This is a fun compilation, opening with the superbly warm and groovy track 'Beginnings'. The bulk of the material here is from Astrud's later 60s albums on the Verve label, 'look to the rainbow', 'windy', 'september 17, 1969' and 'I haven't got anything better to do'. There are also a couple of great tracks from the album she did with Walter Wanderley. The contrasting arrangements (Gil Evans, Eumir Deodato, Alberto Gorgoni) sound interesting when heard side by side. Much of this stuff is only otherwise available on Japanese issue CDs, so this brings it together quite nicely. Unfortunately, I have all the Japanese CDs and original albums, so quite why I bought this, I'm not sure. Still, it is an undeniably great compilation featuring the cream of Astrud's groovier tracks. |