CD Armandinho – The 1928-1929 HMV Sessions = As Sessões HMV De 1928-1929

Step back into the golden age of Portuguese music with Armandinho – The 1928-1929 HMV Sessions (As Sessões HMV De 1928-1929). This seminal compilation, released by Heritage Records in 1994, gathers the historic recordings of Armando Augusto Salgado Freire—better known as Armandinho. Recorded for the British "His Master’s Voice" label between October 1928 and September 1929, these sessions capture a pivotal moment when the fado tradition first entered the commercial recording era.

As a virtuoso of the guitarra portuguesa, Armandinho’s lyrical style and improvisational flair defined the "fado castiço" sound. This 18-track collection features masterfully restored audio that preserves the intimate timbre of the instrument with surprising clarity for its age. The release is an essential document for collectors, offering a rare glimpse into the composer's technical mastery and lasting influence on Portuguese culture.

Key tracks and highlights include:

• Fado Peniche and Fado Alexandrino (including alternate versions)
• Stunning instrumental pieces like Variações Em la Menor and Variações Em la Maior
• Atmospheric classics such as Fado de Sintra and Fado das Berlengas
• The evocative closing track, Olhos Bonitos

Whether you are a fado aficionado or a seeker of early 20th-century world music, this Heritage release provides a compelling and historically significant listening experience.