Bombshell From Brazil

This is an interesting package if for no other reason than it contains Carmen Miranda's infamous appearance on August 4, 1955. During the high-energy finale of "Give Them Something New" on The Jimmy Durante Show, she suffered a heart attack and passed away the following day. The remaining half-hour is split between five guest spots on several mid-'40s Armed Forces Radio Service programs and a six-song mini-set from "Club Miranda" -- the artist's 1950s nightclub act. Miranda has been credited as Brazil's primary export circa the 1930s. Her exotic dancing and visually striking persona were perfect for the American cinema. She definitely did her part for Uncle Sam in World War II, and 2004's Bombshell from Brazil commences with her contributions to the AFRS broadcasts Command Performance, Mail Call, and Jubilee. The Spanish-sung "Bullfight in Madrid" is described as a Brazilian march and flies by at a healthy tempo. Perhaps the best-known entry is the samba "Tico Tico," which she couples with another native number, "Mama Yo Quero" -- both from a June 26, 1944, edition of Jubilee. She mixes it up on a Thanksgiving 1944 installment of Mail Call, giving the troops a bit of home on the decidedly Yankee big-band standard "Chattanooga Choo Choo." The final AFRS-sourced selection is the rambunctious "Cae Cae," taken from a June 1945 edition of Mail Call. The "Club Miranda" section is of somewhat lesser sound quality, although it is listenable by all accounts and includes the self-parody "I Make My Money With Bananas" in addition to the signature opener, "South American Way." Tallulah Bankhead introduces Miranda's "Yipsii-I-O" during her March 25, 1951, guest spot on NBC Radio's weekly 90-minute variety Big Show. Even though Bombshell from Brazil might not be an essential collection, it is a worthwhile consideration. ~ Lindsay Planer|