Reviews (page 2 of 9)
Apache
This was an enjoyable record. I wouldn't rave about it, but it has a unique style and was pleasant to listen to. Between 3 and 4 stars for me, but I'm going with 3 because I don't think it would appeal to many people unless they truly enjoy percussion and instrumentals.
Great! Really liked it. Great inclusion and great discovery.
Definitely some bongos in this one. It’s a groove that I enjoyed, but felt like an instrumental cover album. Not entirely sure why it made the list. Rating: 5/10 Favorite Song: Apache
This album has been sampled 1009 times, according to whosampled. And though it’s clearly one of the building blocks of modern music, it’s a very good time in its own right.
I think the name of the band and album overemphasises the bongos. Apart from Dueling Bongos, it's a cool, percussion-led instrumental funk album. The focus on the beats and effects (bongos with phasers?) seems to be a precursor for later hip hop production.
Not bad for what it is, but I won't ever be excited by instrumental movie soundtrack music.
Novelty band but I love percussion.
Hey, cool bongo playing! -Nobody
Apache is a great track and has its importance in the birthplace of hip-hop and breakdancing. The rest of the album is bongo overload.
Maybe there is such a thing as too much bongo
Actually really enjoyed this one. So much rhythm
Pretty good funk. It was better than I expected. I'm not sure why it deserves top 1000 ranking. But I guess 1000 is a pretty big number. It was quality for what it was, but it doesn't stand out to me.
Not a great album but important for being the backbeat of hip hop after the fact. Man can they rock those bongos!
É uma batucada massa, sem grandes opiniões
As advertised, there was a band with bongos and it was incredible. I love percussion and this whole album was a lot of fun, with instrumental covers of songs from different genres mixed with a bit of funk and jazz. I'm not sure I'd want to listen to this every day but I really enjoyed it. Bongo Rock was the best of the original tracks but the covers of Apache and Raunchy '73 were both excellent too.
Now these are the kind of albums that is a must listen. 🪘🪇🕺🏼🎺🎸 Fooking funkadelic
3.5, no inicio era um 4 mas depois ficou repetitivo
Elevator music with a beat.
Day 376 Pretty fun as a novelty. Highlight Ina Gadda da Vida
Ei
Truly felt like a great movie soundtrack album
Cool almost novelty album. Definitely heard a lot of these beats as samples.
Reminds me of my bongo playing mate who tends to be very theatrical He goes up to his loft to play his bongo’s. It’s a little drum attic. 2/5 20/8/26
Trás peças instrumentais bem arranjadas nas partes de metais, teclados e guitarras, perdendo-se no uso excessivo de percussão.
I really can't fathom why this album is on this list, this has to be some crazy bongos. The "Apache" cover starts off as a vibe, I'm not gonna lie. Very "Chicago-esque" and while the drums are prevalent, the brass is also great. "Let There Be Drums" was a little more subdued, but still great. "Bongolia" is back to the pep and spice, honestly love it. "Last Bongo In Belgium" is a step down, but still fun. "Dueling Bongos" is fun, but a little repetitive. The cover of "In A Gadda Da Vida" is a great almost James Bond song, super catchy. "Raunchy" sounds like the Sanford and Son theme almost with some 70s rock elements as well, kind of CCR. "Bongo Rock" had a very fun beat in the beginning and got better from there, a super fun ender. Honestly, this album was a blast and I would visit it again. It was fun reading about this being one of the most sampled albums ever as well. 4/5 Favorite Tracks: Apache, Bongolia, In A Gadda Da Vida Least Favorite Tracks:
Overall Rating - 3.41/5 (6.82/10). Super weird album.
This is kinda fun.
The most descriptive band name ever.
I mean....this is fun?...I just....it's a good time, I guess? If I threw fun parties, I would put this on, for a while. But otherwise....I think I'm all set, bongo-wise. Is this on the list only because of how heavily sampled the first track is?
Surprisingly, I enjoyed this & added all the tracks from the original release to my Instrumentals playlist. I mean, it's kind of background music, but I appreciate the quirkiness. Kool Herc or whoever rediscovered this at the dawn of hip-hop was like the guy who discovered gold in California.
3/10 listend to 80% of the album most of the songs sound the same
I mean. Really cool and funky stuff. Big sound and those bongos are slappin. Hard to say I’d listen to this in full again but nice.
Decent, fun album. Sonically a bit the same but a cool concept 3/5
the most consecutive bongos I have and probably ever will listen to
Favorite Track: Apache
Meh not good
A novelty Bongo drum album? In this economy?
This album may be more famous for being use as samples in distant future tracks, but it doesn't mean its music is only worth sampling, as it can be a fun experience. This record is a compilation of very funky songs, some of which being covers or other popular songs, such as "Let There Be Drums", "Apache", "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", "Raunchy '73" and "Bongo Rock" (basically more than half of the album). From these, the only original song I knew was "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", which I must say I don't like. However, the reinterpretation of this band I do really enjoy, not only because it lasts 10 minutes less, but the funk tone actually works incredibly well, and I specially liked how much life the horns bring. As for the rest of the songs, they are all funk tracks, having lively performances from the bongos, trumpets, drums, guitars and keyboards. Along with the already mentioned track in the previous paragraph, "Raunchy '73" and "Bongo Rock" create a very solid and charming ending section that leaves a great aftertaste, which is probably my favourite part of the album. The others, while decent, I think are not as great as these songs, and "Last Bongo in Belgium" I consider it to be the weakest. That's why I don't really see myself coming back to this album, regardless of how fun it can get.
I must admit, I’m only giving this a 3 because Apache is that damn important as a song. I’m a lover of hip hop, and the sample of Apache has been sliced and diced in so many ways to create great music in hip hop. Not to mention, my wife and I came out to Apache at our reception. But man oh man is it tough to listen to an almost hour long album of congos and bongos dominating things. By the time I got to Pipeline, that song was so refreshing it felt like taking a nice warm bath. Didn’t hate this album, but probably won’t ever listen to it in one full sitting again.
