Aquarela do Brasil (album)
Dionne Warwick's Brazilian jazz and pop album from 1994.
Aquarela do Brasil is a studio album by American singer Dionne Warwick, released by Arista Records on October 18, 1994. The album collects Brazilian jazz and pop tunes ranging from bossa nova to samba, including original songs and covers of standards such as 'Caravan' and its title track. Warwick co-produced the album with Téo Lima, recording in Brazil and Los Angeles with contributions from Dori Caymmi, Oscar Castro-Neves, Brenda Russell, and Patrick Williams.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Dionne Warwick
- Released
- October 18, 1994
- Length
- 91:05
- Label
- Arista
- Producer
- Téo Lima
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jobim Medley | Antônio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque, Gene Lees, Norman Gimbel, Vinicius de Moraes | 5:52 |
| 2 | Virou Areia | Braulio Tavares, Dionne Warwick, Lenine | 4:13 |
| 3 | Oh Bahia | Ary Barroso, Warwick, Ray Gilbert | 5:25 |
| 4 | Piano Na Mangueira | Jobim, Buarque | 2:48 |
| 5 | Captives of the Heart | Burt Bacharach, John Bettis | 4:48 |
| 6 | Samba Dobrado | Warwick, Djavan | 4:22 |
| 7 | Heart of Brazil | Antonio Adolfo, Marietta Waters, Nelson Wellington | 4:37 |
| 8 | Afrika"/"So Bashiya Bahlala Ekhaya | Amandla, Enoch Sontonga | 3:48 |
| 9 | Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil) | Ary Barroso, Bob Russell | 3:59 |
| 10 | Caravan | Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol | 3:55 |
| 11 | Flower of Bahia | Dori Caymmi, Paulo César Pinheiro, Tracy Mann | 4:16 |
| 12 | 10,000 Words | Brenda Russell, Joe Turano | 4:26 |
Track listing from the source article.
Background
After the commercial disappointment of her 1993 Arista album Friends Can Be Lovers, Warwick bought a castle in Bahia, Brazil, and began recording a collection of Brazilian jazz and pop tunes with producer Téo Lima. Unlike her previous project, which she disliked, Warwick enjoyed these sessions. Rhythm tracks and vocals were finished in Brazil, while strings, horns, and backgrounds were recorded in Los Angeles with arrangers including Dori Caymmi and Brenda Russell.
Critical reception
Allmusic wrote that Warwick sings with swing and ease, highlighting the title track and her cover of 'Caravan' as standouts, though finding the arrangements occasionally fussy. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch called the album Warwick's musical statement for the 1990s, noting her unexpected versatility. The Rolling Stone Album Guide described it as an excellent set of bossa nova tunes.
Commercial performance
Aquarela do Brasil failed to chart on any Billboard chart, becoming Warwick's first album since Love at First Sight (1977) to miss the charts. Warwick attributed the low sales to lack of support from Arista's promotion team and label head Clive Davis. In her 2011 autobiography, she expressed regret over not being more involved in promotion. The album was her final project with Davis, as she left Arista shortly after its release.
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