Prelude is the eighth studio album by Brazilian keyboardist Eumir Deodato, released in 1973.

[1][7] With the signature track "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" (an arrangement of the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey), Prelude also features one of the most heavily sampled drum breaks in the early hip hop cannon.

The opening bars of September 13 features a legendary break beat used in many classic hip hop songs.

The album features guitarist John Tropea on three tracks, bassists Ron Carter and Stanley Clarke, and Billy Cobham on drums.

The Surround Sound portion of the disc features the Quadraphonic mixes of both "Prelude" and "Deodato 2" made available for the first time in over 40 years.