Brazilian singer and songwriter Rita Lee has released 22 studio albums, seven live albums, eight compilation albums, two spoken word albums, and 24 other releases. With over 55 million units sold worldwide, Lee is the most successful Brazilian female artist of all time in record sales.
In 1970, she began her solo career by signing with Polydor Records. Her first release under the label was her debut album, Build Up (1970), recorded jointly with the Tropicália band Os Mutantes. This partnership was repeated on her following record, Hoje É o Primeiro Dia do Resto da Sua Vida (1972). Her subsequent release, Atrás do Porto Tem uma Cidade (1974)—issued in conjunction with the group Tutti Frutti through PolyGram—sold a modest 9,000 copies. Lee's fourth studio album and her first under Som Livre, Fruto Proibido (1975), peaked at number seven on the IBOPE albums chart and sold 700,000 copies. It became the best-selling album by a woman in Brazil that year and was the first Brazilian rock release to achieve high sales, helping to popularize the genre in the country. She followed this with her fifth and sixth studio albums, Entradas e Bandeiras (1976) and Babilônia (1978), which sold 90,000 and 150,000 copies respectively during their first years of release; the latter reached number five on the IBOPE chart and marked her final project with Tutti Frutti.
In the late 1970s, Lee established a prolific songwriting and stage partnership with her husband, composer and guitarist Roberto de Carvalho. The duo's first release, Rita Lee (1979), sold 800,000 copies. Their following project, also titled Rita Lee (1980), achieved widespread commercial success; it reached the top 10 on the charts in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Argentina, and peaked at number one in Brazil, where it sold over one million copies. Eight subsequent records resulted from this partnership: Saúde (1981); Rita Lee & Roberto de Carvalho (1982), which sold two million units and became one of the best-selling Brazilian albums of all time; Baila Conmigo (1983); Bombom (1983); and Rita e Roberto (1985), which concluded her contract with Som Livre. Flerte Fatal (1987), Zona Zen (1988), and Rita Lee & Roberto de Carvalho (1990) were released through EMI. The latter two achieved less commercial prominence, signaling the decline and eventual end of the credited partnership.
During the 1990s, Lee released only two studio albums, Rita Lee (1993, through Som Livre) and Santa Rita de Sampa (1997, through Universal Music), both of which generated little popular appeal. However, the decade stood out for her live releases: Bossa 'n Roll (1991), A Marca da Zorra (1995), and Acústico MTV (1998), which sold 650,000 copies across CD and DVD formats. Lee entered the 2000s with 3001 (2000), which garnered excellent critical reception and won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Brazilian Rock Album, marking her first victory at the ceremony. Her subsequent work, Bossa 'n Beatles (2001), issued by Deckdisc, was highly successful in Argentina, reaching number two and receiving a platinum certification from CAPIF, alongside selling 250,000 copies within a few months. Lee's penultimate album of original material, Balacobaco (2003), marked her return to Som Livre; it sold 550,000 copies, reached number eight on the IstoÉ albums chart, and peaked at number 17 in Portugal. During the promotional tour for this record, she released MTV ao Vivo (2004), which was followed by another live recording, Multishow ao Vivo, in 2009. Her final studio album, Reza, was released in 2012 by Biscoito Fino.
Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Peak chart positions for albums in Brazil: For Fruto Proibido: For Babilônia: For Lança Perfume: For Rita e Roberto: For Flerte Fatal: For Bossa 'n Roll: For Santa Rita de Sampa: For Acústico MTV: For Balacobaco: Peak chart positions for albums in Portugal: For Saúde: For Balacobaco: For O Melhor de Rita Lee: Peak chart positions for albums in Argentina: For Lança Perfume: For Baila Conmigo: For Bossa 'n Beatles: Peak chart positions for albums in Uruguay: For Saúde: Peak chart positions for albums in France, Belgium and Switzerland: For Lança Perfume: Build Up Released: 1970 Label: Polydor Formats: — — — — — — — Hoje É o Primeiro Dia do Resto da Sua Vida Released: September 1972 Label: Polydor Formats: — — — — — — — BRA: 1,000 Atrás do Porto Tem uma Cidade Released: June 1974 Label: PolyGram Formats: — — — — — — — BRA: 9,000 Fruto Proibido Released: 30 June 1975 Label: Som Livre Formats: 7 — — — — — — BRA: 700,000 Entradas e Bandeiras Released: July 1976 Label: Som Livre Formats: — — — — — — — BRA: 90,000 Babilônia Released: April 1978 Label: Som Livre Formats: 5 — — — — — — BRA: 150,000 Rita Lee(Mania de Você) Released: August 1979 Label: Som Livre Formats: — — — — — — — BRA: 800,000 : 2× Platinum Rita Lee(Lança Perfume) Released: 25 September 1980 Label: Som Livre Formats: 1 — 7 — 10 10 10 BRA: 1,000,000 : 60,000 : 30,000 PMB: 2× Platinum Saúde Released: 4 November 1981 Label: Som Livre Formats: — 4 — 14 — — — BRA: 430,000 PMB: Platinum Rita Lee & Roberto de Carvalho(Flagra) Released: November 1982 Label: Som Livre Formats: — — — — — — — BRA: 2,000,000 PMB: 2× Platinum : Silver Baila Conmigo Released: April 1983 Label: EMI Formats: — — 8 — — — — : 80,000 Bombom Released: November 1983 Label: Som Livre Formats: — — — — — — — PMB: 2× Platinum Rita e Roberto Released: 7 September 1985 Label: Som Livre Formats: 10 — — — — — — BRA: 500,000 PMB: Gold Flerte Fatal Released: 12 May 1987 Label: EMI Formats: 5 — — — — — — BRA: 500,000 PMB: Platinum Zona Zen Released: 5 December 1988 Label: EMI Formats: — — — — — — — BRA: 130,000 PMB: Gold Rita Lee & Roberto de Carvalho(Perto do Fogo) Released: November 1990 Label: EMI Formats: — — — — — — — BRA: 100,000 : Silver Rita Lee(Todas as Mulheres do Mundo) Released: 26 July 1993 Label: Som Livre Formats: — — — — — — — Santa Rita de Sampa Released: 4 September 1997 Label: Universal Music Formats: 38 — — — — — — PMB: Gold 3001 Released: 17 July 2000 Label: Universal Music Formats: — — — — — — — BRA: 300,000 PMB: Gold Bossa 'n Beatles(Aqui, Ali, em Qualquer Lugar) Released: October 2001 Label: Deckdisc Formats: — — 2 — — — — BRA: 250,000 : Platinum PMB: Gold Balacobaco Released: 27 October 2003 Label: Som Livre Formats: 8 17 — — — — — BRA: 550,000 POR: 9,000 PMB: Platinum Reza Released: 30 April 2012 Label: Biscoito Fino Formats: — — — — — — — "—" denotes items that were not released in that territory or have no available records for a specific chart.
Live albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications BRA Refestança (with Gilberto Gil and Tutti Frutti)Released: November 1977 Label: Som Livre Formats: —BRA: 200,000 Bossa 'n RollReleased: August 1991 Label: Som Livre Formats: 5BRA: 400,000 A Marca da ZorraReleased: 1995 Label: Som Livre Formats: — Acústico MTV: Rita LeeReleased: 3 September 1998 Label: Universal Music Formats: 4BRA: 650,000 PMB: Platinum (CD) + Platinum (DVD) MTV ao Vivo: Rita LeeReleased: 6 December 2004 Label: EMI Formats: — PMB: Gold (CD) + Gold (DVD) Multishow ao Vivo: Rita LeeReleased: 22 May 2009 Label: Biscoito Fino Formats: — Uma Noite no Luna Park (ao Vivo)Released: 31 October 2024 Label: Universal Music Formats: — "—" denotes items that were not released in that territory or have no available records for a specific chart.
