Elis Elis Regina

Elis Regina was one of the most ferociously talented singers to emerge from Brazil. A perfectionist who was frequently dissatisfied, Regina drove herself and members of her band relentlessly, leading to her being dubbed "Hurricane" and "Little Pepper" by musicians and journalists. Her tempestuous nature aside, she commanded the respect of Brazil's leading songwriters, who lined up for the chance to have her record one of their songs, and for much of her short life was the country's most popular female vocalist.

Elis Regina, a cool, feminine Brazilian singer who died tragically of cocaine/alcohol poisoning at age 36, made this often deeply affecting album with Antonio Carlos Jobim in Los Angeles for the Brazilian market only; it was not released in the U.S. until 1989. While there is plenty of bossa nova here, the arrangements at times reflect the more cinematic, more inward directions that Jobim's music was taking, and the lyrics often speak even more harrowingly of heartbreak than ever. Yet this pair can also celebrate Jobim's music, as they do in a rendition of "Aguas de Marco" that nearly collapses in unself-conscious laughter. Throughout, Regina is in the spotlight, with Jobim a supporting, sometimes invisible but always pervasive presence.

Review: ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide

This is a fun album that sees Elis taking herself a bit less seriously than would be the case in years to come. Beginning with the beautiful photo on the album cover, it’s sunshine all the way through. Recorded and released in 1970, it sits on a precipice of musical history sort of like the proverbial time capsule left for the extra-terrestrials to tell them about contemporary MPB. With consistently interesting and flawless arrangements from Erlon Chaves, Elis rips through a repertoire of songs that couldn’t get much better spanning Bossa Nova, Jovem Guarda, Brazilian Soul and Tropicália and spinning them into a weirdly unified whole.

It's not her very best, but this solid 1974 studio session has great songs by Nascimento, Joao Bosco, and Gilberto Gil, plus a rare recording of "Na Batucada da Vida" by Ary Barroso. It includes complete Portuguese lyrics.

Compilation album, published posthumously in Brazil, performed by singer Elis Regina (Porto Alegre, 1945-1982), considered the best Brazilian singer of all time. Her voice and personality on stage became an innovative performer, able to drag her audience with the deployment of various emotions where each song demands it. Her early death at 36 years (due to a combination of alcohol and drug overdose) foiled a career that was definitely meant to be brilliant.

Elis has been considered the best Brazilian singer of all time only surpassed by singer Tim Maia. This album was arguably the most successful of his career, and is recognized as one of the most representative of Brazilian popular music. The idea for the album came out of that Elis developed alone one season titled 'False brilhante' (from late 1975 to early 1977), which reached over 1,200 performances. With part of the repertoire she performed this record was made.