Luckily there was more instrumentation than just bongos on this album
This is #day738 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… that's a whole lot of bongos in there. I mean, bring them on, will you? My closest point of reference for this kind of music has probably been Safri Duo, that percussion/trance duo from my childhood years, so I can't say I'm very versed in the stuff. This particular record, though? Pretty fun for a Sunday afternoon listen. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day739, aka the first official day of my vacation.
Great!
Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Let There Be Drums, Apache, Bongolia Worth a listen but it's like background 70's movie music or a car wash scene in Welcome Back Kotter.
Haven't heard of them. Is the album bad? No. But I don't know about you but I've never woken up thinking "I wish there was a bongo cover of In A Gadda Da Vida" 2/5
Good but just average enjoyment
Incredibly fucking weird.
It is a very groovy experience with very groovy bongo covers of popular songs. It does feel like a very sampleable record which makes it an even more interesting listen. 7/10 [KEEP]
Very cool percussive Funk album. Sounds a bit sterile at times, I believe a more organic sound would suit this type of thing a bit better. But I liked these renditions and I cannot say I've many albums like this before. Good. Key tracks: Apache
Didn’t really like it
Sympa en fond pendant un repas ! Ou pendant que tu fais autre chose
progressive Drum-Band, 1973 -> 3
Great collection of instrumentals with some great covers. Favorite tracks: Apache, In A Gadda Da Vida, Pipeline
It was really fun. I felt transported into a 70's B-movie and I loved it.
I didn't know the band. Great sound. Especially when playing the classic tunes. Good album.
#434/1001. Is it April fools? Let me check. No, it is early August. Apache is of course a classic, and Bongo Rock and then there is just bongos. But I am also a fan of kitsch and easy listening records, so I hope to hear Martin Denny and Yma Sumac and Esquivel and many others here. If not, I'll give this a 5.
Wow. They aren't kidding. When they say "bongos," they really mean it. And it's GREAT. Who hasn't sampled this record at some point? "Apach" is the standout, of course, but "Last Bongo in Belgium" has absolutely no business being as good as it is. Excellent work, Bongo Band. I salute you, with FOUR STARS
What a waste of an hour. First few tracks you're thinking, these guys must've been super influential writing all these massive hits. Nope, a covers album. The sort of thing you'd hear at a summer garden party, adding nothing of their own to these tracks, apart from bongos, so many bongos, more bongos than anyone could ever need. One redeeming star for the long long list of songs these have been sampled in
NGL, kinda liked this. Great vibes.
An inspiring idea it just got annoying quickly
favs: apache bongolia dueling bongos in-a-gadda-da-vida bongo rock kiburi (pt 1) (i can’t get no) satisfaction wipeout apache (grandmaster flash mix) last bongo in belgium (breakers mix) rating 2.7/5
Gear: 64 Audio Duo Artwork: ✋🪘🤚 Production: 🪘😘🤌 Music: ❓🪘✅ Rating: 🪘🪘🪘🪘(🪘)/5
Pretty cool and recognizable stuff, but nothing hits like Apache.
Ein Experiment wie viele Bongo Solos in rund Einer Stunde ein Mensch ertragen kann. Musikalisch ziemlich stark aber die Bongo Ausdauer schwindet nach einer weile schnell 3/5
I genuinely loved this one. Wasn't expecting a bunch of covers that sounded like they came straight out of the opening credits of a 70's action show, but that's what I got, and they delivered.
This album is notable as the source of a lot of classic hip hop samples from the 1970s - 1990s. Cool for that music history fact, but I like all the derivative music more. 3⭐️
Interesting latinish tinged drum heavy rhythm songs it’s ok but not stella
I can find something to appreciate in a lot of these albums. I have no idea how this one made the list. It starts underwhelming and quickly becomes grating. A real chore to finish.
I wont turn down a good bongo solo, this album has it in spades.
jams
Had Bongos and Rocked. Five Stars
Fine background music
Kinda upsetting none of these songs were on Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
APACHE!!
Hell YEAH this rules!!!!
Nisam očekivala da će ovo biti ovako dobro, čak i bez vokala i ičeg drži pažnju nevjerovatno.
I enjoyed this but it was a bit much. Cutting about 1/3 of the length would still be enough. Overall 3.25 fun in moderation
Muy entrenado. Pensé iba a padecerlo pero nada que ver. Ahora, o está tocadísimo o regrabado. No puede sonar así en 1973. No tiene sentido todo tan perfecto. 7/10
Hard to find, managed a YouTube stream not the best quality. It was fine, interesting that this was a thing but.. meh? I don’t get it
Ok as background music
Why did someone feel the need to make this album?
It was good for what it was. It’s hard to listen to and fully enjoy and album solely composed of over and hour of bongo music. In smaller pieces I would have enjoyed it more and the music was impressive but as a full album it suffered.
This is so stupid
this is the anti-plunderphonics record. the OTP (one true pair) of music when paired with the amen break. the metaphorical heart of hip hop. so it is so natural that i weirdly thought i have heard the really much sampled part before because its too widely sampled. and everybody shall feel the pain of not being to remember which fucking song sampled it while still considering it as familiar. the pain. 3/5
Funk, soul, and percussion-driven instrumental music built from prominent bongos, rhythmic grooves, brass accents, and sparse arrangements feels like watching a talented street performer who has mastered one impressive trick and keeps finding new ways to repeat it. The album has undeniable energy and a strong rhythmic identity, but for me the limited musical palette made the experience feel more like an interesting curiosity than a fully engaging listen.
I don't really care for compilation albums. This was pretty enjoyable though. The parts with less bongos were definitely better.
I mean this is the best Bongo Band I've heard! 3.5/5
I guess there were bongos
It’s good musically but i definitely would not have it on loop. The drum work is insane though. Also the same riff is overused like crazy.
This website needed some bongos!
Not a bad album, "Pipeline" and "Bongo Rock" were the best
Love it! Groovy beats, fun remakes. Drum tracks sound familiar-i'm sure I've heard them sampled in some rap songs and definitely on at least one Beastie Boys tune. Gonna listen to this one again.
