Wilson Miranda (1940-1986) was a Brazilian crooner who early on was identified with the teen-oriented rock'n'roll sound of the early 1960s, but found his was into the MPB pop mainstream. Here's a quick look at his work...
Wilson Miranda "Veneno" (Chantecler Records, 1959) (LP)
(Produced by Diogo Mulero)
The debut album from cornball crooner Wilson Miranda, who was tagged (at the time) as a "jovem guarda" teen-pop singer, largely on the basis of two staid, mid-tempo rock covers, including a bilingual cover of Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame." The whole album is pretty underwhelming, with little difference in tone between the samba-cancao and "beguine" numbers and the North American pop covers. Missable.
Wilson Miranda "Sambas E Rocks" (Chantecler Records, 1960) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "Teu Amor E Minha Vida" (Chantecler Records, 1961) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "Volume 4" (Chantecler Records, 1962) (LP)
(Produced by Diogo Mulero)
Wilson Miranda "Sucessos E Balanco" (Chantecler Records, 1963) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "O Meu Senhor" (Chantecler Records, 1964) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "A Outra Face De Wilson Miranda" (Chantecler Records, 1964) (LP)
(Produced by Roberto Menescal)
A fun album, if a bit corny. Miranda's voice is a nice mix of the avuncular male pop vocals of the old-school radio singers crowd and the more youthful jovem guarda teen scene. The music is pure bossa-meets-pop, with some interesting touches from producer Roberto Menescal, one of the early stars of the bossa crowd, and his fellow arrangers, Oscar Castro-Neves and Ugo Marotta. The arrangements are kind of square, but still more nuanced than some of the more staid, old-fashioned pop of the time. Several songs were written by Menescal; he also plays acoustic guitar on several tracks, with some of Brazil's best jazz players sitting in on the session, including Walter Branco, Oscar Castro-Neves, Paulo Moura, J. T. Mierelles and vibraphonist Ugo Marotta. Not earthshaking, but nice. Worth a spin, if you're in a nostalgic mood.
Wilson Miranda "Tempo Novo" (RCA Victor, 1965) (LP)
Corny, bombastic pop vocals of the 'Fifties-style old school... By '65 Miranda was ready to shed his teenybopper roots and record an album of schmaltzy samba cancao and brassy bossa nova covers, ala Nelson Goncalves or Tito Madi. Somehow, though he doesn't summon quite enough corniness to make this feel fun or kitschy... Antonio Adolfo, Erlon Chaves and Chico Moraes split the arrangements, with Adolfo fronting the 3D Trio on one track... The very last song, Ze Keti's "Bo-Do," has a little more bounce to it, but the album itself isn't much to write home about. It just sounds a bit irritating, mostly.
Wilson Miranda "Pra Quando O Amor Chegar" (RCA Victor, 1966) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "Tem Que Ser Azul" (RCA Victor, 1969) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "No Puedo Olvidarte: Wilson Miranda En Castellano" (RCA Victor, 1969) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "Todos Os Meus Passos" (RCA Victor, 1971) (LP)
Wilson Miranda & Chico Moaraes "Independencia Ou Morte" (Soundtrack) (RCA Victor, 1972) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "Wilson Miranda" (Continental Records, 1973) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "...E Os Sucessos, Vol. 2" (Continental Records, 1974) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "Recorda" (Alvorada, 1977) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "Relevo" (Continental Records, 1978) (LP)
Wilson Miranda "Grandes Sucessos" (BMG, 2000)
