Caetano Veloso is the third self-titled album

Eponym

An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...

 by Caetano Veloso

Caetano Veloso

Caetano Emanuel Viana Teles Veloso , better known as Caetano Veloso, is a Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, writer, and political activist. Veloso first became known for his participation in the Brazilian musical movement Tropicalismo which encompassed theatre, poetry and music in the 1960s,...

. It was recorded in England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, when the artist was in an exile imposed by the Brazilian government of the time

History of Brazil (1964-1985)

The Brazilian military government was the authoritarian regime which ruled Brazil from March 31, 1964 to March 15, 1985. It began with the 1964 coup d'état led by the Armed Forces against the democratically elected government of left-wing President João Goulart and ended when José Sarney took...

 for being subversive. It is mostly sung in English, differing a lot from his previous albums, it has a sad tone throughout it, which reflects his feelings about being far from his home country, his family, and friends. It was released first in Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

, and then in Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

, in 1971. From the album booklet:

Caetano Veloso was a superstar in Brazil. He came to England and decided to make London his home in the summer of 1969. A French saint once said that it is as dangerous for a writer to try a new language as it is for a believer to try a new religion: he can lose his soul.

Caetano adopted English for the lyrics on this album to convey his first impressions of living in a foreign country. The songs serve as a two-way mirror, focusing thoughts and memories of home and absent friends and reflecting his reaction to a new but friendly environment. "A Little More Blue" and "London, London" were the very first songs to be written after leaving Brazil. "Maria Bethânia

Maria Bethânia

Maria Bethânia Vianna Telles Veloso , better known as Maria Bethânia , is a singer and sister of Caetano Veloso. She started her career in Rio de Janeiro in 1964 with the show "Opinião"...

" is one of the most popular singing stars in Brazil; she is also Caetano's sister. "If You Hold a Stone", which is dedicated to Lygia Clark, and "Shoot Me Dead" are contemporary proverbs. "In The Hot Sun of a Christmas Day" an epic hiding behind the cloak of a carol. "Asa Branca

Asa Branca

Asa Branca is a song written by Luiz Gonzaga and Humberto Teixeira in 1947. It has been covered by Zé Ramalho in his 2003 album Estação Brasil, also see Forro in the Dark with David Byrne. It is about the droughts that often afflict the sertão of the Brazilian Northeast:The asa-branca of the title...

", which was written by Luiz Gonzaga

Luiz Gonzaga

Luiz Gonzaga do Nascimento was a very prominent Brazilian folk singer, songwriter, musician and poet. Born in the countryside of Pernambuco , he is considered to be responsible for the promotion of northeastern music throughout the rest of the country...

, is a song about migration and home sickness...

"When your tears wet the dry land

and spread the green of your eyes

over the dead trees

I promise you that

Then I'll be back, dear

Then I'll be back, dear

Then I'll be back."

Track listing

All songs written by Caetano Veloso

Caetano Veloso

Caetano Emanuel Viana Teles Veloso , better known as Caetano Veloso, is a Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, writer, and political activist. Veloso first became known for his participation in the Brazilian musical movement Tropicalismo which encompassed theatre, poetry and music in the 1960s,...

 except where noted

1. "A Little More Blue" – 4:44
2. "London, London" – 4:11
3. "Maria Bethânia" – 6:58
4. "If You Hold a Stone" – 6:02
5. "Shoot Me Dead" – 3:19
6. "In the Hot Sun of a Christmas Day" (Gilberto Gil
   Gilberto Gil
   Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira , better known as Gilberto Gil or , is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter, known for both his musical innovation and political commitment...
   
   /Veloso) – 3:14
7. "Asa Branca" (Luiz Gonzaga
   Luiz Gonzaga
   Luiz Gonzaga do Nascimento was a very prominent Brazilian folk singer, songwriter, musician and poet. Born in the countryside of Pernambuco , he is considered to be responsible for the promotion of northeastern music throughout the rest of the country...
   
   , Humberto Teixeira) – 7:26

Personnel

• Johnny Clamp – Photography
• Linda Glover – Cover Design
• John Iles – Engineer
• Ralph Mace – Producer
• Lou Reizner
  Lou Reizner
  Lou Reizner was a record producer, A&R executive and head of Mercury Records European operations. As a producer, he is perhaps best known for Rod Stewart's first two solo albums, for the orchestral version of The Who's rock opera Tommy, and Rick Wakeman's Journey to the Centre of the Earth...
  
   – Producer
• Phil Ryan
  Phil Ryan (musician)
  Phil Ryan is a Welsh keyboardist and composer, best known for his work with Man and Pete Brown-Early career:...
  
  – String Arrangements
• John Timperley – Engineer
• Caetano Veloso – Guitar, Vocals