Samba singer Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos’ career began in 1965, but her powerful voice first registered with a wider audience when she shortened her name to Gal Costa. She tapped into a new generation of songwriters in Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and his sister Maria Bethânia, her voice taking their words to new heights. After an album of breezy bossa nova duets recorded with Veloso in 1967, she released her electric debut in 1969. UFO organ effects, stinging guitar leads from Tropicália guitar hero Lanny, chamber pop, lush big band orchestration arranged by Duprat, all of it topped by Gal’s purring vocals, inaugurated the start of a long career by one of Brazil’s most beloved singers.

– Andy Beta