Tag Archives: Sergio Mendes

♫ The Look Of Love ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I am a fan of Latin music, and a big fan of Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66, and this is one of my favourites of theirs.  I did not even know that Dusty Springfield had recorded it at all, let alone that hers is the more well-known.

According to Burt Bacharach, who wrote this song …

“I had Dusty sing that very sexy. Dusty was very open to suggestions. To listen to the vocal back with her she’d have to go into a control room to hear it. She wanted to hear it alone. She was very tough on herself. But she did a great job.”

The Look Of Love was written by Bacharach for the movie Casino Royale. It was nominated for an Oscar but didn’t win, and Springfield’s version reached only the #22 slot in the U.S.  The cover by Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66, however, did become a #4 hit in the US in 1968 after Mendes performed this on the Academy Awards telecast.

Now, since my favourite version hands down is Sergio’s, I shall play it first, but I will also include Dusty Springfield’s for those who prefer it.

The Look Of Love
Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66/Dusty Springfield

The look of love
Is in your eyes
A look your smile can’t
disguise

The look of love
Is saying so much more than
Just words could every say
And what my heart has heard
Well it takes my breath away

I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you

You’ve got the look of love
It’s on your face
A look that time can’t erase
Baby be mine, tonight

Let this be just the start of
So many nights like this
Let’s take a lovers vow
And seal it with a kiss

I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you

Don’t ever go
Don’t ever go
I love you so
The look of love

Let this be just the start of
So many nights like this
Let’s take a lover’s vow
And baby we’ll seal it with a kiss

I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Burt Bacharach / Hal David
The Look Of Love lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

♫ Fool On The Hill ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

Last night I was, for reasons that shall remain undisclosed, literally kicking myself and calling myself a ‘fool’.  And as I did so, perhaps it was the kicking and head smacking, a number of songs with ‘Fool’ in the title came to mind.  Me, myself, and I pondered a few, such as Elvis Presley’s “Fools Rush In”, The Doobie Brothers “What a Fool Believes”, and Sammy Davis Jr.’s “What Kind of Fool Am I”.  But, for reasons unknown to me, myself chose this one, the Beatles’ “Fool On The Hill”.

Written and sung by Paul McCartney, it was released in 1967.  I find it interesting that a year later Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66 recorded the song and their version fared much better than the one by The Beatles.  While I like Sérgio Mendes’ music, I much prefer The Beatles’ version of this particular song.  Nonetheless, I shall play both and let you guys choose your favourite.

The story, according to Alistair Taylor’s book, Yesterday, goes …

An event which prompted this song happened when Paul was walking his dog, Martha, on Primrose Hill one morning. As he watched the sun rise, he noticed that Martha was missing. Paul turned around to look for his dog, and there a man stood, who appeared on the hill without making a sound. The gentleman was dressed respectably, in a belted raincoat. Paul knew this man had not been there seconds earlier as he had looked in that direction for Martha. Paul and the stranger exchanged a greeting, and this man then spoke of what a beautiful view it was from the top of this hill that overlooked London. Within a few seconds, Paul looked around again, and the man was gone. He had vanished as he had appeared.

A couple of the music critics really did not like this song at all …

  • “Possibilities in this song outweigh its substance—it’s the most unworthy Beatles standard since ‘Michelle.'” — Tim Riley, NPR contributor
  • “… shows signs of becoming a favorite of the Simon & Garfunkel crowd and the transcendental meditators, who deserve it. A callow rendering of the outcast-visionary theme, it may be the worst song the Beatles have ever recorded.” — Robert Christgau, Esquire magazine

The Fool on the Hill
The Beatles

Day after day, alone on a hill
The man with the foolish grin is sitting perfectly still
Nobody wants to know him
They can see that he’s just a fool
But he never gives an answer

But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning round

His head in a cloud
The man with a foolish grin is talking perfectly loud
But nobody wants to hear him
They can see that he’s just a fool
But he never gives an answer

But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning round

But nobody wants to know him
They can see that he’s just a fool
But he never gives an answer

But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning round

But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning round

Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
The Fool on the Hill lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

♫ Never Gonna Let You Go ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under music

It’s been two years since I’ve played this one, and tonight there are extenuating circumstances that force me to seek a past music post to redux!  I lost an hour.  AN HOUR!!!  It was 2:00 a.m. yesterday, and then … without warning … all of a sudden it was … GASP … 4:00!!!  My circadian rhythm is … GONE!  SHOT!!!  I am … TOAST!  (Yeah, okay, I’m a bit of a drama queen, but hey …).  I am devastated … knackered … putrefied … obliterated … AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!

