The Bare Necessities - Astrud Gilberto

ASTRUD GILBERTO may not be a name that is familiar to you, but surely you recognize her voice as the singer on Stan Getz's Girl from Ipanema. That song can be found on influential jazz bossa nova album GETZ/GILBERTO from 1964. The Giberto featured in the album's title is João Gilberto, a Brazilian singer/guitarist who is credited as creating the bossa nova beat! Astrud was married to João at the time and was invited to sing on the Ipanema track, the popularity of which instantly launched her career as a professional singer.

Astrud signed a contract with Verve who produced her records throughout the 60s. The Bare Necessities can be found on her 1968 album, WINDY. The kid she is singing with is her son, Marcelo Gilberto, who, twenty years after this recording, eventually became her bass player through the 80s and 90s.

This a fun cover, and I give her extra points for singing the "prickly pear" verse which many artists leave out. But the inclusion of Marcelo playing the Mowgli part helps make the verse actually mean something. I love the banter between the two. It's quite charming.

This cover was requested by Jonathan M Kemp, and it is my pleasure to be able to fulfill it! Enjoy!