The soundtrack
according to Marcelo Fróes


The first recordings of Gilberto Gil in London, during his period of exile from 1969 to 1972, the soundtrack of "Copacabana, Mon Amour" was requested by the filmmaker Rogério Sganzerla. A cash amount was sent so that Gil would enter the studio and record the songs for the film´s soundtrack. Recording voice and guitar in two channels, Gil later recorded voice and guitar again (for the effect of overdubbing, thanks to which we hear two voices and two guitars of the artist, as if he was singing to himself). Finally, Gil added percussion and invited flute player and friend David Linger to provide the finishing touch. Péricles Cavalcanti also featured.
The result was excellent and two stereophonic master tapes were edited at the IBC London studio on 23 April 1970. A single copy was made and sent to Brazil, for Sganzerla to edit the soundtrack. This copy disappeared after some years and only in 1998, after countless investigations and thanks to selfless friends, was I able to locate the original master tape in the hands of an English collector - who had acquired a collection of which the tape had been part for many years after Gil´s return to Brazil.
Its launch helps to further portray the London phase of Gilberto Gil who, in early 1971, recorded an album upon finally being signed up by an English recording label.

Production credits:
Produced by Gilberto Gil
Recorded and mixed at IBC Studios
Technician: Andy Knight
London - 23 April 1970

Gilberto Gil - voice and guitar
Péricles Cavalcanti - guitar and backing vocals
David Linger - flute
Cláudio Karina - percussion

Text originally written for the insert of the CD soundtrack, launched in 2010 by Discobertas.