Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, writer, and political activist Caetano Veloso was exiled from his home of Brazil in 1969 for his stance against the government. He fled to London with fellow singer Gilberto Gil where they lived for two years. Veloso was granted permission to return to Brazil for the first time for one month in January 1971. While in Rio de Janeiro, the singer was interrogated by the military, who requested that he compose a song praising the Transamazônica highway during its construction. Caetano refused this proposal. Upon returning to London, he recorded an LP titled Transa, released in Brazil in January 1972.

Transa predominantly features the electric western rock sound of the 70s, blended with Brazilian rhythms, percussion, the distinctive sound of the berimbau, and Caetano Veloso's violão playing. This fusion may explain why the album has gained such prominence over the years. It presents enough Western styles to attract outsiders while maintaining a distinctly Brazilian flavour. The album also includes standout tracks such as “You Don’t Know Me", “Nine out of Ten” (which Caetano himself regards as his best song in English), “Neolithic Man" and “Mora Na Filosofia” (a song that initially caused a stir with its rock interpretation of a classic samba).

Tracklist: 

Side A

Side B