Astrud Gilberto had begun tackling '60s vocal pop crossovers on her
Windy album from earlier in 1969, but her final record (of three) from that year found her stretching out not just on material but on arrangements. The production and arrangements by
Brooks Arthur and Albert Gorgoni, respectively, attempt to push
Gilberto into the type of groovy "now sound" that everyone from
Harry Nilsson to
Andy Williams was employing in the late '60s. Of course,
Gilberto was an easy fit for this type of sound, and the only missteps here come when the songs don't fit her occasionally limited talents. "Light my Fire" is at the top of that list, while
the Bee Gees' "Holiday" and
Nilsson's "Don't Leave Me, Baby" appear very high as well. Highlights do crop up, with the opener "Beginnings" working very well except for its long coda, and the one Brazilian song, "Let Go (Canto de Ossanha)" charting the perfect balance between timeless pop and late-'60s crossover appeal. ~ John Bush