"This was Sergio's second release for Bell Records after leaving his long-time label A&M. The first Bell album, "Love Music," was all American pop with very little Brasilian influence, other than Sergio's always outstanding rhythm section, and many long-time Mendes fans found it less than stellar for that very reason. "Vintage '74" finds Sergio reclaiming his Brasilian heritage with two "new" (for 1974) Jobim tunes, as well as a cover of "Voce Abusou," which had recently been a big hit in his native Brasil. But Sergio also points the way to his coming Elektra years with his new partnership with Stevie Wonder, whose "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" and "If You Really Love Me" Sergio completely rethinks, and wonderfully so. Some find Sergio's "rethinking" of Stevie's "Superstition" less satisfactory, but I've always loved its over-the-top disco-fied arrangement, which hearkens back a little to "Crystal Illusions" from the classic Brasil '66 years.
For those who love the Brasil '66 years, this is probably the closest you're going to get from Sergio's early to mid-70s output, at least until the Elektra "Homecooking" release, also available on import CD."
Heavenly voices of Bonnie Bowden and Gracinha Leporace
Pat Nava | San Francisco, CA | 07/24/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Another great offering from Sergio Mendes. The band is really swinging on tunes like the upbeat "Funny You Should Say That" (fantastic guitar work and great horn arrangement). Stevie Wonder's "If You Really Love Me" (angelic harmonies from the two beauties - Bonnie and Gracinha. Plus wonderful flute, alto sax and string voicings) "This Masquerade" featuring Bonnie Bowden's soft, sexy voice, "Voce Abousou" (the whole gang). "Waiting For Love" is surprising beautiful. What a great album that I remember from the 70's; along with the albums "LOVE MUSIC" and "HOME COOKING." What a treasure that Brasil has given us in Sergios Mendes and all his bands, through the years."
It's a classic!
Luis Ramirez Ruiz | QUERETARO, QUERETARO Mexico | 01/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD reveals the spirit and music of Sergio Mendes. It's fantastic and awesome!"
A classic bossa nova jewel
S. Villar | California | 02/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A classic album for this bossa nova group. The enhanced digital audio does a fine job of presenting the original recordings"
Excellent remastered CD
Wolf | United States | 05/16/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I own the original LP and wore it out in the seventies. For me it was the quintessential Sergio Mendes album. I tried to convert the tracks to mp3 files with all kinds of technical tricks and software only to find this remastered CD later. There's no comparison and this CD should be part of any Brasil 66 and 77 fan's collection. The good news: It's no longer a collector's item with a ridiculous price."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