I was expecting some goofy novelty album and granted it is a novelty but it’s also bloody brilliant. Classic example of an album I never would’ve heard without doing this list and honestly if I had heard of it, not a chance I would’ve listened to it. Cannot fault a track on this one, it’s just a proper fun listen. Top Track - The cover of In A Gadda Da Vida was tremendous.
Cool record I never heard of
Wow weird Muzak. Strangely catchy.
A second day of instrumentals peppered with covers, although perhaps more accurately referred to as sampling. This became repetitive quite quickly
Fun but way too long
About as much fun as I can imagine having with a set of bongos. The surprise hit of 1001 so far (despite the bongo solo). 4*
The bongos sounded good. Seemed like lots of covers
Reading the origin story of this i can see how it happened but its a classic example of the Peter Principle. One track was fun, 2 tracks was good but having this expanded to a 77 minute album shows it was pushed too far. If it hadnt been sampled so many times it would have died a peaceful and warranted death.
Did no one get the memo on adding more cow bell? C'mon people. Read your messages!
Що воно таке? Класний музон)))
I am 100% biased. Growing up doing breakdance I heard tons of hiphop tracks that use samples from this album or just the tracks themselves. Even outside of its influence, this album is just great. Very danceable and creative, especially with it's fun takes on existing songs.
As a record in its own right, it’s just a really cool collection of early 70s-as-hell percussion-led funk/funk-rock instrumentals, which is entirely up my street, and with a name and a cover like that, it’s exactly the kind of thing I’d pull out at a vinyl shop on the cheap any day. Within context of its importance, it’s just cool to know the cratedigger spirit is exactly the same after 50 years even if it’s for different purposes, and it’s really interesting to hear the bones of sounds you could (and people have) so easily turn to other things because the bottom of it is so danceable and there’s so much room to build on.
Incredible Bongo Band? Probably the only bongo band. An easy inclusion on the list if your goal is to include bongos. Otherwise, it is a pass for me.
Not sure how I feel about an album of covers being included here, but you know what, it is an undeniably fun listen.
fantastic album if your favorite genre is "elevator music". which mine is not.
In a nutshell: all bongos, no rock. Overall: 2/10
"Bongo Rock" by Incredible Bongo Band is mostly instrumental album. I would like to praise the instrumental performance from the band.I like the way they blend rock, funk,jazz into simple and enjoyable track. The album is good but I feel there is something missing. Mostly I couldn't connect with some track after few minutes as it is mostly repetitive. "Apache" is the only standout track from the album. This album also helped build a landmark for hip-hop where many artists take sample from it. Overall not so great but not so bad album for me.
4.4/5 Certainly some incredible bongos. Really groovy instrumentals.
This was fun! I got ready for the work to the sound of bongos and upbeat rhythms. I recognized Apache, of course, as well as a few others. I would have never listened to this without the list's guidance but I'm glad I did.
The ultimate sample-making machines
7/14/26 Enjoyable and often rife with impressive composition, but not necessarily gripping or interesting. fun to hear the the og of the sample for my fave beastie boys song tho. Favorite Song: Last Bongo in Belgium Rating: 2.5/5
Interesting historically, and some alright tunes on there, but lacks depth (not surprising in an album revolving around bongos)
Really enjoyed so many songs sample this!
Fun!
Was not disappointed by the amount of bongos on this album.
I think this is a solid 3.5 album. It is good, had a big impact on early hip-hop, and it still has some lasting influence. That being said, it is also something that could have just floated by, as it doesn't push that many boundaries. It does just enough, done well.
It was definitely not my favorite, but it could certainly be worse. Bongos anyone? Just like cowbell, this album needs more bongos lol
Nice trivia, nothing I'd come back to.
Fun but not essential.
It's bongos, it's rock, it fuckin rules. 5
Fun listen and actively sampled by so many great songs afterwards
Needed more bongo
Very pleasantly surprised. Glad it was better then the incredible string band. Bongos>>Strings apparently
Now go listen to Shawn Lee's Incredible Tabla Band
No me gustó cómo terminaban algunas canciones, y por momentos se me hizo largo. Sin embargo, cuando conecté me gustó mucho. Ojalá lo usen en alguna peli de espías o similar.
Not bad but got redundant over time.
It certainly had Bongos.. and Rock!
Yes! For all the right reasons! This is what happens when you don't optimize the fun out of everything. You get bongo covers of In A Gadda De Vida
Yesterdays album would have really suited the mood I’m in at 3am listening to this, but alas, this is todays album and I’m really not feeling it. It’s just there, happening… and I’m listening to it. I am truly disconnected and entirely unmoved. I fear I’m being really unfair but that’s just where I’m at in this moment - or perhaps I hate this album ? Time will tell. I’m glad this app has an editing feature - I will see if I change my mind on a revisit in the future. I probably won’t.
One of those albums where I acknowledge musicianship but not my thing.
So... maybe too much bongo?
Yup, that's bongo music all right. Not really meant for deep listening I guess but surprisingly pleasant, especially on a hot summer day. The In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida cover provided a throwback chuckle.
Apache is alright, but the rest of it is silly
It's cool to see where a lot of samples have originated from, so it's an interesting listen for this album. It's a decent enough instrumental album, nothing too crazy but enjoyable. I would put this on ad background music, but I did find it started to drag towards the end. Pretty good, didn't blow me away. Fav Track: Apache
I liked this. You can see where a lot of artists got samples from.
i wasn't expecting *that*
I really enjoyed this!
When I saw the title I thought I wasn’t gonna like this. However it’s a banger, a proper toe tapper. So yeah it’s on my summer rotation now
Well, what a fucking great album, I can now see where all those hip hop samples originate from, tried to find some live showings on UT, but nothing available except Apache, which isn’t my favourite!
Odd choice for this list. I did enjoy listening to it, once, just for the curiosity, but while Apache deserves all the credit for its enabling role in the creation of hip hop, this album mainly holds interest only to DJs and academics. It's fun to think about all of the great tunes that used these beats, and to imagine what it must have been like at the original hip hop parties in 1970s Bronx where Kool Herc and others used records like this to invent the concept of a break beat, but the record itself is not very interesting.
