The combination of
Jorge Ben and
Trio Mocoto had already produced great things when
Forca Bruta first appeared in 1970.
Ben's self-titled album of the year before had reeled off a succession of Brazilian hits, including
"Pais Tropical" and
"Cade Teresa," and made the four musicians very busy as a result.
Forca Bruta was a slightly different album, a slice of mellow
samba soul that may perhaps have been the result of such a hectic schedule during 1969. One of the hidden gems in
Jorge Ben's discography, it's a wonderful album because it kept everyone's plentiful musical skills intact while simply sailing along on a wonderful acoustic groove that may have varied little but was all the better for its agreeable evenness. The songs may have been more difficult to distinguish -- virtually every one began with acoustic guitar, similar instrumentation, and
Ben's caressing vocals over the top -- but it made the record one of the best in
Ben's hearty career. ~ John Bush
![Buena Vista Social Club [25th Anniversary Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/4050538630053_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Buena Vista Social Club [25th Anniversary Edition]")
![The Epic [LP]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/5054429002300_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "The Epic [LP]")
