ZE RAMALHO - A PELEJA DO DIABO COM O DONO DO CEU (1979)
The style of music on this record is loosely based on the structure of forro. Forro is a style of Brasilian folk music that is played in the North Eastern part of the country towards the interior and usually associated with cowboys. Traditionally its themes deal with passion. betrayal, being forlorn and jealousy. It's played with a zazumba, triangle, and accordian and often involves sing-along choruses while people dance to it (again in a cowboy style).
Ze Ramalho, has taken the forro formula and messed with it (and some other Brasilian folk styles) in varying degrees for many of the tracks on this LP. I bought this record in Brasil on a recommendation and it was one of my favorites to return to the states with. Some of the songs meander into kitschy ballad rock territory, but the album is a concept album: the title is translated into "An epic battle between the devil and the proprietor of the sky(heaven)." The songs deal with good vs. evil, redemption, the nature of humans, and of course, being forlorn.
Trivia: Admirável Gado Novo was used in a Brasilian novella. Another bit of trivia: The scary guy with the hat and huge fingernails on the cover is Ze De Caixao, a popular Brasilian film cult hero from back in the day (RIP).
This record is also cool because it is a gatefold with inner photos depicting other weirdos posing with Ze and also comes with a giant booklet of lyrics and artwork.
Download: Ze Ramalho - A Peleja Do Diabo Com O Dono Do Ceu