I know this is in some ways a novelty/gimmick album, but I'm really impressed how much fun it is, not to mention having the breakout single "Apache", the all-time most sampled track *ever*. I'm not sure I've ever heard anything else from this album before, and certainly never seen "The Thing with Two Heads" (apparently the impetus behind the album and the origin of "Bongolia" and "Bongo rock"), so it's nice to get a blast of funky bongos and tunes that sounds fresh and new to me. I'm also struck by how *modern* the beats and effects sound, especially given that it's over 50 years old. I'm really torn between three and four stars, but notwithstanding the all-instrumental (and cover) aspect, and the fact that not even Michael Viner could remember who played on the album, it's got a groove and sound that few bands seem to have matched. It also make me kind of curious about watching the documentary "Sample This".
fun cocktail music for a tiki party? I was surprised to recognize "Apache".
I don't know about incredible, kind of taxing. 3.2/5
This album has the potential to be gimmicky — a “bongos are cool,” bongo-extravaganza. But the combination of excellent hooks with the choral horm section is undeniably enjoyable. A 4.
Bongo Rock (1973) is an uplifting album that's perfect for an afternoon or early evening listen. It also works really well as background music while having dinner with friends. The album has an exotic, African-inspired vibe that gives it a warm and energetic atmosphere. My favorite track was "Kiburi Pt. 1." I especially enjoyed the first three songs, which set my expectations quite high. While the rest of the album is still enjoyable, many of the tracks follow a similar rhythmic pattern, so they don't stand out as much individually. Overall, it's a solid and enjoyable listen, even if it becomes a bit repetitive at times.
It does what it says in the tin - I'd give it the 5 stars if I couldn't believe the bongos but I could.
This record is probably on here because of its significant influence on hip hop. The song "Apache" alone has been a consistent source for sampling up until the present. This is really a novelty record, providing a series of instrumental covers of a variety of popular songs. What saves it is that they are instrumental covers with excellent arrangements and memorable percussion. At its best, those covers are really memorable large ensemble funk/soul instruments. This is most represented by Apache and Bongo Rock. At worst, those covers are fairly entertaining novelties. The song "Last Bongo in Belgium" really drags at nearly 7 minutes long and "Dueling Bongos" is kind of dull despite being fairly short. However, they are exceptions. My take is that this works better at the individual song level and these songs really work well in a mix setting and that those individual songs are more important than the album as an album.
What a great album! You can hear so many of these drum beats in hip hop
Random but kinda cool
8/10 One day in 1972, a film producer realised that his latest B movie, The Thing With Two Heads, was short a bit of music. I know, says Michael Viner, why don’t we form a band that covers a load of popular tunes, but through the lens of bongos? Who would’ve thought that that course of events could provide the sample fodder that would form the basis of hip-hop and dance music for decades to come. This album is so influential in such a unique and unexpected way that it’s hard to see it as its own thing these days. As tracks slip by, breakbeats just pop up all over the place that you’ve heard so many times in the past that it’s a remarkable journey. Setting that aside, there’s a lot of musical quality here. There’s funky grooves, jazzy interludes and flurries of percussion that shift, evolve and entertain throughout. Yes, it does get a little drum heavy in places (who’d have thunk it?), but it’s not just bongos, there are cool guitar riffs, slinky organ parts and punchy horn hooks all over the shop too. Some bits are a bit on the cheesy side, others lean more towards soundtrack soul, but there’s just a little something special about it that lets you set that to one side and go along for the ride. Is it a perfect album? No. Is it a weird concept? Absolutely. Is it a critical and fundamental moment of musical history? Without a doubt. And it’s a load of fun too. Let There Be Drums - This is a cool, drum heavy surf-rock edged track. It doesn’t offer a vast amount of tonal content, but what it does has a cool groove and there’s good range to the drumming through the different sections. It’s not vastly varied, but it’s also only two and a half minutes long, so doesn’t need to be. Apache - This is the source of one of the most sampled drum loops of all time. Who knew that a cover of a Shadows track on which Cliff Richard played the Chinese drum would have this kind of life? It’s a solid, funky 70s cut that has, as you would expect, some absolutely fantastic, in the pocket drums and percussion. But it also has a couple of absolutely fantastic hooks from the horns and organ. There’s so much feel and vibe to this track and even in the percussion focused sections, it has enough range to the playing that it manages to stay interesting and hold the groove superbly. Great track. Bongolia - Continuing on from Apache, this is another excellent funk instrumental. It has great hooks, engaging rhythms and a quality vibe. There’s a great deal of swagger to the playing and the instrumental parts call and respond brilliantly. The beat does get a bit too cluttered at the end, though, and it then fades out kind of out of nowhere, which is a bit weird. Last Bongo In Belgium - The pace drops a bit here and we drift a touch into somewhere closer to jazz fusion. It’s cool stuff, but does stray a little onto the cheesy side of the ledger in places. There’s a great bass line, and some of the guitar is played with so much feel that you can almost see the stank face of the guitarist in your mind’s eye. While the pace of this is slower, it digs into a dirty, groovy funk rhythm that’s super engaging. The phased drums are so good and the whole jam is just a great vibe. Excellent work. Dueling Bongos - It’s quite funny to do a cover of duelling banjos with bongos. There’s some cool stuff in here and the production is really nice, with some cool use of reverb to create depth to the track. But it is also a drum only track, and everyone knows the drum solo is a chance for the rest of the band to have a wee or a line of coke. That’s not to take away from the quality of the drumming, which is excellent, but it’s not necessarily an every day listen, is it? In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - More classic 70s soundtrack funky soul now. It’s a slower paced effort that has a decent groove and some great riffs, but those riffs do get a bit repetitive due to the fact that much of the soloing over the top is quite… weird. Then we get stuck into some more great breakbeat stuff that grooves and rolls well but is somewhat limited by the fact that it’s more drumming for a couple of minutes. It’s pretty bloody good drumming though. And when we get out of the back of it, we get back into some more soundtrack funk again, which is really satisfying. Not a bad track, if a little dragged out. Raunchy '73 - This is a more proggy effort and jumps through a great range of sections and sounds through its relatively short run time. The guitar work in particular is mean and driven, but there are quality performances all over the shop. The groove is great and, yeah, it’s melodically quite cheesy, but it’s really well executed. Bongo Rock '73 - Another classic to finish. Everything about this is quality, it’s well balanced, the beats are brilliant and the horn sections are wonderful. Again, cheesy and soundtracky, like something you’d hear on a Sunday sports broadcast, but it’s still great fun and a top way to close out the record.
