Reviews (page 3 of 8)
If you only listen to one bongo album before you die, make sure it's this!
Covers of songs you largely already know, but with lots of bongo drums? This is the type of thing that could only exist in the 70s and I’m absolutely here for it. You cannot deny that this album is exactly what it says it is. Bongo Rock. You may wonder what this album is doing on the list. This album, specifically Apache, has been heavily sampled in hip hop for decades. This is a great find and as I was writing my review, I actually changed my rating from a 3 to a 4 because of how interesting and oddly influential this is.
Much better than I expected. Well deserved on the list for its foundational place in hip-hop.
Love the sound!
🪘🪘🪘🪘
Great energy and production. Sounds like they are playing in my phone. Brass is big and bossy. Organ is ripe and nasty.
I liked this a lot more than I expected. I have a set of bongos and I get bored playing them for more than a minute or two. I was really surprised I could make it through some of these bongo solos. The rest of the music with full band accompaniment are groovy and very listenable.
Groovy, ain't it? 4.5 bumped down to 4.
Not a high 4 but better than a 3
Pure groove. Had a lot of fun!
As a music lover who grew up on 70s TV, and was drawn to shows like Fat Albert and Sanford & Son for the music, this album is like mainlining pure nostalgia. (No wonder I loved late 80s - early 90s hip hop so damned much.) It's a reminder of how banal most of the music we listen to, and even most of the music that makes this list, actually is. And it is definitely added to my collection of proof that computers can't come close to being as soulful and/or funky as we can, no matter how deftly they're programmed.
This is exactly why I started this project, to hear weird and wonderful stuff like this! Funky bongo covers of the Shadows and Iron Butterfly. Great start to a Sunday morning.
Thought it was going to be terrible but I was soo wrong
Love this. Shit is so funky.
Funny and funky
Giod
🥇bongolia 🥈let there be drums 🥉last bongo in belgium HM: apache, bongo rock, wipeout, pipeline i love the bongos!!!!!
Very cool Loved the Grandmaster flash mix of Apache
It’s funny, I went in thinking that I would probably enjoy the album, but there’s no way I needed to listen to an hour and twenty minutes of bongos. I was wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed this and could have listened to more. Such a fun listen. I loved the covers and the groove was fantastic. Perfect music to lift the mood.
How much fun was that! This is exactly what makes this project so much fun, there is no world where I listen to this if not for 1001 albums. I honestly can't believe i vibed to the sound and rhythm of bongos for the better part of an afternoon and enjoyed every minute.
3.5
Speaking from experience, this music is perfect for when you wake up and realize you’ve gotta mark 20 final essays by midnight to meet the academic deadline. For just a little while I felt like a PI reading over case files in 1970’s Miami as opposed to a TA deducting grades for improper formatting styles.
Very good
This album was a delightful surprise. You can banco on that!
This may be my favorite album of all time with someone's name before the word "Presents" in the title. I would listen to it again.
For an instrumental album it was surprisingly enjoyable, and the covers were an added bonus
Fantastic. Love finding the source of so many samples
Incredible! Packed with samples and a clear influence on a ton of modern pop music. Was slightly skeptical at the name but couldn't have enjoyed it more
Fun!
Wow, wasn't expected to hear the hook from Sir Mix a Lot's Jump On It in the opening track, but it was a pleasant surprise to a delightful album. The bongo's are great on every track, but Dueling Bongos was especially fun. I've found my next go-to for hijacking the stereo at friends' parties. 4/5
Lowkey a banger. bonger? incredible bongos. never enough bongos. we love bongos. bingo bango bobs your bongo
Now this is more like it! Pure fun and funky drumming. I know Apache already and enjoyed the rest. Kitsch but fun.
So freaking cool. The birth of hip hop is right here. If it wasn't for this, the Beastie Boys and many others don't exist.
Intresting
Really fun and funky. Wears out its welcome a bit as it drags on and the covers begin to seem more rote.
Tú toca los bongos pero que sea funky. Y así se resume este disco de 1973. A falta de más composiciones originales, la Bongo Band se marca unas buenas versiones (especialmente “Apache” y “In A Gadda Da Vida”) y un puñado de buenos temas instrumentales con el protagonismo de los susodichos bongos que es un gusto de escuchar. Buen groove, aunque algo olvidable al cabo del tiempo.
I'll take bongos and brass over sad wailing British dudes any day. And the organ is great too. But seriously, though, this is fantastic. Certified banger. 😂 I only wish Deezer had the whole thing so I could save it to my library instead of having to listen on YouTube. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Apache, Dueling Bongos, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, When The Bed Breaks Down ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Really liked it.
Bongos, a horn section, very, very 1970s, and quite fun. A nice discovery.
One of the better sampled-to-death albums on this list. Fun and well done!
Bongo brilliance. I was hesitant - who wants to listen to nearly an hour and a half of pure bongos, but the track with the vocals on it was my least favourite. If anything, that song suffered from needing more bongos. The covers are decent (although Satisfaction is rubbish), and the standouts were Dueling Bongos and Apache. Also really enjoyed Bongolia and Last Bongo in Belgium. Really changed my mind on the bongos - a versatile, bongarific instrument. Overall, bongtastic.
When I saw a bongo album come up that was 1hr 17 mins long, I was dreading it...... However it was so much better than it has any right to be. Lots of familiar sounding samples, great drums (obviously), but much more than that too. My favourite was "the last bongo in Belgium" I think it's gotta be a 4 and I'll be back
Album might be a bit longer than it needed to be, but overall pretty entertaining.
