Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66

Mendes, a pianist from Niterói, assembled Brasil ’66 in Los Angeles and signed to A&M, where Herb Alpert produced the group. Their reading of “Mas que Nada” was the group’s breakthrough single and their calling card — the opening track of Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66, an album the RIAA certified gold. The single reached number 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Easy Listening chart. The arrangement is superb and the record deserves its standing — the only error is chronological. Mendes returned to the song in 2006 with the Black Eyed Peas, reaching number six on the UK Singles Chart, which pushed the association even harder.