Compilation albums Title Album details Notes O Melhor de Rita Lee Released: 1976 Label: Fontana Formats: LP A 12-track compilation released in Brazil in 1976, including the previously unreleased song "E você ainda duvida? / Tutti Frutti". Os Grandes Sucessos de Ritta Lee Released: 1981 Label: Fontana Formats: A 14-track compilation released in Brazil in 1981 and in France in 1982, including the previously unreleased tracks "Nessas alturas dos acontecimentos", "Paixão da minha existência atribulada", and "Minha fama de mau". O Brilho do Encontro Released: 1983 Label: RGE Formats: LP A 14-track compilation of songs by Rita Lee and Erasmo Carlos released in Brazil in 1983, featuring a previously unreleased duet between the two for the song "Minha fama de mau". Rita Hits Released: 1984 Label: Som Livre Formats: Rita ReLEEda Released: 2000 Label: EMI Formats: Rita Lee & Roberto - Classix Remix Vol. I Released: 9 April 2021 Label: Universal Music Formats: Rita Lee & Roberto - Classix Remix Vol. II Released: 14 May 2021 Label: Universal Music Formats: Rita Lee & Roberto - Classix Remix Vol. III Released: 25 June 2021 Label: Universal Music Formats:
Spoken word albums Title Album details Notes Pedro e o LoboReleased: 1989 Label: EMI Formats: A narration of the story Peter and the Wolf in collaboration with Roberto Tibiriçá and the Orquestra Nova Sinfonieta. Tutu, o Menino ÍndioReleased: 1996 Label: Velas Formats: CD A narration of the story Tutu, o Menino Índio by Toni Brandão, shared with Gerson de Abreu, Marisa Orth, Vânia Bastos, André Abujamra, Felipe Gaudêncio, Ulisses Cohen, and Lígia Cortez.
Other releases + The following albums were only released in limited availability (certain territories or formats); do not contain any unreleased material or new recordings; and are not part of Lee's core discography. Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Notes POR Rita Lee Type: Promotional EP Released: 1979 Label: Som Livre Formats: 7" — A four-track EP containing tracks from the album Mania de Você, including the title track, "Corre-corre", "Chega mais", and "Maria mole". Gala Apresenta: O Melhor de Rita Lee Type: Compilation album Released: 1979 Label: Gala Formats: LP — Rita Lee Type: Promotional EP Released: 1981 Label: Som Livre Formats: 7" — A four-track EP containing tracks from the album Lança Perfume, including the title track, "Baila comigo", "Nem luxo, nem lixo", and "Caso sério". Saúde Type: Promotional EP Released: 1982 Label: Som Livre Formats: 7" — A four-track EP containing tracks from the album Saúde, including "Banho de espuma", "Atlântida", "Mutante", and "Favorita". Baila Brazil Type: Compilation album Released: 1983 Label: EMI Formats: LP — An 11-track compilation released in Italy in 1983 featuring the same cover artwork as Baila Conmigo. The release occurred after Lee performed on the RAI program Te lo do io il Brasile. Rita Lee: Tratos à Bola Type: Compilation album Released: 1986 Label: Philips Formats: — Grandes Sucessos de Rita Lee & Roberto Type: Compilation album Released: 1988 Label: Som Livre Formats: — Rita Lee: Lança Perfume e Outras Manias Type: Compilation album Released: 1992 Label: EMI Formats: — PMB: Gold Meus Momentos Type: Compilation album Released: 1994 Label: EMI Formats: CD — PMB: Platinum Performance: Rita Lee Type: Compilation album Released: 1996 Label: EMI Formats: CD — Meus Momentos (Volume 2) Type: Compilation album Released: 1997 Label: EMI Formats: CD — A 14-track compilation released in Brazil in 1997, with the majority of tracks considered rarities as they are not present on any album in Lee's official discography. MPB Compositores: Rita Lee Type: Compilation album Released: 1997 Label: SGE Formats: CD — Os Grandes da MPB: Rita Lee Type: Compilation album Released: 1997 Label: Gala Formats: CD — Para Sempre Type: Compilation album Released: 2001 Label: EMI Formats: CD — Novelas Type: Compilation album Released: 2002 Label: Som Livre Formats: CD — A 16-track compilation released in Brazil in 2002 containing songs featured on telenovela soundtracks, including the pop version of "Minha vida (In My Life)". Rita Lee Hits Volume I Type: Compilation album Released: 2005 Label: EMI Formats: CD — O Melhor de Rita Lee Type: Compilation album Released: 19 September 2005 Label: EMI