AO VIVO NO MARACANAZINHO

For some time I was wondering if it was better to review the third album or this one. By the time this show took place in Maracanazinho, people already knew SECOS & MOLHADOS for several reasons: 1 - the first album had conquered the top of the sales charts, removing ROBERTO CARLOS' place for the first time in ten years! 2 - the then program's prime-time, "Fantástico", had already shown some music videos of them. 3 - the radios, who refused to choose one or another song from the LP, resolved to play in their seasons the entire LP at once. In 1973-1974, SECOS & MOLHADOS were that big. Intense tours in Brazil followed, always selling out. For the show in Maracanazinho it was decided to open the gates. What happened was the full capacity of the then largest venue in Brazil, together with an equally gigantic gathering outside the venue. Approximately 30 thousand people inside and 90 thousand outside (I have some difficulty to believe these numbers, but that's what I found on the internet!).This live album of the classic line up was released by GERSON CONRAD only in 1980 (but apparently some material were released in a compilation, I have to check), and appearently JOÃO RICARDO did not want to see the Maracanazinho tapes released because of the lack of quality. The album is, truly, in several parts, bad recorded. Not only several parts of its lenght the sound strugles to find a way, as in others we can barely hear all the instruments. The incredible flute of SERGIO ROSADAS is, sadly, one of the most affected. As sad as it is: what an album!

To begin with "As Andorinhas" was such an correct choise that this song, full of "closure" meanings, actually found itself to be the starter of the whole experiment. "Rosa de Hiroshima", one of the most waited, for the anti-war message, is (always) one of the most touchable songs. The two Instrumentals tracks are unbelievable PROGRESSIVE tracks. Its exaclty everything that was not developed into the albums (maybe to highlight compositions, and not extended playings), but live has an great spirit. "Mulher Barriguda" and "Primavera Nos Dentes" so different tracks putted side by side gave a good mood set up for the two other different moods that follows the "El Rey" and "Toada & Rock & Tambo & Tango". "Fala" received a more raw approach by NEY MATOGROSSO' vocals and then... it came the highlight: "Assim Assado" is not only a suberb track itself, but, in the way it is played, with its long meddle, it became a progressive masterpiece. I'am exagerating? I dont think so. As I said, sadly, the recording is really really bad, and the final track, to blow everyone's mind, "O Vira", its almost impossible to hear in this album.

The choise of reviewing first this album than the third studio release was also made because this will be the last 5 stars I give to a release of SECOS & MOLHADOS. Even that good music will be produced in the more recent years, their bang was, of course, this live concert. And thats the main reason I gave 5 stars: its an essential album to understand the live appealing to such an unique group in brazilian musical history. The sound is sometimes too injured, I know. But then you do have to understand that Brazil did not have a good structure (at all!). To have a full live recording of 1974 is almost a miracle. And a document for this period.