1974 Brazilian Hit Parade

By Christmas 1973, I had settled into a routine that made me less unhappy about the 'new' Brazil I encountered since I'd returned from the USA. I started teaching English-as-a-foreign language at Escolas Fisk at evenings at Vila Mariana - from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm and on Saturday mornings from 9:00 am to Noon at Avenida Dom Pedro I, in Ipiranga. 

Around April 1974, while Kuwenderson Walck, a Bahiano young man I had met in Newark in 1971-1972, was visiting São Paulo, I went down to the offices of daily newspaper 'O Estado de S.Paulo' to apply for a job as a typist clerk. Kuwenderson had just returned from Chile where he was living when there was a coup d'etait against Salvador Allende's government. 

I was eventually hired by the newspaper and started working from 8:00 am through 5:30 pm at a classified-ads stand the newspaper had inside supermarket Pão de Açucar's Jumbo unit at Aeroporto, a middle class suburb that takes its name from Congonhas Airport. 

Jumbo-Aeroporto, on Avenida Washington Luiz, past Congonhas Airport, was the biggest super-market in São Paulo circa 1974. As one can see VW beetles were Brazilians' car of choice actually the least expensive.

There was a huge parking lot in front of Pão de Açucar's Jumbo super-market. 

Here's another shot from the parking lot in front of Jumbo Aeroporto. 

On the morning of 1st February 1974, a Friday, I was walking Viaduto 9 de Julho on my way to Praça da República when I noticed there were flames coming out of Edifício Joelma, a high rise on Praça da Bandeira. It was about 9:00 am. The fire had started 15 minutes earlier and I could see flames and firemen on the ground. I looked at it but didn't think it would grow higher than that and kept on walking. Little did I know Joelma's would be the greatest fire in Brazil's history. I'm glad I didn't stay for there were tragic scenes on that day...  

Due to my frustration with Brazilian radio and Brazilian Hit Parade I tried to do something new. I started tuning to Brazilian country music programmes on the radio. It is called 'musica caipira' (hillbilly music) or 'musica sertaneja' (music from the outback/hinterlands). 

These radio shows were on air either very early in the morning - before 7:00 am - or after 8:00 pm. I sort of liked their down-to-earth approach to things even though the music was not fantastic. Little by little I started getting familiar with the tunes and getting to like them. 

By the end of 1974 I was familiar enough with a lot of country hits and here's a list of the most popular then.

Luiz Carlos Parana's plaintive 'Flor do cafezal', released in 1971, sung by Castatinha & Inhana, a powerful duo who kept on making hits since 1951;  'Tchau amor' was such a hit that became Zé Bettio's radio show signing-off tune. Cascatinha née Francisco dos Santos (*20 April 1919, in Araraquara-SP +14 March 1996) & Inhana née Ana Eufrosina da Silva (*28 March 1923, in Araras-SP +11 June 1981).

1 9 7 4

1.  Tchau amor (Praense-Ado-Peão Carreiro) - Zé Tapera & Teodoro (1973)
2.  Caminheiro (Anair Branco de Castro aka Jack) - Liu & Leu (1974)
3.  Vou tomá um pingão Leo Canhoto) - Tião Carreiro & Pardinho (Viola cabocla) (1973)
4.  Flor do cafezal (Luiz Carlos Paraná) - Cascatinha & Inhana (1971)
5.  A gaivota (L.Canhoto) - Leo Canhoto & Robertinho (1972)

6.  Boia fria (Jacózinho-Moacyr dos Santos) - Jacó & Jacózinho (1973)
7.  Menino da porteira (Teddy Vieira-Luiz Raymundo) - Tião Carreiro & Pardinho (1973)
8.  Pombinha mensageira (Belmonte-Junqueira) - Belmonte & Amaraí  (1967)

Tião Carreiro & Pardinho, the most successful duo in Brazilian country-music in the 1970s; 'Viola Cabocla' is their 1973 album featuring 'Menino da porteira' & 'Vou tomá um pingão'. Tião Carrero née José Dias Nunes (*13 December 1934, in Monte Azul-MG +15 October 1993) & Pardinho née Antonio Henrique de Lima (*14 August 1932, in São Carlos-SP +2nd June 2001).

Brothers Liu & Leu's 'Caminheiro', released in 1974, became an instant hit and today is an evergreen. Its poignant lyrics dealt with the situation of a country young man who lives in the city and is sending a message to his old mother who's stayed back in the country; Liu & Leu were brothers: Liu née Lincoln Paulino da Costa (*7 August 1934, in Itajobí-SP +5 August 2012) & Leu née Walter Paulino da Costa (2nd April 1937, in Itajobí-SP +16 May 2019). Jacó & Jacozinho - 1974

Radio shows I listened to in 1973, 1974 & 1975

São Paulo's Radio Record had the best country-music programmes during the 1970s. At day time it was a regular pop-music radio-station but it had a complete change-over after 8:00 pm. I became a regular Radio Record listener while I did push-ups and worked out.

