Jorge Ben covers comp Tudo Ben gets vinyl release... finally!

The 25-track Tudo Ben collection – originally released on CD in 2008 – has now been issued by Mr. Bongo as a 2LP vinyl package.

Here's the scoop from Mr. Bongo...

Jorge Ben is surely one of the world’s greatest all-round musical artists. He is internationally renowned and vastly influential as a vocalist, musician, performer and phenomenal songwriter. Famed for penning ‘Taj Mahal’, which was the source for Rod Stewart’s ‘Do You Think I’m Sexy?’, and also ‘Mas Que Nada’, one of Brazil’s most iconic anthems, Jorge Ben is a powerful musical force. A simple glance at his impressive back catalogue reveals a master of his craft, with a depth and quality that is seldom paralleled. 

For 'Tudo Ben' we take a side-step, focusing on Jorge Ben’s songs that have been performed by other artists. Complied by Mr Bongo, Greg Caz and Sean Marquand, this collection features the Brazilian legends Elza Soares, Claudette Soares, and Wilson Simonal, alongside prodigious artists such as Marijô, Os Brazoes, and Doris Monteiro to name but a few. The selection covers a wide range of genres including samba, bossa nova, MPB and batucada workouts. Many of the songs featured have become staples in Mr Bongo DJ sets over the years and are some of our most loved classics. As with many of history’s great songwriters, Jorge Ben’s songs transcend genres and styles, they can be covered and reinterpreted, yet the quality of the writing holds up to the standard of the original. 

In the dark days of the mid to late 2000s when the end of vinyl seemed inevitable, Mr Bongo released 'Tudo Ben' on CD only. Years later, we finally get to put this right and present it for the first time on vinyl with alternative artwork by Mr Krum.

Writes co-compiler Greg Caz... 

"About 15 years ago I put together a compilation of assorted artists doing Jorge Ben songs for the Mr. Bongo label. The basic idea was that Jorge was so prolific that he gave away countless songs to other artists that he never recorded himself, so rounding up as many of them in one place was a no-brainer. It came out pretty cool despite the inability to use anything that was on Universal (so no Philips or Polydor tracks). I wrote extensive liners for each track and the comp came out…on CD only. I screamed and yelled and stomped my feet until they agreed to put it on vinyl too…just now, 15 years later. Patience pays off, I guess. Sadly, they went the cheap route and left out my liner notes (oh, the humanity!) but having these 25 tracks in one 2LP package is better than not having that option at all. So here it is." – Greg Caz

Tudo Ben: Jorge Ben Covered

1. Salinas - Tenha Fé, Pois Amanhã Um Lindo Dia Vai Nascer / 2. Elza Soares - Pulo, Pulo / 3. Sonia Santos – Speed / 4. Osmar Milito - Rita Jeep / 5. Wilson Simonal – Zazueira / 6. Osmar Milito - Quem Mandou / 7. Doris Monteiro - Se Você Quiser Mas Sem Bronquear / 8. Wilson Simonal - Que Pena / 9. Osmar Milito - Morre O Burro, Fica O Homem / 10. Os Originais do Samba - Lá Vem Salgueiro / 11. Os Brazões - Carolina, Carol Bela / 12. Wilson Simonal - Crioula / 13. Claudette Soares - Êles Querem É Amar / 14. Os Incríveis - Vendedor De Bananas / 15. Wilson Simonal - Brasil, Eu Fico / 16. Cyro Aguiar - Rei Do Maracatu / 17. Wilson Simonal - Resposta / 18. Elza Soares - Mas Que Nada / 19. Wilson Simonal - País Tropical / 20. Os Originais do Samba - Cadê Tereza / 21. Marijô - Fio Maravilha / 22. Os Originais do Samba - Tenha Fé, Pois Amanhã Um Lindo Dia Vai Nascer / 23. Os Brazões - Que Maravilha / 24. Os Mutreteiros Grilados - Cosa Nostra / 25. Os Originais do Samba - Falador Passa Mal

Get a copy of Mr. Bongo's “Tudo Ben: Jorge Ben Covered” via Bandcamp right here. Have a listen below followed by a Jorge Ben performance of a number of his classics from 1972.