Although he began recording after the bossa nova craze swept Brazil, Altemar Dutra (1940-1983) specialized in florid, schmaltzy, romantic ballads -- boleros and other kinds of syrupy material that hearkened back to the pre-bossa days of yesteryear. It's kind of fun stuff! Here's a quick look at his work... Dutra also married torch singer Martha Mendonca in 1965 -- their son, Altemar Dutra Jr., also became a professional musician.
Altemar Dutra "Brasil De A-Z (Box Set)" (EMI, 2002)
A 3-CD box set with straight reissues of three old albums... The records are "A Grande Revelacao" (1963), "Que Queres Tu De Mim?" (1964) and "Sentimental Demais" (1965), all reviewed below.
Altemar Dutra "Serie Identidade" (EMI, 2002)
A 2-CD set...
Altemar Dutra "Retratos" (EMI, 2005)
Altemar Dutra "Serie Bis" (EMI, 2007)
A 2-CD set...
Altemar Dutra "A Volta Do Seresteiro, v.1" (Som Livre, 2011)
A 2-CD set...
Altemar Dutra "Mensagem" (EMI, 1963)
Altemar Dutra "A Grande Revelacao" (Odeon, 1963)
Slushy, corny, slow romantic ballads, very much in the Latin American bolero tradition. Having heard some of Dutra's later albums first, I wanted to like this album more, but I have to admit I found it fairly slow going and static.
Altemar Dutra "Que Queres Tu De Mim" (Odeon, 1964)
More deliciously schmaltzy, over-the top, romantic ballads, with big, dramatic arrangements; a much punchier album than the one that preceded it. The first track includes a nod towards the Portuguese fado, but the Latin American bolero is the real model here -- resolutely cornball and over-the-top.
Altemar Dutra "Sentimental Demais" (Odeon, 1965)
Another step up towards refining his corny ballad style. The arrangements are a little less bombastic than on Que Queres Tu De Mim, but still very forceful and sonically rich, sort of getting into Billy May or Henry Mancini territory. This throwback to the pre-bossa days is probably too corny for most folks, but for the style, it's pretty nice.
Altemar Dutra "Eu Te Agradeco" (EMI-Odeon, 1965)
Altemar Dutra "Sinto Que Te Amo" (EMI-Odeon, 1966)
Altemar Dutra "Dedicatoria" (EMI-Odeon, 1967)
Altemar Dutra "O Trovador Das Americas" (EMI-Odeon, 1969)
Altemar Dutra "Altemar Dutra" (EMI-Odeon, 1971)
Altemar Dutra "Companheiro" (EMI-Odeon, 1971)
Altemar Dutra "A Forca Do Amor" (EMI-Odeon, 1972)
