Mendes, Sergio - Righteous Life Lyrics

I forgot about this album. I have it as vinyl. Different sound from some other albums but great.

Liberating......

I have this record on vinyl. This was the last album that Lani Hall appeared on before leaving the group. Their most underrated album as far as I'm concerned, and up their with their classic albums. A break from their sound, and just as timeless. Love it!

Not a surprise that Sergio and his usuals were not the session band for this - the rhythm just doesn't have Mendes' usual brasilo-syncopated take on the material; it's got a pretty straightforward folk rock chop to it - not unappealing, to be sure, but not Sergio. That aside, Paula Stone's melody and lyrics are so painfully beautiful, and Ms. Hall-Alpert's vocals so pure, that who cares?

If I were to guess who did the drumming on this song, my guess would be Hal Blaine and piano most likely Larry Knechtel.

Though firmly rooted in the sensibilities of the late 60s and early 70s, both in genre and lyrical approach, this song seems more important than ever - the one thing that might need changing - ha ha - is the title to 'SELF Righteous Life" - but this is what the song is asking anyway: what is a righteous life? What are the costs and compromises...and when does righteousness tumble into a rigid solipsistic 'rightness' (aka self-righteousness)? Is the simplicity of living and the rejection of rigid stances for which so many yearned some half century ago still plausible, or have we gone too far astray?

The Best Song Ever Written. Authored by Paula Stone. Paula you bring tears to my eyes. Thank You!

Some of the most intelligent lyrics ever written. Does anyone know what body of water they are sitting in front of on the album cover? Where is it?

"......It's a righteous life we're leading friends
Heavy dues, pay the fee
But no one else notices
Destiny except the free, except the free......"
Esas maravillosas líneas concebidas por la desconocida Paula (Stone) Nesselson no son lo más fascinante de esta clásica de clásicas de 1971 (de uno de los dos más grandes álbums que grabó la agrupación de Sergio Mendes & Brasil ´66), sino la limpieza, belleza, femeneidad, frescura, armonía y sensualidad de las voces de Lani Hall (lead vocal) y Karen Philipp (falsetto), sobretodo cuando ambas voces encuentran el unísono. Adicionalmente, en todo el album "Stillness" (a diferencia de lo que sucede en "Primal Roots", el otro álbum magistral del grupo), se da una mezcla de ritmos "bossa nova" y "folk-rock" que favorece aún más las voces féminas que Don Sergio siempre supo identificar como nadie.

This song is so different from their format but will have to say one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.....Just heard it for the first time Christmas Day on a simi box set I bought for my Dad.....love it

This sounds so much like "By My Side" and "All Good Gifts"  both from the movie soundtrack of "Godspell".  I like it a lot and this was my first listening to "Righteous Life".

Not exactly the easiest album to find from Sergio Mendes. I like this a lot, but it must have confused many fans of their more Bossa Nova albums. This sounds more like it should be part of the Progressive Folk movement. I would have guessed this as the British band Affinity or maybe Julie Driscoll before I would have guessed Brasil 66.

My version is now up at: youtube. com/watch?v=BThmcaqV6rY&feature=c4

"...but no one else notices, destiny, except the free, except the free"
The first time I heard this song, this line stayed into me for a long while, I'm glad when I saw Paula's comment, it now is clear to me. People who are still caught within a vicious cycle of their oppressors could never understand what they want to achieve in life until they break free from this and be able to start looking for their destiny. Thanks so much for writing this.
I still have this song on repeat in my iPod. :)

Paula, my whole family are big Sergio Mendes fans and my parents used to play me the "Stillness" album as a kid. I've always loved this song, and as a musician myself I'm going to do a cover of this song for YouTube. It still sounds great 43 years later. Have you written songs for any other artists aside from Sergio Mendes? Take care. :-)

Patricia,it's Wrong,who plays in drums is not Slon,eventough,Claudio Slon is a superb musician and amazing drummer all over the world.Thanks

Para este album eligió temas rebuscados. Le quedó un disco para enamorarse. El tema perdidos en el paraiso, el mejor

You might want to read the album credits LOL. Claudio Slon told me personally he didn't play on this cut (when he was still alive and living in Colorado).

That's definitely Mendes on piano and can tell that's Claudio Slon on drums for sure.

In spite of the change of style, I think the piano is Sergio, because of the weight of the touch of his right hand and the sound-supporting-role of his single left hand.

The rhythm section here isn't actually Brasil '66 (or even Sergio on piano), but members of "The Wrecking Crew". This was probably done by Sergio and Herb to help get some chart action, but funnily enough, the two charting singles off of this album were "Chelsea Morning" and "For What It's Worth," both with Sergio and his usual sidemen.

Shows how versatile Sergio is with his musical styles. Lovely track! :)

I own this cd, bought it new on lp format and wore it out..sadly this song gets no recognition, and less recording.

it's on his latest Best Of cd celebrating 50 years!!

this is marvelous,Paula Stone

Can you post this whole album?? I love it.