Alibi

One of Brazil's greatest voices and biggest stars, Maria Bethania first came to public attention as part of the tropicalismo/MPB movement that included Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, and Bethania's brother Caetano Veloso. While she's no traditionalist, Bethania leans more toward the romantic than to the outspoken iconoclasm of her peers. Her subtle, sensual voice is capable of imparting a world of emotions in a single line, and she puts this ability to good use on ALIBI.
This 1978 recording, her first huge seller, was the one that really broke Bethania, turning her into a superstar/icon. Fortunately, she was able to achieve this notoriety without any commercial compromise. Far from being a crossover effort, ALIBI is an album of impeccably sung ballads that are full of passion. The tunes are written by some of Brazil's finest, most inventive composers, including the aforementioned Gil, Chico Buarque, and brother Caetano. The electric piano and mellow guitar work place the album squarely in the '70s, but the pure emotion of Bethania's singing is truly timeless.