Slightly Out of Tune ( Desafinado )

Music by Antonio Carlos Jobim

with original lyrics by Newton Mendonça, 1962

English lyrics by Jon Hendricks and Jessie Cavanaugh

With Mitchell Ayres' Orchestra

Produced by Hugo & Luigi

Recorded in Webster Hall, New York City

Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson

Recording Time 3:12

Recorded March 25, 1963 ~ Matrix No. PHA1-3748 Take 1

Album issue: RCA-LP12 "The Songs I Love" LSP-2708 STEREO 1963

When bossa nova exploded on the American music scene in the early 1960s, this lilting song was its anthem. Jazz saxophonist Stan Getz made the records that launched bossa nova, or 'the new thing' in the United States. His inspiration came from some recordings that guitarist Charlie Byrd had brought back from a Brazilian tour. Among them was one of 'Desafinado', written by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with Portuguese words by Newton Mendonça. Jesse Cavanaugh and Jon Hendricks made the literal translation of 'Desafinado' — 'slightly out of tune' — the basis for their American lyrics. The song was a hit, and bossa nova was here to stay.

( notes from "The Incomparable Como" Readers Digest UK compilation 1975 )

Notes: ~ Brazilian instrumental popularized in the United States

by tenor saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist Charlie Byrd (Verve).

For English lyrics "Jessie Cavanaugh" is a pseudonym for music publisher Howard S. Richmond