a hugely important figure in the Tropicalia movement. She sadly passed away in 2023 but her legacy well and truly lives on, loved both in and out of the music world.

On the flip side, Pete Dunaway’s ‘Supermarket’ is a rare groove/AOR masterpiece with a killer bassline, swaggering guitar and luscious string section layered with a perfectly delivered English vocal.

Pete Dunaway, real name Otavio Cardosa was a singer, composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist from Sao Paulo, who spent the majority of his time composing for TV themes and library instrumentals.

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