''Pelé'' is a 1977 album by the Brazilian composer and arranger

Sérgio Mendes Sérgio Santos Mendes (; 11 February 1941 – 5 September 2024) was a Brazilian musician. His career took off with worldwide hits by his band Brasil '66. He released 35 albums and was known for playing bossa nova, often mixed with funk. He ...

and the Brazilian footballer

Pelé Edson Arantes do Nascimento (; 23 October 1940 – 29 December 2022), better known by his nickname Pelé (), was a Brazilian professional Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward. Widely reg ...

. It was the soundtrack for a documentary about Pelé's life. The album was Pelé's debut as a singer and songwriter. Pelé sings on "Meu Mundo É uma Bola (My World Is a Ball)" and "Cidade Grande (Big City)", accompanied largely by

Gracinha Leporace Gracinha Leporace (born Maria da Graça Leporace; 20 January 1950) is a Brazilian singer who worked extensively with her late husband Sérgio Mendes and his band. Leporace was born in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro. She has a sister, Marianna Leporac ...

Reception

Fred Beldin reviewed the reissue of the album for

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

and wrote that "...the sounds are as lilting and tropical as all of the Brazilian light jazz specialist's work, though there are a few moments of quiet brooding that are unexpected. While plenty of non-musical celebrities have embarrassed themselves with their attempts at pop stardom, Pelé's contributions are pleasant and low-key". Beldin wrote of Pelé and Gracinha Leporace's vocals that her "soft, sweet tones blend smoothly with the soccer star to ensure that he never strays into discordant territory".

Track listing

# "O Coração do Rei (The King's Heart)" – 1:35 # "Meu Mundo É uma Bola (My World Is a Ball)" – 4:07 # "Memorias (Memories)" – 1:06 # "Nascimento (Birth)" – 0:31 # "Voltando a Bauru (Back to Bauru)" – 2:52 # "Cidade Grande (Big City)" – 0:50 # "Cidade Grande (Big City)" – 2:24 # "Alma Latina (Latin Soul)" – 3:21 # "A Tristeza do Adeus (The Sadness of Goodbye)" – 1:32 # "A Tristeza do Adeus (The Sadness of Goodbye)" – 4:44 # "Na Bahia (In Bahia)" – 2:43 # "Amore e Agressao (Love and Aggression)" – 3:26 # "Meu Mundo É uma Bola (My World Is a Ball)" – 3:52

Personnel

– vocals on "Meu Mundo É uma Bola (My World Is a Ball)" and "Cidade Grande (Big City)" *

, Carol Rogers – vocals *

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, pianist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing t ...

–

baritone saxophone The baritone saxophone (sometimes abbreviated to "bari sax") is a member of the saxophone family of instruments, larger (and lower-pitched) than the tenor saxophone, but smaller (and higher-pitched) than the bass saxophone, bass. It is the lowe ...

alto saxophone The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgians, Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in the key of E♭ ( ...

*Bill Dickinson – double bass *

Oscar Castro-Neves Oscar Castro-Neves (May 15, 1940 – September 27, 2013), was a Brazilian guitarist, arranger, and composer who is considered a founding figure in bossa nova. Biography He was born in Rio de Janeiro as one of triplets and formed a band with his ...

– guitar * Chico Spider – keyboards *

Jim Keltner James Lee Keltner (born April 27, 1942) is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America". Howard Sounes. ''Do ...

– drums * Chacal,

Laudir De Oliveira Laudir Soares de Oliveira (6 January 1940 – 17 September 2017) was a Brazilian musician and producer mostly renowned for his time as percussionist with the band Chicago. Career Oliveira grew up in Rio de Janeiro, and started working profession ...

Steve Forman Steve is a masculine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Steven or Stephen. Notable people A–D * Steve Abbott (disambiguation), several people * Steve Abel (born 1970), New Zealand politician * Steve Adams (disambiguation), sev ...

– percussion *

– arranger, producer *

Geoff Gillette Geoffrey, Geoffroy, Geoff, etc., may refer to: People * Geoffrey (given name), including a list of people with the name Geoffrey or Geoffroy * Geoffroy (surname), including a list of people with the name * Geoffroy (musician) (born 1987), Canadian ...

–

engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who Invention, invent, design, build, maintain and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials. They aim to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pele (album) 1977 soundtrack albums Albums arranged by Sérgio Mendes Albums produced by Sérgio Mendes Portuguese-language soundtracks 1970s Portuguese-language albums Sérgio Mendes albums Atlantic Records soundtracks Pelé