Bebeto "Esperancas Mil" (Copacabana, 1977)
Following solidly in the footsteps of samba-funk master Jorge Ben, samba soulster Bebeto was a major fixture in the Rio party scene of the 1970s and '80s. Most of his early albums are out of print, but I'm sure time will solve that problem... In the meanwhile, trying to track these discs down will keep all the kooky collectors busy...

Bebeto "Cheio De Razao" (Beverley, 1978)
Mellow, slightly disco-y samba-funk, very much in the mould set by Jorge Ben. This doesn't have the same dazzling punchiness as Ben's best work, but it also doesn't have the same rough spots and frenetic excesses as contemporary albums by the likes of Tim Maia, Cassiano, et al. It's poppy and light, easily accessible, but also quite nice. Recommended! (Reissued on CD along with Massagem, below.)

Bebeto "Malicia" (1980)

Bebeto "Massagem" (Copacabana, 1981)
More nice stuff from this mellow-sounding samba-funk star. Uncomplicated, and easy on the ears. Worth checking out!

Bebeto "Batalha Maravilhosa" (1981)

Bebeto "Guerreiro" (1982)

Bebeto "Simplesmente" (RCA, 1983)

Bebeto "Magicamente" (RCA, 1984)

Bebeto "Fases" (RCA, 1985)

Bebeto "Vem Me Amar" (Polygram, 1986)

Bebeto "Sorte" (Copacabana, 1989)

Bebeto "Bebeto 20" (Copacabana, 1991)

Bebeto "Bebeto" (RGE, 1992)

Bebeto "Garra, Sangue E Raca" (1995)

Bebeto "Ao Vivo" (MZA, 2000)

Bebeto "Swinga Brasil" (Abril, 2001)

Bebeto "Novo Millennium" (Dubas, 2005)
A 20-song set with some new songs, and oldies re-recorded in live concerts

Bebeto "Serie Raizes Do Samba" (EMI, 1999)

Bebeto "Serie Sem Limite" (Universal, 2002)

Bebeto "E Sou O Samba" (EMI, 2005)
Another best-of set...

Bebeto "Bebeto" (Whatmusic, 2005)
A lost album from Adalberto Castilho, aka Bebeto, the bassist for the bossa-jazz band, Tamba Trio. (Not to be confused with the samba-funk singer-songwriter, whose records are listed above...) See also: Tamba Trio, Luiz Eca.

Belchior "Belchior" (Chantacler, 1974)

Belchior "Alucinacao" (Philips, 1976)
An iffy effort by one of the early pioneers of Northeastern rock music... At heart this is pretty tame stuff, and his nasal vocals are... well... different. The most interesting aspects are some '70s folk rock/country touches (subtle pedal steel, some acoustic guitar), a dash of forro... and baiao... But mostly this is not mind-blowing. It sounds kinda like a Brazilian tribute to "Yellow Submarine" -- the song, not the album. Still, this guy was important to the development of a homegrown rock scene... Or so I'm told...

Belchior "Coracao Selvagem" (Warner, 1977)

Belchior "Todos Os Sentidos" (Warner, 1978)

Belchior "Era Uma Vez Um Homem E O Seu Tempo" (Warner, 1979)

Belchior "Objeto Direto" (Warner, 1980)

Belchior "Paraiso" (WEA-Elektra, 1982)

Belchior "Cenas Do Proximo Capitulo" (Paraiso, 1984)

Belchior "Um Show: 10 Anos Do Sucessos" (Continental, 1986)

Belchior "Auto-Retrato" (BMG, 2005)

Belchior "Musica! O Melhor Da Musica De..." (Warner, 1998)
This CD best-of provides a slightly fuller picture of Belchoir's sound, spanning from 1976-81. Includes a couple of songs from the Alucinacao album, and about a dozen others. Acoustic-ish pop with tinkly keyboards, the sort of style that in the States is usually reserved for Christian evangelical singers. Doesn't do much for me.

Belchior "Serie Warner Arquivo: 25 Anos" (WEA, 2001)
I haven't heard this disc yet, but it seems to have a lot of overlap with the Musica collection above... This series, Warner Arquivo has some very strong, unusual albums, so it may be worth it if you want to check out Belchior's early work.

Jorge Ben / Jorge Benjor - see artist discography

Norma Benguell "Ooooooh! Norma" (Odeon, 1959)
I was actually surprised by how enjoyable this album was, given its obvious kitsch trappings... Brazilian bombshell Norma Benguell was apparently a Brazilian Marilyn Monroe knock-off, with piled, blonde-ish hair, a breathy voice and legs up to here. Bridgette Bardot might be an appropriate reference point, too, as this disc also has a bit of the French chanson-style vocal style as well (she doesn't sing in French, though, it's just that the vibe is similar...) According to writer Ruy Castro, in his excellent book, Bossa Nova, Benguell's suggestive look prompted a boycott by the Catholic Church, which of course made her a celebrity at the time... This was also significant because this disc has some of the earliest cover versions of early bossa nova tunes by Joao Gilberto and Tom Jobim, and the ensuing scandal helped boost their visibility as well. The arrangements, by the ubiquitous Maestro Gaya, are actually pretty good, certainly not cheesy, and Benguell is adequate as a "girl" vocalist. It's definitely very campy when she sings a few American standards in English ("That Old Black Magic," "Sunny Side Of The Street," etc.) but then again, this is the sort of thing that the loungecore crowd lives and dies for. If you're drawn to that sort of thing, this disc is definitely worth tracking down. Also includes a couple of early Jobim songs.

Bet.e & Stef "Jazz / Bossa Nova" (Bet.e & Stef Records, 1998)
Bet.e & Stef "Day By Day" (Bet.e & Stef/Universal, 2002)
This Canadian duo from Montreal mixes a love of Brazilian bossa nova standards with a more modern taste for soul stylings and jazzy vocals -- a perfect mix for the acid jazz/club kid crowd. On these two self-released records, Bet.e & Stef's Brazilianness really gels by the second album, where a more subtle touch, and a firmer sense of their production style comes to the fore. Overall, their soul jazz tendencies isn't really my cup of tea, but the acoustic bossa material can be quite lovely. For the right listener, these Quebecois crooners might be the perfect package! (Info on their label and live schedule can be found on the band's website.)

Bet.e & Stef "Wish You Well" (EMI-Toshiba, 2004)

Maria Bethania - see artist discography

Betinho "Serie Bis: Jovem Guarda" (EMI, 2000)
Although he was one of the earliest Brazilian jovem guarda rockers (with one song, "Enrolando O Rock," apparently dating back to 1954), Betinho was hardly one of the most vigorous artists working in the style... His approach was pretty strictly novelty-oriented, with songs filled with sound effects like roosters crowing, etc., and it didn't take long for Betinho to abandon backbeats altogether... Most of the material in this too-generous 2-CD set is actually soft pop vocals or novelty/lounge instrumentals... A few moments of fun, but overall pretty marginal.

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