Walter Wanderley

7-23-08 Walter Wanderley

CD BATUCADA UNIVERSAL JPN UCCU-9213 1967 12 TRKS stereo ('08 issue)

LP BATUCADA VERVE US V-8706 1967 12 TRKS mono

LP BRAZILIAN BLEND PHILIPS US PHM-200-227 1963? 10 TRKS mono

CD CHEGANCA UNIVERSAL JPN UCCU-9219 1966 12 TRKS stereo ('08 issue)

LP CHEGANCA VERVE US V6-8676 1966 12 TRKS stereo

LP FROM RIO WITH LOVE TOWER US T-5047 1964? 12 TRKS mono

LP KEE-KA-ROO VERVE US V6-8739 1968? 12 TRKS stereo

LP ORGAN-IZED PHILIPS US PHS-600-233 1964? 10 TRKS stereo

LP RAIN FOREST VERVE US V-8658 1966? 12 TRKS mono

My dad had LP’s by Brazilian organist Walter Wanderley – he likely heard of him when “Summer Samba” became a hit in 1966. My dad listened to a lot of radio at that time – I particularly remember him enjoying KMPC-AM, he listened to shows by both Geoff Edwards and Gary Owens (before Owens was a house-hold name on “Laugh-In”).

When my dad passed away in 1989, I found all of his Walter Wanderley LP’s, and I kept them all, adding to the collection whenever possible. I recently got nice CD re-issues from Japan of “Batucada” and “Cheganca”. They sound great. I admit to being a little surprised to find vocals on Wanderley’s albums. I knew he had backed Astrud Gilberto, but…I didn’t know he hired vocalists for his own albums.

I guess he started recording towards the end of the 50’s – but…sure never saw any WW LP’s that old! I suppose the Tower and Philips LP’s are older than the Verve LP’s – and I sort of remember the 70’s C.T.I. LP…but I can’t recall it’s name. Mr. Wanderley passed away in 1986.

I can probably easily find a CD of the “Rain Forest” album – so I guess really I am only after his final Verve solo album, “Kee-Ka-Roo”, as a CD. I think all of his Verve LP’s were produced by Creed Taylor (the C.T. in C.T.I.)

And let’s not forget Wanderley’s album with Astrud Gilberto, “A Certain Smile”, Verve V6-8673, another one my dad had. I see that it was even released in the U.S. on CD.

I’ve seen Wanderley’s work repackaged for the 90’s Easy Listening revival crowd – but I definitely remember when it was legitimately in the status of ongoing concern of it’s own accord. Easy listening Hammond organ, for Bossa Nova fans. The ’08 Japanese CD’s I got say “History of Bossa Nova” on the obi. So, still legit, after all these years.

I suppose Wanderley’s work spawned assorted ‘imitators’ – but I can’t name any of ‘em!

So, muinto obrigado to Mr. Wanderley for creating works that both my dad and I could relate to. The list of works of this nature isn’t exactly a mile long. Maybe I didn’t care when they were released, but they sound good to me now.

- Ron Kane