The Sounds of VTech / DJ Nuts – Arthur Verocai Mix

Arthur Verocai has composed and arranged for such giants as Jorge Ben, Gal Costa and Leny Andrade. But hiphop heads know him for his often sampled (see Ludacriss, MF Doom and Lil Brother) self titled solo album. Considered the holy grail of Brazilian crate digging, i.e. nigh on impossible to find in Brazil itself, “Arthur Verocai” (Continental, 1972) is a great mixture of Tropicalia, jazz funk and soul. You can find it on the sharity blogs with a quick poke around.
Rightly named THE expert on Verocai, DJ Nuts was comissioned to put together this mix of arrangements and compositions by the great man who was recently paid homage to in the Timeless series of concerts. Stretch out in your hammock, because this is classy stuff indeed.

Link to download MP3 here

Slightly unsure of the exact legality of this mix, it was commercially available as a CD at turntable.com when it came out in 2004/2005, but the pure logistics of legally clearing the tracks seems pretty impossible to me.

This was referred to as “the third world brainfreeze” when it was released. DJ Nuts is a renowned and well-respected Brazilian turntablist with some hip hop production credits with the usual suspects, but here he has really outdone himself with a lightning, deftly mixed 54 tracks in 77 minutes, no mean feat with funk and soul. And this is no ordinary funk and soul mix, all the tracks are pretty rare seventies Brazilian rare groove that only the most knowledgeable or well-connected plunderer with an insiders knowledge of São Paulo’s second hand record stores (sebos) could unearth.

As you can imagine the mix is full of deep funky samba grooves, nevertheless, throughout the mix familiar melodies spring out -Wilson Das Neves “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” brings on puffy skirted 80’s flashbacks, Antonio Carlos & Jocafi’s “Kabaluere” has been sampled by both DJ Nu-mark and Marcelo D2 and I’m sure I even heard a funky R&B version of the batman theme.

A fascinating document if only to hear the Brazilian perspective on an area that is constantly being cited for its influence but has rarely been explored or exploited with such expertise and zest. So ignore that crappy cover, read the tracklist and weep (…and then download).

Sônia Santos – “Intro (0:15)”
Orquestra Som Livre – “Tema De Tucão (2:02)”
Weather Report Feat. Dom Um Romão – “Non Stop Home (0:59)”
Airto – “Peasant Dance (1:22)”
Raulzinho – “Tesouro De São Miquel (1:15)”
O Incrivel Manito – “Tucks Theme (1:51)”
Ed Maciel – “Não Há Dinheiro Que Pague (2:26)”
Hot Stuff Band – “Ju Ju Man (1:27)”
Paulo Moura – “Bicho Papao (0:37)”
Marlos Noble E Orquestra – “Ritual (0:28)”
Azymuth – “Melô Da Cuica (0:47)”
Tim Maia – “Imunizacao Racional Que Beleza (1:12)”
Bertrami E Conjunto Azimute – “Pela Cidade (1:55)”
Osmar Milito – “Morre O Burro, Fica O Homem (1:19)”
Trio Esperança – “Não Aguento Voce (0:54)”
Ronie E Central Do Brasil – “Remelexo (1:41)”
Quarteto Em Cy – “Salve O Verde (1:27)”
Ivan Lins – “Hei, Voce (2:05)”
Wilson Das Neves – “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (1:20)”
Jair Rodrigues – “Deixa Isso Pra Lá (0:29)”
Tom E Dilo – “Amanhangá (0:49)”
Miguel De Deus – “Black Soul Brothers (1:15)”
Abolicao 1860-1980 (0:58)”
Tony & Frankye – “Vou Procurar O Meu Lugar (1:08)”
Tony Bizarro – “Não Vai Mudar (1:08)”
Azymuth – “Esperando Minha Vez (0:56)”
Eumir Deodato – “Also Sprach Zarathustra”
Flora Purim – “Open Your Eyes You Can Fly”
César Mariano & Cia – “Metrópole”
Carlos Dafé – “O Metrô”
Banda Black Rio – “Na Baixa Do Sapateiro”
União Black – “A Familia Black”
Som Nosso De Cada Dia – “Black Rio”
Gerson King Combo – “Mandamentos Black”
Sos Band It – “Big Splash”
Gerson King Combo – “Mandamentos Black”
Boogaloo Combo – “Hot Pants Road”
Toni Tornado – “Podes Crê, Amizade”
Antonio Carlos & Jocafi – “Kabaluerê”
Sonia Santos – “Marraio”
Ed Maciel – “Kool & The Gang”
The Fevers – “Batman”
MPB-4 – “Faca Cega, Faca Amolada”
Hermeto Pascoal – “Coalhada”
Jorge Ben – “África Brasil Zumbi”
Mão Branca – “Melô Do Mão Branca”
Miéle – “Melô Do Tagarela”
Marcos Valle – “Estrelar”
Banda Black Rio – “Subindo O Morro”
Osmar Milito E Quarteto Forma – “O Bofe”
Assim Assado – “Sol Amarelocinza”
Kris E Cristina – “Uma Rosa Com Amor”
Trio Mocotó – “Swinga Sambaby”
Wilson Das Neves – “Pick Up The Pieces”

download here