João Donato
“Lugar Comum”
Released 1975 on Philips
Reissued 2004 on Dúbas Música

1 Lugar comum
(Gilberto Gil, João Donato)
2 Tudo tem
(Gilberto Gil, João Donato)
3 A bruxa de mentira
(Gilberto Gil, João Donato)
4 Ê menina
(Guarabyra, João Donato)
5 Bananeira
(Gilberto Gi, João Donato)
6 Patumbalacundê
(Orlandivo, Durval Ferreira, Gilberto Gil, João Donato)
7 Xangô é de Baê
(Rubens Confeti, Sidney da Conceição, João Donato)
8 Pretty dolly
(Norman Gimbel, João Donato)
9 Emoriô
(Gilberto Gil, João Donato)
10 Naturalmente
(Caetano Veloso, João Donato)
11 Que besteira
(Gilberto Gil, João Donato)
12 Deixei recado
(Gilberto Gil, João Donato)

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Mellow and laid-back and yet also very funky. Classic album, impossible to find on vinyl without selling your organs, but it’s been around in the blogosphere for quite a while. Still, it is very nice that this remaster exists and I hope someone out there takes advantage of the FLAC availability. I have no idea why Donato changed the album cover — which was kind of bland and ugly to begin with — to something even more bland and ugly. Just my opinion. If you want a review that completely misses the point about nearly everything on this album and amazingly fails to mention the presence of Gilberto Gil or collaborations with Caetano Veloso, go look for Thom Jurek’s award-winning AMG prose/drivel about this album. He never disappoints in the mediocrity department.

Worth pointing out that the song ‘Bananeira’ was also a hit for Emilio Santiago on an album that Donato arranged for him in this same year.

The reissue has liner notes in both Portuguese and English that give some pretty detailed anecdotes about each song. Particularly interesting is the story behind the song “Xango é de Baê”. The keyboard tones are, naturally, gorgeous, and the production is impeccable and warm like the hug of an old friend. Indeed. If you don’t know this album, you ought to check it out; If you do already know it, but not this remaster, leave a message here, particularly if you have an opinion about the remastering. I am personally pretty happy with this one.

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24 thoughts on “João Donato – Lugar Comum (1975) with Gilberto Gil

  1. Flabbergast,
    Thanks a lot, what a gift ! This is one of my favourite album of all brazilian music, yes, and until now I only found vinyl rips really itchy-scratchy, noises as loud as a bonfire, quite disturbing when listening with a good pair of headphones. So I don't have any particular opinion about the remastering. I just know that you're so careful about sound, almost neurotic at it, to the point I'm quite certain I won't find a better rip anywhere else. It's like discovering again, as if it was the first time, this masterpiece.

    I even wrote a little piece about Lugar Comum on l'Elixir last year. It was the fourth and last part of some messages dedicated to João Donato :

    http://lelixirdudrfunkathus.blogspot.com/2010/06/lescale-bahianaise-enchantee-de-joao.html

    You'll find the three others here :

    http://lelixirdudrfunkathus.blogspot.com/search/label/João%20Donato

    As always I also quite enjoy the scans of the liner notes, those quite interesting as João Donato himself explains the story behind each track : quite precious…

    But I was expecting you to write more about it than this short text.

    Also I was in the right mood today for such an album, so soft and groovy… Today, here in the south of France, you'd feel this first taste and feelings of the summer yet to come. A perfect day for this perfect music.

    PS : I agree about the cover, this one is even uglier than the original one !

  2. … I expected to write more about this album too than just this short text. I think I am intimidated by the high esteem in which it is held, I worry that anything I say will just sound silly or like a rehash of things someone else out there has already written. Not sure if that is called writer's block or just poor self-esteem.. Maybe when I work up the confidence I will repost this with the write-up it deserves.

  3. I can only echo what Simon said. An all time favourite. Already thought about buying the cd, somehow the hope to find the vinyl someday (a vain hope i know) and the ugly cover art detained me.
    Just wish Donato had done more albums like Quem E Quem and this…
    Very glad about the flac, many thanks!

  4. Hello,

    Fantastic blog! But I can't for the life of me see the download link for this album. Can you give me a hint?

    Obrigado!

    Sean

  5. Hi Sean, that's because there isn't one any longer. This record received a very specific and targeted take-down and I wasn't too enthused about tempting fate putting it back.

  6. This is a luscious and rich upgrade to the crackling popping copy I've enjoyed for years. But now, greater clarity and warmth! It couldn't be better. Thank you so much, Sr. Vibes.

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