LUISA (FEATURING AZYMUTH) by LUISA

First time vinyl reissue !

Azymuth bassist Alex Malheiros doesn't remember recording this single. It's understandable—the sessions happened over forty years ago, and at the time, Malheiros, Ivan Conti and José Roberto Bertrami were backing countless MPB artists throughout the genre's golden age. As one of Brazil’s most influential groups, Azymuth's story is well known. Vocalist Luisa, however, remains something of an enigma. She recorded this, her one and only single, in 1981 for Carlos Lemos' Piramide Label. 

With Luisa’s powerful yet understated vocal, Bertrami's futuristic synths and José Carlos Bigorna's brow-raising tenor sax licks, the stirring early-80s pop ballad "Romantica" should have been a radio hit. On B-side, "Lenha na Fogueira", Azymuth lock into an exceptional samba-funk groove with legendary guitarist Paulinho Guitarra. The record also features backing vocals from the lesser-known vocal group Arco Iris.

Musicians
Synthesizer [Mini-Moog, Oberheim], Keyboards, Piano [Yamaha], Electric Piano [Fender 88], Percussion, Arranged By, Conductor, Vocoder – José Roberto Bertrami
Bass – Alex Malheiros
Drums, Rototoms – Ivan “Mamão” Conti
Guitar – Paulinho Guitarra
Tenor Saxophone – José Carlos Bigorna
Vocals – Carlos Lemos, Arco-Iris

Production and Technical
Producer, Executive-Producer – Carlos Lemos
Mixed By – Carlos Lemos, Loureiro
Engineer – Dudu Marques
Technician – Toninho Barbosa

Artwork and Design
Layout, Artwork – Beletti
Photography By – Armando Gonçalves
Reissue Design - Alessandro Renaldin