Although singer Maria Creuza was pretty much of an MPB second-stringer, some of her early albums were pretty nice. She's not the most dynamic or charismatic vocalist, and her arrangements were often pretty mushy, but there's still some pleasant stuff worth checking out. Besides, I've only heard a few of her albums, so this is a page that will doubtless deserve some updating as time goes by...
Maria Creuza/Vinicius De Moraes/Toquinho "La Fusa" (Odeon, 1970)
A bossa nova classic, featuring Creuza along with the newly-formed partnership of poet/composer Vinicius De Moraes and his partner, acoustic guitarist Toquinho. Apparently the album was named after an Argentine nightclub where Vinicius met the already-formed duo of Toquinho and Creuza... Filled with bossa standards and a few new tropicalia tunes, this is a lovely record, and certainly one of Creuza's best efforts. Oddly enough, the album was later re-recorded with MPB diva Maria Bethania taking Creuza's place as the pair's diva-muse. Nice stuff -- highly recommended!
Vinicius De Moraes/Maria Creuza/Toquinho "Vinicius De Moraes Grabado En Buenos Aires" (Eldorado)
The same material, issued under a different title...
Vinicius De Moraes/Maria Creuza/Toquinho "Live In Buenos Aires" (Circular Moves, 2002)
The same classic, early '70s collaborations of the time of the "La Fusa" show, with all three artists performing at their peak. Creuza, who later became pretty chesesy and commercialized, is wonderful to hear on these early performances. This US reissue has great sound quality, and it definitely worth tracking down!
Vinicius De Moraes/Maria Creuza/Toquinho "O Bem Amado" (Soundtrack) (Som Livre, 1973)
Soundtrack album from a popular '70s soap opera on TV Globo.
Maria Crueza "Yo...Maria Creuza" (RCA, 1971)
This elegant, but florid, set of bossa-cum-pop vocals firmly established Crueza as a compelling second-stringer. The material is mainly Brazilian standards -- "Mais Que Nada," "Dindi," and several other Jobim tunes, delivered in honeyed tones, over syrupy string arrangements. This description ay sound harsher than I mean it to... this is a pretty solid record, but it is also very cheesy. (Reissued on CD as "Grabado En Buenos Aires")
Maria Creuza "De Onde Vens" (RGE, 1972)
Maria Creuza "Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar" (RGE, 1972)
Maria Creuza "Eu Disse Adeus" (RCA, 1973)
Broader song list... (Jocafi, etc.) including one long medley track.
Maria Creuza "Sessao Nostalgia" (RCA, 1974)
Maria Creuza "...E Os Grandes Mestres Do Samba" (RCA, 1975)
Solid old-school song selection, including several songs by Cartola, Elton Medeiros.
Maria Creuza "Meia Noite" (RCA, 1976)
This opens with several lovely, elegant tracks, then slows down a bit into a thicker, slushier poppish material. All in all, though, this is one of her stronger early albums, a fine mix of rich '70s-style bossa/MPB, along with boleros and jazz-flavored soft pop. Definitely worth checking out. Creuza's vocals are at their warmest and most confident on many of these tracks.
Maria Creuza "Doce Venero" (RCA, 1978)
Keeping pace with Maria Bethania's torch singing, Crueza slows the pace a bit, for this fairly classy, low-key set of ballads. An interesting mix of fusion-era modernity and whispery-voiced bossa restraint. Not a lot of variety of tone, but it's a solid album -- the only record of hers I've ever heard that I sort of liked.
Maria Creuza "Maria Crueza" (RCA, 1979)
In my early explorations of Creuza's work, I encountered many of her albums that I simply saw no reason for me to hang onto. This one seems typical: slushy, slow pop balladry. I'm not particularly fond of her voice, either, although it isn't overtly objectionable. I find her to be a mediocre artist; you might be more charitable.
Maria Creuza "Pecado" (RCA, 1979)
Maria Creuza "Poetico" (RCA, 1982)
Maria Creuza "Paixao Acesa" (Arca Som, 1985)
Maria Creuza "Pura Magica" (Arca Som, 1987)
Maria Creuza "Da Cor Do Pecado" (Som Livre, 1988)
Maria Creuza "Todo Sentimento" (Som Livre, 1991)
Maria Creuza "Voce Abusou" (1997)
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Maria Creuza "La Mitad Do Mundo"
Maria Creuza "Com Azucar E Com Afeto"
Maria Creuza "Convite Para Ouvir" (1992)
Maria Creuza "Felicidad" (1994)
Maria Creuza/Vinicius De Moraes/Toquinho "Grabado En Buenos Aires" (El Dorado, 2000)
Maria Creuza "Ao Vivo" (Albatroz, 2004)
Maria Creuza "Canta Vinicius De Moraes" (Iris, 2005)
Not sure of the vintage of these recordings...
Maria Creuza " E Melhor Ser Alegre Que Ser Triste: Maria Creuza Interpreta Baden Powell" (Biscoito Fino, 2007)
Maria Creuza "O Melhor De..." (BMG, 1997)
Maria Creuza "Focus: O Essential De Maria Creuza" (BMG, 1999)
Maria Creuza "Perolas" (Som Livre, 2000)
Maria Creuza "2-Em-1" (BMG, 2000)
A straight reissue of her first and last albums for the RCA label, 1973's Eu Disse Adeus and Poetico, from 1982.
Maria Creuza "O Talento De Maria Creuza"
