Between the 1974 album Lóki? and 1981’s Singin’ Alone, Arnaldo Baptista went through his hard-rock phase—or rather, his “lenha” phase (to use a 1960s term still found in Arnaldo’s vocabulary to describe raw, heavy rock). He undertook this high-octane journey alongside the band Patrulha do Espaço (Space Patrol).

This journey began in 1975, when Arnaldo organized his new project, Space Patrol—initially with drummer Zé Brasil, and later with a settled lineup featuring Rufino and Dudu on guitars, Cenoura on bass, and Arnaldo on drums (playing with two hi-hats, one on each side). These were strictly home rehearsals, using small amplifiers and accompanied by a television left on with the sound turned off.

In 1977, the group adopted the name Arnaldo & A Patrulha do Espaço and continued rehearsing with the following lineup: John Flavin on guitar, Osvaldo Gennari (“Cokinho”) on bass, Rolando Castello Júnior on drums, and Arnaldo on piano and vocals. Late that year, the group recorded thirteen songs in just two days at Vice-Versa Studio, with the unwavering support of conductor Rogério Duprat. Had a record label picked up the material, it would have undergone a final mix. With no label interest, the album only surfaced—albeit partially, and derived from a rough mix taken from a two-channel copy—eleven years later, in 1988, under the title Elo Perdido (Missing Link).

Twelve songs emerged from this period; Arnaldo would later re-record seven of them for Singin’ Alone — either in their original versions or adapted into English or Portuguese — incorporating subtle yet fundamental changes to the lyrics. Elo Perdido reprises tracks from Singin’ Alone: Sunshine (originally O Sol); Corta Jaca; “h! Trem/Train; “Emerging from Science (originally Coming Through the Waves of Science); and Sitting on the Roadside (originally Sentado ao Lado da Estrada).*

As for previously unreleased tracks, we have: Sexy Sua — a song about love and sex composed for his ex-girlfriend Martha Mellinger. With its title/chorus relying on a play on words—is Sua a verb? A pronoun? — it can be summed up as a celebration or practical exercise of the libido.

“É um Pouco Assustador I” (It’s a Bit Scary I) explores, according to Arnaldo, the reactive interplay of telepathic encounters—moments where the participants are startled yet gain self-insight.

In “Fique Aqui Comigo” (Stay Here With Me), Arnaldo engages in a dialogue with an unknown visitor who acts as both partner and audience in a mental conversation-performance. (Marcelo Dolabela – bhz, Oct/Nov 1999).

*According to Arnaldo Baptista, the correct title for the song “Raio de Sol” is “Sentado ao Lado da Estrada.”

1-Sunshine
2-Sexy Sua
3-Corta Jaca
4-Oh Trem
5-Emergindo da Ciência
6-Sentado ao lado da Estrada
7-É Um Pouco Assustador
8-Fique Aqui Comigo