Today I introduce a new contributor, Ayrton Mugnaini Jr., with some fascinating Brazilian artists unknown to me previously. Ayrton’s blog (in Portuguese) is www.ayrtonmugnainijr.blogspot.com.

The Sparks were formed in São Paulo in 1964 and are still active today, albeit with only one member from original lineup, drummer Edison Della Monica. Their recording history is regrettably scant: less than ten records between singles, albums and CDs. They had disbanded in 1972, reuniting in 1989, under a new name, Raio-X (“X-Ray”), recording an LP of Shadows-styled instrumental rock; in 2000 they reverted to the name Sparks for good.

This track, “Ilusão” (“Illusion”), is a group-penned composition from a 1968 untitled EP (on the medium-sized Beverly label, presently owned by EMI).