Sony Music is celebrating Roberto Carlos’ 50 years of Spanish recordings with a series of releases and musical projects, including a concert album through its Primera Fila series of live recordings in intimate settings.
Carlos will record the album before an audience at London’s Abbey Road Studios. “The idea was to have a legend record at a legendary place,” says Afo Verde, Sony Music Entertainment’s chairman/CEO for Spain and Portugal, who will produce the release.
The setting is a nod to the key role he played in the beginnings of Brazil’s pop-rock movement, as well as the influence of The Beatles on his songwriting.
The album will include 16 classic tracks, such as “Ese Tipo Soy Yo,” Carlos’ newest Spanish-language single, and his classic “Qué Sera De Tí,” which was recently covered by Thalía, in addition to other romantic hits.
In search of a new sound, Sony hired Latin Grammy-winning producer Julio Reyes (Marc Anthony, Alejandro Sanz) to rearrange the songs and Shakira’s longtime bandleader Tim Mitchell to assemble a group that will include percussionist Richard Bravo (Barbra Streisand, Juanes).
Carlos has a history of collaboration with such musicians as fellow countryman Caetano Veloso. Sony also plans a tribute album of different artists performing Carlos’ songs, and to rerelease key titles from his catalog throughout Latin America and the United States.