Well it's been almost 5 years and I need something to cheer myself up (and hopefully you all too...) so here's BRIT BOSSA 2!

BRIT BOSSA 2 (download the whole thing here)
Ok, first off - any Bossa purists out there remember this is British produced. Go easy on us, we were trying our best...

01 Alan Moorhouse Orchestra - Soul Bossa (Columbia 45 1970)
Let's kick off with something from Alan Moorhouse, this is the B side to the Theme From 'The Man Who Haunted Himself'.

02 Tom Springfield - Estrada do Sol (Decca LP 1968)
Not many UK singers where able to pull off a convincing Bossa actually sung in Portuguese, but Tom Springfield manages a great version of this Jobim song.
As his sister Dusty says in the liner notes, this is one of the standouts on the album and I agree with her. Arranged by Bobby Richards who did the soundtrack to 'The Smashing Bird I Used To Know'.

03 Crowdy Crawn - Djinn Djinn (Sentinel LP 1974)
There was much more to Cornwall's first lady of song Brenda Wootton than just folk – she also dipped her toe into other areas like blues and jazz. Here she conjures up a charming version of Jobim's 'Dindi', renaming it 'Djinn Djinn' (after the Arabic mischievous spirits perhaps - well there is a hookah nestling there in her ethnically adorned abode). The track features some lovely flute from John Cox.

04 Robin Jones and his Quintet – El Sueno (Apollo LP 1971)
Robin Jones was one of the UK's finest latin american percussionists. Here is a subtle and moody bossa from his brilliant Denga album featuring nice electric piano from Ian Henry and flute from Olaf Vas

05 Beadle/Horricks Orchestra – Samba Saravah (Major Minor 45 1967)
I think hearing Baden Powell's Samba Saravah on the 'Un Homme et Une Femme' soundtrack was what first got me into Bossa Nova. Great UK version with wordless vocals from (if my hunch is correct) Jackie Lee, who was married to Len Beadle in the 60s.

06 Tony Harrison Trio – Song Of The Jet (Private LP)
Straight out of Yorkshire's Selby Fork Hotel, the Tony Harrison Trio deliver a tasty version of Jobim's 'Song Of The Jet', some nice vocal harmonies and orchestral embellishments take it beyond the usual cabaret standard.

07 David & Marianne Dalmour – The Long Night (Columbia LP 1968)
A lovely slow and delicate bossa from the pen of UK easy/latin mainstay Duncan Lamont, featuring a smokey sax solo from jazz legend Don Rendell.

08 Kathe Green - Bossa Nova (Deram LP 1969)
Yes she's American, but this track was recorded in London with John Cameron so it counts. Green wrote this track and does some lovely wordless vocals.

09 Harmony Grass - I Think Of You (RCA LP 1970)
I reckon Beach Boys obsessive Tony Rivers must have picked up the Bossa influence through Brian Wilson efforts like 'Busy Doin Nothing'. Great track with some fabulous chord changes and vocal harmonies.

10 Chris Parmenter Orchestra – A Man Of Our Times (Polydor LP 1969)
You don't find many covers of this James Clarke track, nice version by Chris Parmenter.

11 Les Sans Nom - Oba Oba (Decca Eclipse LP 1971)
A slightly 'end of the pier' cabaret bossa from the husband/wife and 'friend Geoff' (hmm...) trio.
To my knowledge, Stockport is not known as a hot bed of bossa talent - but this version of the Bonfa classic has it's own charms.

12 Acker Bilk with Leon Young's Brazilians – Murmurio (Columbia EP 1963)
Acker's languid playing style seems to really suit Bossa Nova I think. The sleeve credits Jobim as the writer, but this track is actually by Djalma Ferreira who had a hit with it 3 years before this.

13 Peggy O'Keefe and her Quartet - O Morro (Waverley LP 1966)
Australian born pianist Peggy O'Keefe relocated to Scotland in the 60s and led her own jazz quartet at Glasgow's Chevalier Restaurant. A truly international outfit (drummer Ricky Fernandez was from Singapore and bassist Rudy Celerio from Ceylon) they've got a great feel and tackle a number of bossas on this LP – here we have Jobim's 'O Morro' with some great vibes from Jimmy Feighan.

14 Maggie Eaves Singers – Recado Bossa Nova (Avenue LP 1972)
Slinky version of the Djalma Ferriera track from the Maggie Eaves Singers.

