Sérgio Mendes is a Brazilian musician….who has some 55 releases….and plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk….while being nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2012 as co-writer of the song “Real in Rio” from the animated film Rio…..whereas Mendes is a unique example of a Brazilian musician primarily known in the United States….where his albums were recorded and where most of his touring took place.
Mendes is married to Gracinha Leporace, who has performed with him since the early 1970’s and 1980’s …..as he has also collaborated with many artists through the years….which included The Black Eyed Peas….with whom he re-recorded in 2006 a version of his breakthrough hit “Mas Que Nada”.
Fool on the Hill is the fourth studio album by Sérgio Mendes and Brasil ’66 released in 1968….as this is the first album featuring the second edition of Brasil ’66…..after Mendes had replaced all of the original band members….with the exception of lead singer Lani Hall. The album features two top 10 pop singles including the title track and “Scarborough Fair”….with the Simon & Garfunkel cover being featured in both the trailer and the soundtrack for the 1973 film Heavy Traffic.
“The Look of Love” is a popular song composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David….and sung by English pop singer Dusty Springfield….which appeared in the 1967 spoof James Bond film Casino Royale. In 2008, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame…..while also receiving a Best Song nomination in the 1968 Academy Awards. Sérgio Mendes’ hit rendition on the Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66 album Look Around reached # 4 on the pop charts after their performance in the Academy Awards telecast in April 1968…..while the lead vocal on this single was handled by Janis Hansen, not Lani Hall, a rarity in the early Brasil ’66 canon.
As seen in this 1978 video of Sergio Mendez and Brazil ’66 performing at the Coconut Grove…..where they perform a medley of their hit songs including “Fool On A Hill”….“The Look Of Love”….“Mas Que Nada”….and “Going Out Of My Head Over You”….and we at ImaSportsphile are “tickled pink” to have this jewel in our treasure chest of vintage memories.
