1964, the year I graduated from high school, and probably the last year a ‘jazz’ song was number 1 on the Billboard hot 100 list, and the year of this video:
Getz/Gilberto (1963)
Ahh, Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto, the epitome of cool, in 1963. I often insist that I don’t like making lists, but if I did, this album would be in my top 5.
It’s hard (for me) to believe that this album is almost 50 years old! It was recorded on March 18 & 19, 1963. All of the songs on the album were written by Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim who also played piano on the album. Guitar and vocals were Joao Gilberto, and additional vocals by Astrud Gilberto. The song “Girl from Ipanema” made a recording star of Astrud, who considered herself just a housewife. As all iconic songs tend to be linked to one artist, no one has been more closely associated with ‘Girl from Ipanema’ than Astrud. Many people thought that the Gilberto in the title of the album referred to her, but it didn’t. According to the booklet in the remastered release of Getz/Gilberto (1997), she was added to the album over the objection of her husband because she new the lyrics in English, and Getz liked the English lyrics. On her ‘official’ web site (astrudgilberto.com) she says her husband invited her to be on the album.
Whatever the truth, the song became a classic, launched a singing career for Astrud, and I believe was getz’ best selling album. It is certainly the album most remembered by people when they think of Getz.