I found myself enjoying bits, but soon realized I was also smiling at how bad I found it.
This was a very enjoyable listen. Some nice fusion music on some of the songs with others featuring those mad bongo drum rhythms.
Somewhat familiar with this one. I think any hip-hop fan will recognize the samples this record produced at least. Bongo drumming at this level is oddly mesmerizing to listen to. Add in the reverb guitar and other brass instruments, and you've got a fun time! Might be a tad overbearing at times, but where else are you gonna hear a bongo-based cover of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida?
Honestly pretty good, those folks can bongo
Interesting instrumental album of mostly cover songs. There are a few standout songs that allegedly inspired hip-hop music. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Apache Let There Be Drums Bongolia Last Bongo iIn Belgium In a Godda Da Vida Raunchy '73
Wow! That's a lot of bongos! Some really cool things going on here, but more of the same and then more of the same and then more of the same and then more of the same. Really interesting to realize how much of this I've heard before as it's been sampled a million times in a million other songs.
This was much better than I feared when I saw the title 'Bongo Rock'. I don't think I'll return to the album in the future, but it was pretty alright, and the history around it is pretty cool. Standouts Apache Bongolia 3/5
Bien, pero not 4 me
Ingredients: May contain bongos.
buen ritmo
5/10
Bongos! You've likely heard this album via the samples. Grooving, moving, what's not to like?
goated. bongo numba 5
nichts, was man nicht schon gehört hat - einfach mit zuviel bongo überklatscht. einzig das es als „sprungbrett“ für breakdance und hiphop diente machen wenige der tracks erträglich.
Als Filmmusik geht es ja, aber dann ist es auch gut
Today's adventure in the 1001 albums generator is The Incredible Bongo Band. Now, this is on me. I like to go into these albums cold, generally without reading any information on them. To be honest, I glanced down at my phone to queue this album as I was walking to my car. I actually thought it said Oingo Boingo. I was somewhat surprised when I started my car and got an instrucmental version of Apache. And the album "Bongo Rock"...I mean, it's pretty much what it says on the tin. It's an album of bongo heavy rock. At some point, what level of insanity does a person slide into when tasked to write a book of one thousand albums that are required listening? It's impossible not to have your biases shine through. All of the early 80s English synth-pop. There's six Rolling Stones records, another five from Bruce Springsteen. Dylan has 7 albums recognized. There's NINE David Bowie records. NINE, Bob. Nine. Not for a list of Essential David Bowie records for hardcore David Bowie fans, but for a list of essential albums for EVERYONE to listen to before they die. Worse than over-represntation on this list is the under-representation. There's no Warren Zevon, Tool, Weezer, Deftones, Mountain Goats to name a few. In general, there is a lack of representation in metal, punk and alternative music. I begin to wonder why I took on this Sisyphean task of listening to these albums, and preparing reviews every day. What's the point of digging if it will be yet another Elvis Costello album? Or some utter nonsense like Captain Beefheart?? Anyway, this album is...fine. It has bongos and shit.
Good clean bongo fun
Kind of silly.
I must say, Not very interesting
This album is litterally a long bongo solo with some other instruments on top. Probably the dumbest concept in the best way. How can one not love that.
I'm not a musical genius or anything, but I think there are bongos in this album?!
77/100. Certain creations acquire a second life through the imaginations of others. Their legacy lies not only in what they are, but in what they make possible. The title does not lie. You get exactly what is advertised, bongo rock. Incredible Bongo Band deliver a completely instrumental record that blends rock, funk, jazz, and relentless percussion into something that is both surprisingly simple and incredibly enjoyable. It is a fun concept on paper, but what makes the album work is how naturally those percussion-heavy arrangements fit within the rock and funk framework. There is also a slightly mysterious quality to the music. Even when the songs are upbeat, there is an atmosphere that makes the record feel a little adventurous and unpredictable, almost like the soundtrack to some lost 70s action film. It is also impossible to talk about this record without mentioning its influence. Tracks such as Apache and Bongo Rock became foundational breakbeats for early hip-hop DJs and producers.
I was not aware of this band before, but they were pretty interesting. Probably not something I'd listen to a lot, but I'm glad it exists.
Cool, funky, very 70s. I had lots of fun listening to this, which is not something I experience often with this list. Bongolia, Last Bongo in Belgium, Dueling Bongos, Bongo Rock, bongos bongos bongos. Just makes me smile to listen to, even without playing Guess The Sample.
Pleasant enough. I won't return to it, but it was a nice change of pace.
Better than I was expecting. Felt like I was assembling a heist crew.
just some instrumental rock with bongos which does not make it any more interesting than it sounds unfortunately 5/10 Favourite: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida Least Favourite: Bongo Rock '73
Est ce que j'ai eu peur que ça soit 1h de bongo sans rien autour? Oui Est ce que le bongo rock? Oui Est ce que je bongo rock? Oui Est ce que c'est long ? Oui Est ce que c'est un 3 à cause de la durée? Oui Est ce que c'était un album deluxe et je ne le savais pas? Oui Est ce que c'est un 4 dans ce cas? Ooooooouuuuuuuuiiiiiiiiiiii
Parfaite transition vers Clandestino ? Playlist pick : Bongolia
a 1970s dance funk album with a lot of... well... bongos and congas in addition to the other typical funk band instruments. its most famous track "apache" has one of the most sampled breakbeats ever recorded in history. some delightfully dated, funky jazzy dancehall tracks that could probably work for dance parties, rollerblading events or bowling nights. it's pretty alright, you really can't go wrong with these instrumental funk records from back in the day, but as great as it sounds, i feel like at times it's less of a proper album by an artist or band and more of a soundtrack for some raunchy action movie that came out around that time. bouncy bongo beats all 'round.