The Brazilian government has a monopoly on radio stations's waves from 7:00 to 8:00 pm when they broadcast 'A Voz do Brasil' (Brazil's Voice) a one-hour news-programme about the day's official functions at National Congress and other government business. Commercial broadcasting comes back at 8:00 pm.

'Programa Zé Bettio' on Radio Record.  Zé Bettio,  an accordion player turned into a DJ who had two radio shows; one from 5:00 to 7:00 am, and the other in the aftertoon from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

'Linha Sertaneja Classe A', a two-hour country-music show compered by José Russo came on at 8:00 pm soon after 'A Voz do Brasil'. Sometimes they had live music performed by duos or trios. Sometimes they had commedy skits and a lot of non-sense talk. Those programmes were fun and it was a way for performers to advertise their next gigs around the country. 

1 9 7 4

JANUARY  5,  1974

1.  48 Crash  -  Suzy Quatro
2.  Tu nella mia vita  -  Wes & Dori Gezzi ('Os ossos do barão')
3.  Mind games  -  John Lennon
4.  Proposta  -  Roberto Carlos
5.  Angie - Rolling Stones

6.  My mistake - Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye (Motown-Tapecar)
7.  Photograph  -  Ringo Starr
8.  Midnight train to Georgia  -  Gladys Knight & the Pips
9.  Let's get it on  -  Marvin Gaye
10.  

FEBRUARY  9,  1974

1.  Manhãs de Setembro - Vanusa
2.  No more troubles  -  Shariff Dean
3.  Camisa 10  -  Luiz Américo
4.  Canção para Juliana  -  Mathuzalem ('Os Inocentes' 5 Feb 1974 to 7 Sep 1974)
5.  Minhas qualidades, meus defeitos  -  Paulo Sergio

6.  Pé no caminho  -  Daniel (Philips)
7.  Sweet painted lady  -  Elton John
8.  Porque te amo (Perchè ti amo) - Celso Ricardi (TV Tupi`s 'Os Inocentes')
9. (Quanta saudade eu sinto de você) Minha namorada - Wanderley Cardoso
10. 

M A R C H  16,  1974

1. Me and you  -  Dave MacLean 
2.  Goodbye yellow brick road  -  Elton John
3.  Palavras  -  Roberto Carlos

4.  I'm falling in love with you  -  Little Anthony & the Imperials
5.  Roy Rodgers  -  Elton John

6.  Some day, somewhere - Demis Roussos

7.  O mundo melhor de Pixinguinha  -  Jair Rodrigues
8.  Oh my my - Ringo Starr (Apple)

9.

10.

Os Originais do Samba

A P R I L  27,  1974

1.  Us and them  -  Pink Floyd (EMI)
2.  Jo Jo Bengy  -  Alfie Khan (Young) 
3.  Stop, look, listen to your heart - Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye (Motown-Tapecar)

4.  É preciso cantar - Originais do Samba (RCA)

5.  Chacrilongo (Chato, Cri-cri, pernilongo) -  Ponto & Vírgula (RGE)

6.  Love's theme  -  Barry White & the Love Unlimited Orchestra (20th Century) 

7.  O mensageiro  -  Waldick Soriano (RCA)

8.  Love's in motion  -  Stories (TV Tupi's 'Os inocentes' (5 Feb 1974 to 7 Sep 1974)

9.

10. 

M A Y  18,  1974

1.  Gostava tanto de você - Tim Maia (Polydor)

2.. Rotina  -  Roberto Carlos (CBS)
3.  Thanks for saving my life  -  Billy Paul (Epic) 

4.  Fallin' in love with baby - Sweet Harry (Young)
5.  Cadê você? - Odair José (Polydor)

6.  Looking for a love  -  Bobby Womack (UA)

7.  Se você soubesse  -  Renato & seus Blue Caps (CBS)

8.  Se eu pudesse - Lindomar Castilho (RCA) 
9.  Salve, linda canção sem esperança - Luiz Melodia (Philips)

10. Only you - Ringo Starr (Apple) 

J U N E  2,  1974

1.  You make me feel brand new  -  Stylistics
2.  Felicidade foi embora  -  Caetano Veloso (Philips)
3.  Sempre lhe direi (Lady lay) -  Wanderley Cardoso (Copacabana)
4.  Você é doida demais  -  Lindomar Castilho (RCA)
5.  The sound of Philadelphia  -  MFSB (Epic)

