Sérgio Mendes: Brasil '66

Suffering from poor albums sales as a jazz-bossa pianist at Atlantic Records in 1965, Sérgio Mendes decided to listen to a recommendation made by Richard Adler, a producer at A&M Records. Adler, who would become Mendes's partner, urged him to keep his Brazilian feel but bring on American female vocalists to sing contemporary pop hits in English. So Mendes gave it a shot at A&M, and the result was the Brasil '66. Their first album, Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66, was a massive hit. One of those female vocalists was Lani Hall, who would become Herb Alpert's wife in 1973.

Here are a handful of videos of the Brasil '66:

Here's their first hit, Mas Que Nada...



Here's The Fool on the Hill...



Here's Going Out of My Head...



Here's Pretty World...



Here's Watch What Happens...



And here's Wichita Lineman...