Ricardo Uchoa "Indra" (1981) (LP)
This independently released acoustic-meets-fusion folk-freak gem recalls the early works of Northeastern rockers such as Geraldo Azevedo and Ze Ramalho... It's dreamy and indulgent, and signals greater technical proficiency than the meandering performances suggest. Mostly a spacey folk vibe prevails, though on tracks like "Noites De Vento" he bursts out with a tropicalia-styled psychedelic rock riff, only to let it go after a minute or so... Certainly not for everybody, but if you like newer experimentalists such as Arnaldo Antunes and Lucas Santtana, you might dig this guy as well. Certainly a record that screams out for digital reissue.
Os Uirapurus "Os Uirapurus" (EMI-Odeon, 1968) (LP)
Ultraje A Rigor "Nos Vamos Invadir Sua Praia" (WEA/Warner, 1985)
(Produced by Vitor Farias, Liminha & Pena Schmidt)
A rock band from Sao Paulo, Ultraje A Rigor first broke through with a couple of hit singles in 1983, subsequently recording this full album in '85, which became a national hit, and led to a decades-long run for this popular band. Cycling through numerous changes in its lineup over the years, Ultraje A Rigor was primarily led by singer-lyricist Roger Rocha Moreira, who eventually became the band's only remaining original member.
Ultraje A Rigor "Sexo!!" (Warner, 1987)
Ultraje A Rigor "Crescendo" (Warner, 1989)
Ultraje A Rigor "Por Que Ultraje A Rigor?" (Warner, 1990)
Ultraje A Rigor "O Mundo Encantando De Ultraje A Rigor" (Warner, 1992)
An early best-of collection, encapsulating their biggest hits of the 1980s...
Ultraje A Rigor "O!" (Warner, 1993)
Ultraje A Rigor "18 Anos Sem Tirar" (Abril, 1999)
Ultraje A Rigor "e-Collection" (Warner, 2000)
A best-of set...
Ultraje A Rigor "Os Invisiveis" (DeckDisc, 2002)
Ultraje A Rigor "Acustico MTV" (DeckDisc, 2004)
Ultraje A Rigor "Por Que Ultraje A Rigor? Volume 2" (Sony Music, 2015)
Umas E Outras "Poucas E Boas" (Polydor, 1970) (LP)
Innocent, goofy, psychedelia-laced sunshine pop with female vocals and tight harmony singing -- kind of like a slightly more adventurous version of Quarteto Em Cy. (Indeed, one of these three gals later went into the Em Cy group...) Apparently this band was one of the remnants of a hippie-exploitation group Nonato Buzar had put together, called A Turma da Pilantragem, focussing here on the gals from that project. The album opens with a naifish homage to the Beatles, "Abrace Paul Mccartney Por Mim," filtering "Elanor Rigby" through the mildest of Claudine Longet-style pop; there's also a strong debt to the music-hall tendencies of Rita Lee and Os Mutantes, although this album is hardly as vigorous as anything Mutantes had done up to this date. Overall, I didn't find this record all that captivating, but it's still an interesting artifact of the times. Apparently they also did a lot of work on various film and television soundtracks, so you can keep your eyes open for them there as well...
Uniao Black "Uniao Black" (RCA, 1977) (LP)
(Produced by Roberto Livi & Pedro Da Luz)
One of the handful of Brazilian soul bands that really deliver the goods. Plenty of great, bouncy, heavy bass lines, straight out of KC & The Sunshine Band, or the O'Jays, but with a seriously funky undercurrent. Unlike many of their disco-ed out contemporaries, these guys really "got" it... The album does lapse into funky-jam tedium after a powerful start, but the level of playing is still far above most of the Black Rio bands, sexier and less jarring or hyperactive than, say, Banda Black Rio. Recommended!
Uniao Black "Banda Uniao Black" (Commonfolk, 2005)
Uns & Outros "Nos Normais" (Polydor, 1987)
(Produced by Marcello Mansur)
An alt-rock band from Rio, Uns E Outros formed in 1983, and enjoyed commercial popularity at the end of the decade. They broke up in the early 1990s, but reunited a decade later. The original group included bassist Cal Galvao, and brothers Jonathas Nunes on drums, and guitarist Nilo Nunes.
Uns & Outros "Uns E Outros" (Epic Records, 1988)
Uns & Outros "A Terceira Onda" (Epic Records, 1990)
Uns & Outros "Tao Longe Do Fim" (Seven Music, 2002)
Uns & Outros "Cancoes De Amor E Morte" (Universal Music, 2006)
Uns & Outros "Ao Vivo" (Sony Music, 2015)
Unscarabrown "Unscarabrown" (Tratore, 2004)
Urbanda "Urbanda" (Tratore, 2003)
Early work from singer Luisa Maita...