One thing about doing these mostly-daily music posts is it has challenged me to dig back through my memory banks to recall artists and songs that I once liked but hadn’t thought about in years, sometimes decades.  One such artist is Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes.

Released in 1983, Never Gonna Let You Go is sung by Joe Pizzulo and Leeza Miller.  That’s Sergio on the keyboard.  Songwriters Cynthia Weil (lyrics) and Barry Mann (music) composed the song and originally submitted it to Earth, Wind and Fire, but they ultimately decided not to record it.

Mendes was preparing a new album for an April 1983 release and said …

“All the other songs on the album were up and festive. I needed a ballad on the album, just to change the pace a bit.”

And so this song became the title song for his album.  Mendes is probably best known for his 1968 The Look of Love.

Never Gonna Let You Go
Sérgio Mendes

I was as wrong as I could be
To let you get away from me
I’ll regret that move for as long as I’m livin’
But now that I’ve come to see the light
All I wanna do is make things right
So just say the word and tell me that I’m forgiven

You and me, we’re gonna be better than we were before
Loved you then but now I intend
To open up and love you even more
This time, you can be sure

I’m never gonna let you go
I’m gonna hold you in my arms forever
Gonna try and make up for all the times
I hurt you so
Gonna hold your body close to mine
From this day on, we’re gonna be together
Oh, I swear this time
I’m never gonna let you go

Lookin’ back now, it seems so clear
I had it all when you were here
Oh, you gave it all
And I took it for granted

But if there’s some feeling left in you
Some flicker of love that still shines through
Let’s talk it out
Let’s talk about second chances

Wait and see, it’s gonna be sweeter than it was before
I gave some then but now I intend
To dedicate myself to giving more
This time you can be sure

I’m never gonna let you go
I’m gonna hold you in my arms forever
Gonna try and make up for all the times
I hurt you so

Gonna hold your body close to mine
From this day on, we’re gonna be together
Oh, I swear this time
I’m never gonna let you go

Oh, so if you’ll just say
You want me too

I’m never gonna let you go
I’m gonna hold you in my arms forever
Gonna try and make up for all the times
I hurt you so

Gonna hold your body close to mine
From this day on, we’re gonna be together
Oh, I swear this time
I’m never gonna let you go
Never gonna let you go
Hold you in my arms forever
Gonna try and make up for all the times
I hurt you so
Hold your body close to mine
Oh, we’re gonna be together
Oh, I swear this time
I’m never gonna let you go

Songwriters: WEIL CYNTHIA / MANN BARRY
Never Gonna Let You Go lyrics © Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Mann And Weil Songs Inc, SONY/ATV SONGS LLC OBO MANN AND WEIL SONGS INC

♫ The Look Of Love ♫

Posted on by under music

I am a fan of Latin music, and a big fan of Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66, and this is one of my favourites of theirs.  I did not even know that Dusty Springfield had recorded it at all, let alone that hers is the more well-known.

According to Burt Bacharach, who wrote this song …

“I had Dusty sing that very sexy. Dusty was very open to suggestions. To listen to the vocal back with her she’d have to go into a control room to hear it. She wanted to hear it alone. She was very tough on herself. But she did a great job.”

The Look Of Love was written by Bacharach for the movie Casino Royale. It was nominated for an Oscar but didn’t win, and Springfield’s version reached only the #22 slot in the U.S.  The cover by Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66, however, did become a #4 hit in the US in 1968 after Mendes performed this on the Academy Awards telecast.

Now, since my favourite version hands down is Sergio’s, I shall play it first, but I will also include Dusty Springfield’s for those who prefer it.

The Look Of Love
Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66/Dusty Springfield

The look of love
Is in your eyes
A look your smile can’t
disguise

The look of love
Is saying so much more than
Just words could every say
And what my heart has heard
Well it takes my breath away

I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you

You’ve got the look of love
It’s on your face
A look that time can’t erase
Baby be mine, tonight

Let this be just the start of
So many nights like this
Let’s take a lovers vow
And seal it with a kiss

I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you

Don’t ever go
Don’t ever go
I love you so
The look of love

Let this be just the start of
So many nights like this
Let’s take a lover’s vow
And baby we’ll seal it with a kiss

I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Burt Bacharach / Hal David
The Look Of Love lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

♫ Fool On The Hill ♫

Posted on by under music

Yes, I know I promised to ease off on the reduxes, and no, I haven’t run out of fresh music to play.  But, fact is this one has been in my head the whole bloomin’ day, even to the point that I can picture McCartney with that little tilt of his head … so anyway … it’s a good song … just sit back and listen, okay?  Humour da old woman!

