Elis Regina
Ela (PolyGram 811 469)

Ela is a funky little album from Elis Regina, featuring the party bossa feel of many of her albums along with some nice ballads. Overall, it's got a much "hipper" feel than is usually associated with Elis, who was sort of the Ella Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand of Brasilian music.

It's the same sort of "hipness" you find in Elvis Presley albums of the same era (this was released in '71); that is, not genuinely hip like a Gal Costa album, but unintentionally hip thanks mainly to the passage of time rendering it cooler than it was when it originally came out.

Elis struggles with her English on a couple of tracks: a wayward cover of "Golden Slumbers" and an epic called "Black is Beautiful" that features the eternal line "I want a black/I want a beautiful."

Loads of the fuzzy guitars that seemed to be on all albums in 1971, along with big horns, frantic drumming, and above it all, Regina's big voice, leaving not much room for subtlety on this particular session. It's not one of those MPB albums you put on when you're in a romantic, relaxing mood (try Elis from '72), but rather one you put on when you want a little bit of everything: in-your-face samba, quasi-blaxploitation wah-wah, cocktail bossa, cruise ship jazz, late-night slink, and all-out beach party.

Highlights include Caetano Veloso's "Os Argonautas," the classic Elis jazz pop of "Magdalena," the string-laden title track, and the bright Baden Powell tune "Falei e Disse."

As my preference in Elis Regina CDs runs to the softer pure pop ones, the preponderance of pseudo-rock samba stuff on here makes Ela one of the Elis discs I listen to less frequently. Even so, it's a greatly enjoyable 35 minute ride, finding Elis trying out some of the more rock-influenced styles brought about by Caetano & Co. in the preceding few years.

In terms of Elvis albums, this is Moody Blue, in terms of Paul McCartney, it's Wings at the Speed of Sound. Not her best moment, but even a lesser offering from Elis Regina beats the best thing Creed could ever do.

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Review by Joe Cords