15 Creme Caramel – Excursion (Pye 45 1969)
Led by Ross Mitchell (who also led UK late 60s pop outfit 'The Nocturnes') Creme Caramel come over as a kind of budget UK version of Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66. This is a great b side co-written by Mitchell.
BRIT BOSSA 2 (download the whole thing here)
Ok, first off - any Bossa purists out there remember this is British produced. Go easy on us, we were trying our best...
01 Alan Moorhouse Orchestra - Soul Bossa (Columbia 45 1970)
Let's kick off with something from Alan Moorhouse, this is the B side to the Theme From 'The Man Who Haunted Himself'.
02 Tom Springfield - Estrada do Sol (Decca LP 1968)
Not many UK singers where able to pull off a convincing Bossa actually sung in Portuguese, but Tom Springfield manages a great version of this Jobim song.
As his sister Dusty says in the liner notes, this is one of the standouts on the album and I agree with her. Arranged by Bobby Richards who did the soundtrack to 'The Smashing Bird I Used To Know'.
03 Crowdy Crawn - Djinn Djinn (Sentinel LP 1974)
There was much more to Cornwall's first lady of song Brenda Wootton than just folk – she also dipped her toe into other areas like blues and jazz. Here she conjures up a charming version of Jobim's 'Dindi', renaming it 'Djinn Djinn' (after the Arabic mischievous spirits perhaps - well there is a hookah nestling there in her ethnically adorned abode). The track features some lovely flute from John Cox.
04 Robin Jones and his Quintet – El Sueno (Apollo LP 1971)
Robin Jones was one of the UK's finest latin american percussionists. Here is a subtle and moody bossa from his brilliant Denga album featuring nice electric piano from Ian Henry and flute from Olaf Vas
05 Beadle/Horricks Orchestra – Samba Saravah (Major Minor 45 1967)
I think hearing Baden Powell's Samba Saravah on the 'Un Homme et Une Femme' soundtrack was what first got me into Bossa Nova. Great UK version with wordless vocals from (if my hunch is correct) Jackie Lee, who was married to Len Beadle in the 60s.
06 Tony Harrison Trio – Song Of The Jet (Private LP)
Straight out of Yorkshire's Selby Fork Hotel, the Tony Harrison Trio deliver a tasty version of Jobim's 'Song Of The Jet', some nice vocal harmonies and orchestral embellishments take it beyond the usual cabaret standard.
07 David & Marianne Dalmour – The Long Night (Columbia LP 1968)
A lovely slow and delicate bossa from the pen of UK easy/latin mainstay Duncan Lamont, featuring a smokey sax solo from jazz legend Don Rendell.
08 Kathe Green - Bossa Nova (Deram LP 1969)
Yes she's American, but this track was recorded in London with John Cameron so it counts. Green wrote this track and does some lovely wordless vocals.
09 Harmony Grass - I Think Of You (RCA LP 1970)
I reckon Beach Boys obsessive Tony Rivers must have picked up the Bossa influence through Brian Wilson efforts like 'Busy Doin Nothing'. Great track with some fabulous chord changes and vocal harmonies.
10 Chris Parmenter Orchestra – A Man Of Our Times (Polydor LP 1969)
You don't find many covers of this James Clarke track, nice version by Chris Parmenter.
11 Les Sans Nom - Oba Oba (Decca Eclipse LP 1971)
A slightly 'end of the pier' cabaret bossa from the husband/wife and 'friend Geoff' (hmm...) trio.
To my knowledge, Stockport is not known as a hot bed of bossa talent - but this version of the Bonfa classic has it's own charms.
12 Acker Bilk with Leon Young's Brazilians – Murmurio (Columbia EP 1963)
Acker's languid playing style seems to really suit Bossa Nova I think. The sleeve credits Jobim as the writer, but this track is actually by Djalma Ferreira who had a hit with it 3 years before this.
13 Peggy O'Keefe and her Quartet - O Morro (Waverley LP 1966)
Australian born pianist Peggy O'Keefe relocated to Scotland in the 60s and led her own jazz quartet at Glasgow's Chevalier Restaurant. A truly international outfit (drummer Ricky Fernandez was from Singapore and bassist Rudy Celerio from Ceylon) they've got a great feel and tackle a number of bossas on this LP – here we have Jobim's 'O Morro' with some great vibes from Jimmy Feighan.
14 Maggie Eaves Singers – Recado Bossa Nova (Avenue LP 1972)
Slinky version of the Djalma Ferriera track from the Maggie Eaves Singers.
15 Creme Caramel – Excursion (Pye 45 1969)
Led by Ross Mitchell (who also led UK late 60s pop outfit 'The Nocturnes') Creme Caramel come over as a kind of budget UK version of Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66. This is a great b side co-written by Mitchell.
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