Interesting listen recognised a lot of it
Incredible
Loved that I was able to hear where a lot of songs got samples from but my god this went on a bit too much
I liked bongo rock by the incredible bongo band. bongo bongo. oingo boingo.
Un disco alegre, pero poco enganche. No me gustó mucho.
I feel nothing from that
Needs more bongos
kinda like one of the foundational albums eh.. one of the breakbeat originators... and yet the album itself is just fine
Music for sampling and heist movies.
No false advertising here! Both incredible AND Bongo! I can't stop listening to this album. It's maybe my favorite discovery of this entire project.
While the concept behind the Incredible Bongo Band’s Bongo Rock is highly intriguing, the lackluster recording quality ultimately makes it difficult to truly enjoy, earning it a 2/5. The tracklist is a mixed bag, starting strong with the nice groove of "Apache" and the intriguing, concert-ready dialogue between percussion instruments on "Duelling Bongos." Furthermore, the familiar sounds of "In a Gadda da Vida" prompt curiosity about its famous interpolations. However, the rest of the album fails to hold up; tracks like "Let There Be Drums" and "Bongolia" feel thoroughly meh, "Last Bongo in Belgium" is merely okay, and "Raunchy 73" fails to land altogether. By the time you reach the title track, "Bongo Rock," the chords have become entirely too repetitive, sealing the album's fate as a great idea marred by poor execution.
it's what the title says
This is the wonderful beat based 60's music I have been looking for!
So I had to make a playlist with the first eight tracks of the 40 Years of the Incredible Bongo Band release, rearranged to the original LP listing. With that established... Ooh boy, there is a story to tell with this album. I hadn't heard of the Incredible Bongo Band when I got this record today, and it turns out they weren't even much of a band to begin with. Rather, this was a session project started by artist manager and executive Michael Viner over at MGM Records. Michael was tasked with providing the music for two chase scenes in the science-fiction blaxploitation film, The Thing With Two Heads. So he wrote some songs with arranger Perry Botkin, Jr., brought in bongo percussionist King Errisson and session drummer Jim Gordon for the recording, and worked out a cover of Preston Epps's "Bongo Rock" and "Bongolia" for the film soundtrack. The cover of "Bongo Rock" was released as a single and did surprisingly well, which inspired Michael to bring back Perry, Errisson, and Gordon, alongside other session musicians, to record an entire album. Thus, Bongo Rock was born. Right from the get-go, with the cover of Sandy Nelson's "Let There Be Drums", it's apparent that the stars of this show were King Errisson and Jim Gordon working these polyrhythmic beats on their respective instruments. The two of them just went hard on could be viewed as a novelty track, taking this surf rock instrumental and elevating it to the next level. Then I started listening to "Apache" and realized I'd heard it before, as I instinctively started singing "Jump on it/Jump on it/Jump on it" from my office desk. I checked the Wikipedia page for the song, and sure enough, this rendition of Jerry Lordan's "Apache" was sampled by The Sugarhill Gang for their song "Apache", which would become a dancefloor staple despite the blatant Native American stereotypes in the lyrics. But then I noticed that several hip-hop, techno, and drum 'n' bass artists also sampled this same rendition. That got me really curious, so I checked out WhoSampled for the Incredible Bongo Band. As it turns out, NEARLY EVERY SONG on this Bongo Rock album has been sampled in one way or another, including by artists I've already covered on my album journey. "Bongolia" would be used by Fatboy Slim for "The Sound of Milwaukee" off Better Living Through Chemistry. "Last Bongo in Belgium" would be used by Beastie Boys for "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun" off Paul's Boutique. Hell, "Apache" alone has been used over 800 times, including for "Xtal" and "Heliosphan" on Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works and Goldie's "Inner City Life" on Timeless. I've praised these beats before without even realizing where they came from. So to recap, this album, from a bunch of session musicians put together because some guy needed music for a cheesy B-movie film, ended up being a cornerstone in a new technique of music creation. That's insane. But putting aside all that, this record's still fantastic in its own right. Again, King Errison and Jim Gordon's percussive playing went hard throughout the runtime, to the point where even their soloing on "Dueling Bongos" is a standout. Probably my favorite track on here is the grooving horn-blaring rendition of Iron Butterfly's "In a Gadda Da Vida", which nails the vibe without going for the full 17 minutes of the original. Yeah, call me genuinely impressed with this Bongo Rock record. Sadly, it didn't sell as well back in the day. Michael Viner would work on one more album with the Incredible Bongo Band, which would also be sampled multiple times. Since that second record didn't sell well either, Michael put the kibosh on the Incredible Bongo Band. Really, Michael got done what he needed to do with that project and then some. I don't think he expected the new life that his project would take for generations of artists.
I am imagining this was a compassion project where one guy wouldn't shut up about bongos so much that his exasperated friends finally gave in and agreed to record an album and let him play the bongos until his hands fell off. There are some sort of neat, funky, 70's jams here. The neat parts last about 30 seconds in each song until there is a percussion break. The thing about bongos is that they aren't all that dynamic or interesting in a band setting. I respect the bit and it's an interesting gimmick.
I was bought a set of bongos for my birthday a few years ago and there’s usually limited opportunities to play along to records. But imagine my joy? A whole album! Not sure my wife feels the same way though.
Incredible!
Well this is different, in a good way
As a percussionist myself, I really appreciated all this bongo and it was also a very nice background music for studying. But that’s the keyword - background. I prefer music that has a narrative, or at least some versitality and as such, this album for me was a bit underwhelming. I can see how maybe someone would sample this for another something, but I have heard far more interesting beat/transative/tribal music than this.
Incredibly influential, really important for Hip Hop. The album itself fits in this weird genre of 60's and 70's albums trying to cash in on sounds that were popular at the time with cheesy cover albums. The covers itself sound real fun and have their own charm to them. The combination of recognisability and novelty works really well. Whether the concept is enough to sustain for an entire album is a different question, but there isn't much like it.
nah
Very fun!
