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Great CD for fans of Sergio Mendes and The 5th Dimension

JMK | Pacific Northwest | 12/25/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Carnival in LP form was one of the holy grails for collectors of Sergio Mendes-related material. The group consisted of three of the original Brasil '66 members, who left the group around the time "Look Around" was released (there are some interesting details about this from vocalist Janis Hansen included in the liner notes for this latest CD release). The first CD release, from several years ago, was a bare-bones (not to be confused with bare-Bones Howe, LOL) affair. This latest release rectifies that, and features as bonus tracks the two singles the group recorded for United Artists that never made it to a proposed second album, as well as a mono mix (not up to snuff, perhaps the source material was damaged) of "Son of a Preacher Man." When you consider that the group featured seasoned veterans of Brasil '66 (though, strangely, the rhythm tracks were all done by session people, not the B'66 members--though the session folk are all the cream of the LA scene of the time, including Pete Jolly) working under the aegis of Bones Howe and Bob Alcivar (who would later work with Sergio himself on Sergio's two Bell albums), you get an interesting hybrid that a lot of people have compared to Brasil '66 crossed with The 5th Dimension. The vocal arrangements are uniformly lush and gorgeous (especially on one of their two charting singles, "Laia Ladaia"), and while the album suffers a bit from typical Bones Howe overproduction, it's a really worthwhile trip for anyone who loves the two groups this group most resembles."

The Carnival

Kerry S. Smith | Tallahassee, FL USA | 02/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can now die because The Carnival is finally now on CD.



I was based at Yokota Air Base Japan when this album came out. Armed Forces Radio gave Laia Ladaia and some of the other songs ample air time, and I bought the album, one of the best I have ever listened to in my 55 years on this earth.



The group was similar to Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66, in fact, 3 of the members were from that band. Nonetheless, although I am a fan of Sergio's various bands, The Carnival had a more fast paced beat, with groovy, boss, beta, bitchin, out of sight vocals, and I believe was the better musical group, with superior arrangements.



Thanks again for bringing back some of the fondest memories of my life, drinking Kirin Beer at the bar Apollo in the company of a good looking bar girl, while listening to The Carnival on the juke box."

Fantastic Piece of Pop

Schenectady Scott | Schenectady, NY USA | 04/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great Bones Howe production from the core of Brasil 66'. Fits nicely between Sergio Mendes and Fifth Dimension

great vocals and arangements. Great version of Trade Martin's "Take Me For A Little While". Would of love to have heard a second helping!"