Written and sung by Paul McCartney, it was released in 1967.  I find it interesting that a year later Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66 recorded the song and their version fared much better than the one by The Beatles.  While I like Sérgio Mendes’ music, I much prefer The Beatles’ version of this particular song.  Nonetheless, I shall play both and let you guys choose your favourite.

The story, according to Alistair Taylor’s book, Yesterday, goes …

An event which prompted this song happened when Paul was walking his dog, Martha, on Primrose Hill one morning. As he watched the sun rise, he noticed that Martha was missing. Paul turned around to look for his dog, and there a man stood, who appeared on the hill without making a sound. The gentleman was dressed respectably, in a belted raincoat. Paul knew this man had not been there seconds earlier as he had looked in that direction for Martha. Paul and the stranger exchanged a greeting, and this man then spoke of what a beautiful view it was from the top of this hill that overlooked London. Within a few seconds, Paul looked around again, and the man was gone. He had vanished as he had appeared.

A couple of the music critics really did not like this song at all …

  • “Possibilities in this song outweigh its substance—it’s the most unworthy Beatles standard since ‘Michelle.'” — Tim Riley, NPR contributor
  • “… shows signs of becoming a favorite of the Simon & Garfunkel crowd and the transcendental meditators, who deserve it. A callow rendering of the outcast-visionary theme, it may be the worst song the Beatles have ever recorded.” — Robert Christgau, Esquire magazine

The Fool on the Hill
The Beatles

Day after day, alone on a hill
The man with the foolish grin is sitting perfectly still
Nobody wants to know him
They can see that he’s just a fool
But he never gives an answer

But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning round

His head in a cloud
The man with a foolish grin is talking perfectly loud
But nobody wants to hear him
They can see that he’s just a fool
But he never gives an answer

But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning round

But nobody wants to know him
They can see that he’s just a fool
But he never gives an answer

But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning round

But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning round

Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
The Fool on the Hill lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

♫ Never Gonna Let You Go ♫

Posted on by under music

One thing about doing these mostly-daily music posts is it has challenged me to dig back through my memory banks to recall artists and songs that I once liked but hadn’t thought about in years, sometimes decades.  One such artist is Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes.

Released in 1983, Never Gonna Let You Go is sung by Joe Pizzulo and Leeza Miller.  That’s Sergio on the keyboard.  Songwriters Cynthia Weil (lyrics) and Barry Mann (music) composed the song and originally submitted it to Earth, Wind and Fire, but they ultimately decided not to record it.

Mendes was preparing a new album for an April 1983 release and said …

“All the other songs on the album were up and festive. I needed a ballad on the album, just to change the pace a bit.”

And so this song became the title song for his album.  Mendes is probably best known for his 1968 The Look of Love.

Never Gonna Let You Go
Sérgio Mendes

I was as wrong as I could be
To let you get away from me
I’ll regret that move for as long as I’m livin’
But now that I’ve come to see the light
All I wanna do is make things right
So just say the word and tell me that I’m forgiven

You and me, we’re gonna be better than we were before
Loved you then but now I intend
To open up and love you even more
This time, you can be sure

I’m never gonna let you go
I’m gonna hold you in my arms forever
Gonna try and make up for all the times
I hurt you so
Gonna hold your body close to mine
From this day on, we’re gonna be together
Oh, I swear this time
I’m never gonna let you go

Lookin’ back now, it seems so clear
I had it all when you were here
Oh, you gave it all
And I took it for granted

But if there’s some feeling left in you
Some flicker of love that still shines through
Let’s talk it out
Let’s talk about second chances

Wait and see, it’s gonna be sweeter than it was before
I gave some then but now I intend
To dedicate myself to giving more
This time you can be sure

I’m never gonna let you go
I’m gonna hold you in my arms forever
Gonna try and make up for all the times
I hurt you so

Gonna hold your body close to mine
From this day on, we’re gonna be together
Oh, I swear this time
I’m never gonna let you go

Oh, so if you’ll just say
You want me too

I’m never gonna let you go
I’m gonna hold you in my arms forever
Gonna try and make up for all the times
I hurt you so

Gonna hold your body close to mine
From this day on, we’re gonna be together
Oh, I swear this time
I’m never gonna let you go
Never gonna let you go
Hold you in my arms forever
Gonna try and make up for all the times
I hurt you so
Hold your body close to mine
Oh, we’re gonna be together
Oh, I swear this time
I’m never gonna let you go

Songwriters: WEIL CYNTHIA / MANN BARRY
Never Gonna Let You Go lyrics © Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Mann And Weil Songs Inc, SONY/ATV SONGS LLC OBO MANN AND WEIL SONGS INC