Released in 1963, the album features a dozen instrumentals arranged by Claus Ogerman, whose work would mark the beginning of a lifelong musical relationship with Jobim.

The opening track "The Girl from Ipanema" is believed to be the second most recorded song in history behind The Beatles' "Yesterday," and a recording of the song by Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz became a worldwide hit in 1964.

Jobim, in a 1988 interview on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, recalled this struggle with American producers:...when I got to the stage, they wouldn't let me play piano here.

[7] In 2007, Rolling Stone Brasil ranked it number 58 in "Os 100 Maiores Discos da Música Brasileira" (The 100 greatest Brazilian music records).

Pete Welding of Down Beat said, "If the bossa nova movement had produced only this record, it would already be fully justified.