I got a fever, and the only prescription is MORE BONGOS. 2 stars
The first few songs were probably my favorite but pretty enjoyable throughout. So interesting to hear the original after it’s been sampled so much. Also a lot of fun to slap your belly to like you’re one of the bongos. Rating: 3.3
Well now wasn’t this fun
This is a hard one to rate as its importance is immense in terms of rap samples alone. It was weird to listen and hear it from both sides; a cover album with bongos and a source for samples elsewhere. It was as if you were hearing two things at once. The listening experience itself was lots of fun. Also reminded me of hooked on classics and other late 60s and early 70s exotica. I like cocktail music and for this alone, this rates as a 4.
This is such a wonderfully weird album, there’s so much odd stuff about this that I love. Like cmon man, it’s by the Incredible Bongo Band. Also the way it’s rooted itself in hip hop is so cool, it’s just so fun I love that this exists. Favorites: Apache, Let There Be Drums, Last Bongo in Belgium
Am I a bongo guy now?
5/10
Opened up for today’s selection. See this. My face goes…🤔. Track 1 ends. I think I like this. By the end of “Let There Be Drums” I’m adding to my streaming library. It’s interesting for sure. Quite funky.
Was surprised by this one for sure. Found myself moving and grooving to these bongo beats. Really great listen on a summer day.
Бонгзилла
Beneath this novelty record there might have been an incredible orchestral surf band, but we’ll never know now. Some great moments mingling with make-do twang. Note another appearance by one of the more popular murderers on this list, stupendous drummer and violent lunatic Jim Gordon
For all the sampling this inspired, it's basically a novelty record and quite a cheesy one. My apologies to Sabu earlier, his bongo mania was far more interesting.
This was a dated album that I nevertheless found fun to listen to.
Great funk album with some super catchy beats and instrumentals.
I was afraid this was gonna be nothing but bongos 😋. But it was pretty good. Fun. Cool covers. 4
If you love bongos, man do we have an album for you.. I definitely pre-judged based on some song titles though it turned out to be the perfect soundtrack I needed to do some chores.
Great music, very enjoyable listen
Fav- when the bed breaks down I’ll meet you in the spring
Was pretty good, instrumental, not just bongos. Good background music perhaps.
I mean, fine. If it was on at a restaurant I wouldn’t leave but it’s just whatever. No need to be on this list though
This was a band and album I'd never heard of and I was hesitant prior to listening. And once again one of those "I'm so glad I'm doing this project" records! This was so cool! Who knew bongo rock would be so much fun to listen to? And who knew that In A Gadda Da Vida could actually be a listenable (and actually fun) song? There was not a bad track on here and each one had enough stylistic differences to make it all so enjoyable.
As it says on the tin.. or on the bongo
Based off the name, and the high number of covers, I assumed this would be a joke album or a bit of a gimmick. Surf rock riffs with bongos and blaxsploitation style funk with bongos. And those hiphop sample moments. It’s fine, and at times, pretty good actually.
Needs more bongo
A little rock, a little funk, and a whole lot of bongo. This is a genuinely fun album from start to finish. It’s got a great upbeat flow, never takes itself too seriously, and just feels like a group of musicians having a blast. I wasn’t surprised at all to see that it was Harry Nilsson on keyboards for this.
We get it you play bongos
There are some great tracks - but over the course of a full album. Too much bongo
Better than expected. Unashamedly kitsch.
It kicks off with some tight, very precise numbers which are very exciting - legendary even. But then after that it's a lot looser, sprawling, less organised, sounding more like experiments pointing towards something greater. It is interesting to hear a series of covers performed in a radically different way. They’d make a great TV chat show band or a backing band for an artist writing originals. It’s harmless, cheesy fun.
Way better than i expected, i was ready to hate it but it was consistently enjoyable! Low to solid 3!
It's a lot of fun, but no one needs this much bongo.
Very cool, has a feeling, liked it.
Unfortunately hard to categorize as something without a gimmick. I enjoyed this but I’m not sure when I’ll come back to it.
You know what, I DID need to hear that before I die. Apache is always a good time. In A Gadda Da Vida, seriously? The bongos themselves only add so much but at the end of the day there’s some fun funky covers in here.
I had no expectations of doing anything more than tolerating this album. Man was I wrong. This album rocked in every possible way. Multiple listens and each as good as the first.
Pro bono pro bongo
This is a questionable but interesting inclusion in the project. I say questionable because it doesn't seem to have been that significant when it came out, or praised by eg critics, seems to have been included only because it was later used by emerging hip-hop? I say interesting because I did like the sound of a lot of it, on first time through - I guess there's been a thorough remaster in the version I'm listening to - a lot of the original lines are very good, were session musos just that funky in 1973? A lot of the arranging is sweet (particularly Apache), much is rather tedious, pulling my impression of the album down. When I go back to decide which songs I'll Like for future reference, most of them aren't that solid ... Overall I'll say it's Okay, 6/10.
This album ended up being a lot of fun.
What a great sound. The percussion, the brass, the synth, the guitar... Such a confident combo, a life affirming sound. It's the sort of music you'd want to have a school band tackle if they could manage it because it would be a joy to be able to play as an ensemble. Very distinctive as a 70s sound but also kind of timeless.
"I love to play my bongos in the moooorning!"
This record sounds like a Tarantino film. All sepia-toned as I'm racing down a deserted highway in my 72 Nova to exact revenge on those who wronged me. With Ray-Bans on. Gotta have those Ray-Ban aviators when the Bongos and horns start slapping.
..
A solid chunk of instrumentals made after a couple of the songs (Bongo Rock and Bongalia) were made for a cheesy b-film (The Thing with Two Heads). They were well liked enough that an album followed, with six original songs along with covers of Apache and In A Gadda Da Vida. This album is fine. Like, the music is pleasant, and I had a good time listening to it. But it's on this list because the number of samples that have come from this one album is insane, and most of the fun really comes from spotting those. Still worth it just as music, but really, you're here for the samples.
An incredible ride through the hits
It was good all the way through Never a moment I thought "oh, this is bad" or "this could be better"
1.5
More entertaining than other bands we’ve encountered purporting themselves as being “incredible” at their instrument. Looking at you, “Incredible String Band!!”
Great instrumental covers of some great tunes. Much more Incredible than the String Band.