6.  You are everything  -  Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye
7.  Você não merecia  -  Renato & seus Blue Caps (CBS)
8.  I won't last a day without you  -  Carpenters (A&M-Odeon)

9.  Band on the run  -  Paul McCartney & Wings (Apple-Odeon)

10. Hooked on a feeling - Blue Suede (EMI)

J U L Y  14,  1974

1.  Como se fosse meu irmão - Lilian (CBS)
2.  Na rua, na chuva, na fazenda  -  Hyldon (Polydor)
3.  The show must go on  -  Three Dog Night (Dunhill-Odeon)
4.  Chanson d' Anna (instrumental)  -  Herb Ohta & André Popp (A&M-Odeon)
5.  Rhapsody in white  -  Barry White ('Fogo sobre terra' 8 May '74 to 7 Jan '75)

6.  No silêncio da madrugada  -  Luiz Ayrão (Odeon)

7.  The ballad of Danny Bailey  -  Elton John
8.  Teimosa - Antonio Carlos & Jocafi (RCA) 
9.  After the gold rush  -  Prelude (Islands) 

10. Saudades e flores - Os Originais do Samba (RCA) 

AUGUST  4,  1974

1.  Gita  -  Raul Seixas
2.  Conto de areia  -  Clara Nunes (Odeon)
3.  1.800 colinas  -  Beth Carvalho (Tapecar)
4.  Noi due per sempre  -  Wess & Dori Gezzi (Durium-Young-RGE)
5.  Cadê você?  -  Odair José (Polydor)

6.  Sugar baby love  -  The Rubettes (Polydor)
7.  Benny and the Jets  -  Elton John (MCA-Young)
8.  Oh very young - Cat Stevens (Island) 
9.  Nervos de aço  -  Paulinho da Viola (Odeon)

10. I haven't got time for the pain - Carly Simon (Elektra)

SEPTEMBER  7,  1974

1.  Lady it's time to go  -  Stu Nunnery
2.  O boi vai atrás  -  João da Praia (Beverly)
3.  Rio de lágrima  -  Sergio Reis (RCA)
4.  Don't let me down  -  The Hollies (Polydor)
5.  Rock your baby  -  George McCrae

6.  She  -  Charles Aznavour
7.  See me, feel me  -  Anarchic System
8.  Folia de Rei  -  Baiano & os Novos Caetanos
9.  Flores astrais  -  Secos & Molhados (Continental) 
10.  De amor eu morrerei  -  Gal Costa (Philips)

OCTOBER 12,  1974

1.  Por que chora a tarde? - Antonio Marcos (RCA) 
2.  Fim de noivado  -  Claudio Roberto (CBS)
3.  A noite mais linda do mundo (Felicidade)  - Odair José (Polydor)
4.  Cada dia que passa (eu te amo mais)  -  Luiz Carlos Clay (Copacabana)
5.  Rock the boat  -  Hues Corporation (RCA)

6.  Tears  -  Chrystian
7.  Tá todo mundo louco  -  Silvio Brito (Chantecler)
8.  (Somos todos meio) Animais irracionais - Dom & Ravel (Beverly)
9.  Não são só palavras lindas  -  Heleno (RCA)
10. Annie's song - John Denver (RCA) 

NOVEMBER  2,  1974

1.  Excuse me  -  Junior (RCA)
2.  João de Barro  -  Sergio Reis (RCA)
3.  Vai doer  -  Nazareno & Pena Branca (RGE)
4.  Dois p'ra lá, dois p'ra cá  -  Elis Regina (Philips)
5.  Menina faceira  -  Roberto Leal (RGE)

6.  We can make it happen again  -  Stylistics (Avco)
7.  Sweet painted lady - Elton John (MCA-Young-RGE)
8.  Abre alas - Ivan Lins (Philips)
9.  Arrasta a sandália - Trio Esperança (Odeon)
10. Toró de lágrimas - Antonio Carlos & Jocafi (RCA)

DECEMBER  14,  1974

1.  Moro onde não mora ninguém  -  Agepê 
2.  Feelings  -  Morris Albert (Charger-Records-Copacabana)

3.  Sou uma criança não entendo nada - Erasmo Carlos (Polydor)

4.  Flores mortas  -  Leno (CBS)

5.  Tu sei cosi  -  Fred Bongusto (Ri-Fi) 

6.  Let's put it all together  -  Stylistics (Avco)

7.  Sideshow  -  Blue Magic

8.  Tragédia no fundo do mar  -  Originais do Samba (RCA)

9.  Rockin' soul  -  The Hues Corporation

10. Coco, só coco - Medida Certa (Cid)

Antonio Marcos's 'Cicatrizes' (Scars) released in August 1974 yielded two hits: 'Por que chora a tarde?' and 'Pensando bem'.