[1] Exiled in London since 1969, Caetano Veloso gained permission to stay one month in Brazil in January 1971 to see the commemorative mass of his parents 40th anniversary.

In Rio de Janeiro, the singer was interrogated by the military who asked him to compose a song complimenting the Transamazônica highway - during its construction.

Caetano didn't accept the "proposal", but, back in London, recorded the LP with the title "Transa", released in Brazilian territory in January 1972, when the singer returned to the country for good.

[3][4] Caetano calls it "one of my favorite records", feeling that it reaches a level of musicianship he was unable to achieve on previous albums.

[6] It also proved popular with the Brazilian public, due partly to its inclusion of a new version of the old samba "Mora na Filosofia", originally by Monsueto Menezes.