A Tábua de Esmeralda
| A Tábua de Esmeralda | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio albumby | ||||
| Released | 1974 | |||
| Genre | Soul,funk,samba | |||
| Length | 40:06 | |||
| Label | Philips | |||
| Producer | Paulinho Tapajós | |||
| Jorge Benchronology | ||||
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| SinglesfromA Tábua de Esmeralda | ||||
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A Tábua De Esmeraldais the 11th studio album by Brazilian singer-songwriter and guitaristJorge Ben.It was released in 1974 byPhilips Records.
Themes[edit]
The album showcases Ben's interest intheosophy,mysticism,and, above all,alchemy.Its title refers to theEmerald Tablet,a cryptic piece ofHermeticareputed to contain the secret of theprima materiaand itstransmutation;and its artwork incorporates drawings fromNicholas Flamel,who was historically immortalized as a great alchemist for his work on the philosopher's stone.[1]
Mysticism and alchemy are not the only thematic territories into which Ben ventures however. In the style ofFôrça BrutaandÁfrica Brasil,Ben continues to explore his Afro-Brazilian identity with songs such as “Zumbi”and “Menina mulher de pele preta”.[2]More simple, anodyne love songs make an appearance here as well with tracks such as “Eu vou torcer” and “Minha teimosia, uma arma pra te conquistar”. Other lyrics reflect Ben's signature fascination with the esoteric;[3]“O homem da gravata florida” describes the details of a man's strikingly beautiful tie, while “O namorado da viúva” is about the lover of a widow. Although tracks such as these stand out as notably singular in their subject matter, “O homem...” is in fact aboutParacelsus,while “O namorado…” is yet another reference to Nicholas Flamel.[1][4]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| MusicHound World | 5/5[6] |
| Music Story |  [citation needed] |
| Tom Hull – on the Web | B+ ( )[7] |
The record was ranked byRolling StoneBrazilas the sixth greatest Brazilian album of all time,[8]and has been included in Tom Moon's1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.[citation needed]Mike Wojciechowski fromTiny Mix Tapesconsidered it Ben's masterpiece.[1]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks written by Jorge Ben, except where noted
- "Os alquimistas estão chegando os alquimistas" – 3:15
- "O homem da gravata florida" – 3:05
- "Errare humanum est" – 4:50
- "Menina mulher da pele preta" – 2:57
- "Eu vou torcer" – 3:15
- "Magnólia" – 3:14
- "Minha teimosia, uma arma pra te conquistar" – 2:41
- "Zumbi"– 3:31
- "Brother" – 2:54
- "O namorado da viúva" – 2:03
- "Hermes Trismegistoe sua celestetábua de esmeralda"(Jorge Ben,Fulcanelli,traditional)– 5:30
- "Cinco minutos" – 2:57
References[edit]
- ^abcWojciechowski, Mike."1974: Jorge Ben Jor - A Tábua de Esmeralda",Tiny Mixtapes,Nov. 31, 2011.
- ^"Brute Force: A Look At Jorge Ben's Recorded Work".Okayplayer.2011-12-15.Retrieved2019-04-23.
- ^"Jorge Ben | Biography & History".AllMusic.Retrieved2019-04-23.
- ^"Jorge Ben | Brazil 70 Translation Project"(in Brazilian Portuguese).Retrieved2019-04-23.
- ^https://www.allmusic.com/album/r281230
- ^McGovern, Adam, ed. (2000). "Jorge Ben".MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide.Visible Ink.ISBN1578590396.
- ^Hull, Tom(May 3, 2021)."Music Week".Tom Hull – on the Web.RetrievedMay 7,2021.
- ^"Os 100 maiores discos da música brasileira"(in Portuguese). Umas Linhas. 2007-12-20. Archived fromthe originalon October 8, 2009.Retrieved2009-04-20.
External links[edit]
- A Tábua de EsmeraldaatDiscogs(list of releases)
