Arthur Verocai - Arthur Verocai (1972)

A classic of hazy, jazzy Brazilian folk rock. If you're looking for laid-back tunes for a warm summer day, this is exactly it. However, I'd guess that a good chunk of my readers are already familiar with this little slice of heaven, considering that it really made the rounds back in the golden age of mp3 blogs and has been reissued multiple times over the past decade. I'm mostly posting this so that I can relive one of my favorite memories from my recent vacation in Mexico, which this record soundtracked: sunbathing and swimming nude while everyone else except my wife was running errands (we're not a "let's get nude together" kind of crew.) I set a timer for half an hour when they left, figuring they'd be gone at least half an hour, and I had literally JUST put my swimsuit back on when the front door opened.

Track listing:

1. Caboclo

2. Pelas Sombras

3. Sylvia

4. Presente Grego

5. Dedicado a Ela

6. Seriado

7. Na Boca do Sol

8. Velho Parente

9. O Mapa

10. Karina (Domingo no Grajaú)

You were right on time

More greatness from Brazil:

Marcos Valle - Marcos Valle (1974)

Milton Nascimento - Minas (1975)

Marcos Valle - Marcos Valle (1974)

Beautiful psych-tinged Brazilian pop. Fits pretty much any mood you can throw at it.

Track listing:
1. No Rumo Do Sol
2. Meu Herói
3. Só Se Morre Uma Vez
4. Casamento, Filhos E Convenções
5. Remédio P'ro Coração
6. Brasil X México
7. Tango
8. Nossa Vida Começa Na Gente
9. Novelo De Lã
10. Cobaia
11. Charlie Bravo

The moment your head hits the pillow

More Brazilian excellence:

Gilberto Gil - Gilberto Gil (1968)

Milton Nascimento - Minas (1975)

Gilberto Gil - Gilberto Gil (1968)

A colorful fusion of bossa nova (and probably some other Brazilian styles of music with which I'm not as familiar) and psychedelic rock, with orchestral arrangements courtesy of Rogério Duprat. Think Os Mutantes. In fact, really, think Os Mutantes: they're Gil's backing band. If I knew what was good for me, I'd probably listen to this every morning, and be a happier, more successful person within a few weeks.

Track listing:
1. Frevo Rasgado
2. Coragem pra Suportar
3. Domingou
4. Marginália Il
5. Pega a Voga, Cabuelo
6. Êle Falava Nisso Todo Dia
7. Procissão
8. Luzia Luluza
9. Pé da Roseira
10. Domingo no Parque
11. Barca Grande
12. A Coisa Mais Linda que Existe
13. Questão de Ordem
14. A Luta Contra a Lata ou a Falência do Café

Come on, summer

Claudia - Reza, Tambor E Raça (1977)

Cool, joyful fusion of soul, funk, and samba. Get up on it.

Track listing:
1. Reza, Tambor E Raça
2. Soy Latino Americano
3. Glorioso Santo Antônio
4. Poeta do Medo
5. Pororoca
6. Lua Negra
7. Apenas Um Rapaz Latino Americano
8. O Cavaleiro E Os Moinhos
9. Vai Baby (Peter Gunn)
10. 2ª Feira
11. Homem E Mulher
12. Ana Cor de Cana

Head first

Milton Nascimento - Minas (1975)

One of many jaw-dropping albums of breezy, evocative, effortlessly innovative jazz/folk/ornate pop/psych tunes from Brazilian music legend Milton Nascimento. Released shortly after Native Dancer, a fruitful collaboration with saxophonist Wayne Shorter that granted Nascimento a worldwide audience, Minas is bursting at the seams with ideas -- one moment, laid-back folk rock glides over skittering jazz rhythms; the next, a choir battles towering guitar feedback; the next, syncopated hand percussion and wa-wa guitars disappear into a cloud of lush strings. All this, yet Minas makes for an easy, cohesive, one might even say, relaxing listen.

Track listing:
1. Minas
2. Fé Cega, Faca Amolada
3. Beijo Partido
4. Saudade dos Aviões da Panair (Conversando no Bar)
5. Gran Circo
6. Ponta de Areia
7. Trastevere
8. Idolatrada
9. Leila (Venha Ser Feliz)
10. Paula e Bebeto
11. Simples
12. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (bonus)
13. Caso Você Queira Saber (bonus)

From the lonely afternoons