I mean, it was great, but it's bongos. I have no idea how I'm going to add this to a daily playlist lmao.
I mean, there's a lot of bongo. But this is also more than just bongos. Some pretty good fun to be enjoyed here.
In the right context, this is great.. on its own it's a bit dry
Listening session: may 7th, while going for a walk Listened to before: heard one song before Thoughts: there were indeed a lot of bongos, and while I appreciated the groovy percussion, I think this album could’ve been a lot shorter Favourite tracks: Apache, In A Gadda Da Vida & Bongolia
WOW! who would’ve thought that bongos could be THIS good? i’m absolutely speechless after this experience. „bongo rock” is an incredible example of an album that i would never listen to if it wasn’t for this project - obviously not due to any aversion for bongos but i just wouldn’t find it. there were multiple times while listening to this record where i truly opened my mouth from the shock of how good it was. my definite favorite would have to be „last bongo in belgium” (smart play on „last tango in paris”!!). i’m so happy i found this album or rather that it found me, i am also really glad that i finally opened myself to listening to - or even more - liking music with no lyrics. i simply always focus on the lyrical layer of songs, but here i didn’t feel like i’m missing anything due to lack of it, as i did in the past.
Delightful. Sampler's paradise. This is such a fun listen, and had me dancing around like a fool.
Kinda fun.
Loved it! The songs were fun and peppy! I would certainly listen again
Not for me.
Well this was something different, initially it felt lots of fun and it kicked off with a classic; a version of Apache. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm waned a little as the album progressed.
niceee( für Hintergrund Musik)
Kul i början, trött mot slutet
Känns riktigt snyggt att redan ha årets ranson av bongos avklarad.
Älskar band- och albumnamnkombinationen! Själva musiken blev tröttsam i längden, men ibland svängde det verkligen.
Kanske i en road move, eller på gym, men...
This had me drumming on my steering wheel all day. Couldn’t stop smiling. Loved it.
Was expecting this to be far more intense on the bongo front, but not really. Not as much as a novelty act as you would expect and is actually good 3.5*
It is what it says on the tin. It's got rock. It's got bongos. I think I've heard and enjoyed better rock and better bongos, though. I give this album 3 bongos out of 5.
So many songs sampled this it’s crazy.
I was running around town while moving and it made it feel like a little movie soundtrack to my day
This album is almost exactly what it proclaims to be. This is, approximately, rock music, and bongos live at the heart of it. It is also pretty good. Cool bongos, cool songs, and more abound. This was also a fun reunion with Apache, a song that I played a lot in high school pep band. But yeah, I don't have a lot to say to this. It is groovy, fun, and rockin, and there are bongos. The bongos, admittedly, feel a little like a gimmick, the word bongo is in literally every song name. But this is also only 33-ish minutes long, so it doesn't overstay it's welcome. Edit: Not changing my rating, but of additional note, is that this album is of deep cultural significance to Hip-Hop. This has been estimated to be, perhaps, the most sampled album ever, and even just on a first listen, I noticed the break at the end of Last Bongo In Belgium is used extensively on Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun by The Beastie Boys. See if you can find any more. Regardless, it's kind of a neat second life for this odd little album.
Donkey Kong’s Jamboree minigame in album form
Bongos everywhere! I loved it. Maybe a little bit long but I never knew that this was a thing and I feel enriched that this knowledge has been passed on to me. Brill and will definitely listen again.
Awesome and funky album.
This was so much frickin fun and also totally incomprehensible to me until I read more about its place in the history of studios, session musicians, and hip hop. Until then I felt like I could have been listening to anything from the world's greatest session musicians messing around smoking a joint to an alternate universe where all muzak was made by Santana. Anyway, a great example of why we are all in this project -- helped me better understand where a lot of my favorite music comes from.
This album was as incredible as promised. The whole thing was a journey through the sunshine, and I was left feeling better for having listened to it. Favorite Song: Wipeout
This band is perfectly named; they play the bongos and they are incredible! Really fun album and beautifully mixed. Always a blast hearing drums and percussion at the forefront of a record. Favorite track: In A Gadda Da Vida
It's like a soundtrack to a 60's spy movie that never existed. Bongos (natch), reverb drenged guitar, soul-lite horns, funky bass and more bongos. Bongos. Best Tracks: Let There Be Drums; Apache; Bongolia
While several of these are covers and it's little more than bongo fever, it's a pretty impressive collection all things considered. 3.5/5 -> 4/5
not enough bongos
Honestly the bongos pleasantly surprised me
Sampling catnip, with hallmarks of everything that should irk me. A vanity project by a self indulgent exec that was forced into the mainstream by putting themselves on film scores etc. However, it's pretty decent, but as an album too listen to end to end, dare I say it...too much bongos.
The only thing that I found interesting about this was I noticed where a lot of hip hop samples have come from, but other than that this is just a normal album.
Muy entretenido
Super fun. Makes me want to befriend two short bald men and use their heads as bongos.
Surprising album. Starts with Apache, very well made song. But after that the album flattens out, there is no more power left, it simply gets boring.
i was expecting something more boring or generic or basic, considering how these instrumentals seemed to me as nothing more than the prehistorical pieces of modern music. But to their merit, they are so catchy and fun and dynamic and entertaining, that they can stand by themselves. Listening to this while playing Death Stranding totally changed the mood and dynamic of the game. And i think that attest to the power of this music, not only as sampleable, but as music by itself
2.38
Did not listen lol
This album is a lot more fun than I anticipated it would be. Apache is an earworm
I can say without hesitation that I did not need to hear this. If the 70s had anything in abundance that would be some pathetically "hip" music that was anything but. This was an experience I did not need to have. Horrid.... Again, if we could downvote (or vote in negative) this would be at the "top" of THAT list. 1 star and may I never have to listen to this shite ever again.
Mama was queen of the mambo Papa was king of the Congo Deep down in the jungle I start bangin my first bongo
its a very ambience focused album, very african and calming to the nervous system. very expressive and instrumental, afrofunky and afrofuturism with trails of brazil sound and coloumbiam and jamaican . love this body of work,a staple in my home
Bongos 👍
Fun
Basta de bongos.
Malardo. 1/10