In episode #90, we explored one of the most revered albums in Brazilian music history. Recorded live between January 3rd and 6th, 1966, Os Afro-Sambas has endured decades of change and upheaval in Brazil’s musical landscape. The unlikely duo behind it—Baden Powell, a 24-year-old virtuoso guitarist of poor Afro-Brazilian origins, and Vinícius de Moraes, 51, celebrated white-diplomat songwriter of Garota de Ipanema and Chega de Saudade—first met in a Rio nightclub in 1961. Widely regarded as the first album to fuse bossa nova’s signature instruments—guitar, bass, flute—with Afro-religious rhythms, Os Afro-Sambas was born after Baden traveled to Bahia to conduct extensive research in candomblé temples.

Recorded in a basement studio in downtown Rio during a torrential rainstorm, the sessions help explain why Vinícius’ vocals sometimes sound notably nasal. Or, according to various legends, perhaps because they reportedly went through more than 2,300 bottles of whisky over those four days of recording. In this episode, we took a deep dive into the album’s history, analyzing its lyrics, music, and the context of its creation, including audio excerpts from interviews and documentaries.

Among the videos I have shared in this episode:

• Baden Powell plays on the TV show Ensaio - TV Cultura (1967)

• Baden Powell plays "Tempo de Amor" for Saravah documentary

• Baden & Vinícius play Berimbau/Canto de Ossanha (1979)

Follow our updated playlist on Spotify: "⁠Soundtrack: Brazuca Sounds⁠". Every song we've ever playedon the show!