Fun classic sound
Imagine the visible utter shock from when I to thinking I’d be dreading listening to some instrumental bongo album to me hearing the first song that plays, which is freaking Apache. This entire album was so familiar because of all the samples I’d heard from it. Great listen. This is exactly what I’m here for.
Yeah, I guess I needed a bunch of bongos in my life.
Nimen perusteella ajattelin että tämä on joku erikoisbongomusa diggareiden levy. Tämä on elokuvamusiikkia täynnä! Loistavaa taustamusaa piirtämiseen ja mihin vaan käsityöhön.
Whatever concerns I may have had when I saw an hour and eighteen minute bongo rock album pop up were put to rest by track 1; this is a rather enjoyable instrumental funk album. I would say it has just the right dosage of bongos and congas. Sometimes they don't even really feel like the main focus, but sooner or later they come tapping back. It looks like this was just a side product that made use of some unoccupied studio musicians, and some or all of it is covers, so in some ways it feels like an odd thing to include in the 1,001. But, on top of just being a fun listen it appears to have gone on to be fairly influential in hip-hop sampling, so let's let it slide. There's a cover album of this called Tabla Rock with an Indian-influenced sound... I listened to that too and thought it worked pretty well.
I had such a fun time listening to this. It was crazy to hear how much of this I recognized even thought I never knew where it came from. I feel like some of these tracks have been used a lot in movies and tv. It draws from lots of genres, rock, funk, samba, jazz, and it shows once more just how connected all these types of music are to each other. The percussion is the obvious highlight here but the horns stood out to me as well. A special shout-out goes to the legendary grandmaster flash remix of Apache. Such an iconic track in hip hop and break beat history, it's impossible not to dance to.
I didn't know how this one would go but honestly it ended up being a hoot. I had a lot of fun with this. The percussion was excellent and the covers added more to the originals than I expected. I would totally throw this on again for fun.
*Interesting concept and the band with the bongos sounded tight
Very fun collection of funky, groovy, and rocking tunes supported by bongos, something we don't hear too often. Liked all the songs, just not something I would find myself listening to often.
A fun party album, but not really something you want to sit down & listen to. I'm adding a star on the strength of "Apache". Classic track.
Great fun. Bold move to cover In a Gadda da Vida with its famously long drum solo! This whole album feels like the soundtrack to a Quentin Tarrantino movie and I am so here for it.
I’m counting this as a ska band. Any song with horns was great. Ironically, the bongo heavy songs left the most to be desired.
Banging bongos
listened to it a second time straight through while revisiting my notes before doing a dump of reviews. it's just fun.
Is this a great album? Probably not. Is it exactly what I want to listen to when I'm working? Oh yeah. It's fun, there are no lyrics to distract me, the band has a grandiloquent name...what more could I want. Objectively this is a 2 or 3 star album, but subjectively it's a 4. 4 IT IS
Pretty good. I love a good beat.
Very cool stuff, not as bongo heavy as I thought it would be. It's some very nice covers of popular songs and I'm guessing some new ones. Very groovy album, nice beats to tap along to without being overbearing. Great horn section too without being over done. The whole album was really a pleasure and it an instant addition to my favorite albums list.
3.5
PSA: The original release of this album was just the first 8 tracks of the Spotify link, which is the 2006 re-issue. Just a heads-up if, like me, you're finding a little bongo goes a long way lo
You might say it’s a gimmick, but it’s a damn fun gimmick. Where else am I going to find a bongo version of In A Gadda Da Vida? This is what I like from the generator because I never would have found this on my own. Favorite songs were Apache, Bongolia, Last Bongo In Belgium, and In A Gadda Da Vida.
Pretty cool, rhythmic album. I like the vibe. It may be a bit of a gimmick but super well executed.
Sounds like an old cop movie. Cool
BONGOS?! Brahm must have been stoked on this one. This album really tickled my percussionist brain, absolutely loved the grooves across the whole album. Didn't know these guys did the og version of Apache and it was fun to hear a lot of familiar tunes throughout. Banger of an album, 8.5/10
Absolutely amazing bongo album. Great vibes
If you like bongos, you will like this album. If you dont like bongos... you are in for a bad time... 8/10
Bongos don’t sound exciting, but this is a percussion driven funk masterpiece. It’s tough to listen without trying to identify which parts have been sampled in which hip hop songs
Pretty good, found myself getting into more of the tracks than I thought I might.
84% Best: Last Bongo in Belgium; In A Gadda Da Vida; Bongo Rock Must-Hear? Sure
# In-Depth Review of *Bongo Rock* by Incredible Bongo Band: A Percussive Legacy ## Introduction and Album Context **Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band** was not a traditional band but a **studio project** conceived by MGM Records executive Michael Viner in 1972. Initially formed to provide supplemental tracks for the B-movie *The Thing With Two Heads*, the project evolved into one of the most **influential instrumental albums** of the 1970s. The album *Bongo Rock* (1973) features an all-star lineup of **session musicians**, including drummers Jim Gordon and Hal Blaine, percussionist King Errisson, pianist Joe Sample, bassist Wilton Felder, and guitarist Mike Deasy, with rumors of contributions from Ringo Starr and John Lennon . Despite its commercial origins, the album has transcended its time to become a **cornerstone of breakbeat culture** and hip-hop sampling. ## 1 Lyrics Analysis: Instrumental Focus As a primarily instrumental album, *Bongo Rock* does not feature traditional lyrics. However, its reinterpretation of well-known songs through a **percussive lens** creates a narrative of rhythmic intensity and cultural fusion. The absence of vocals is compensated by the **storytelling quality** of the instrumentation, where bongos, drums, and horns communicate energy, urgency, and celebration. Tracks like "Apache" and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" rely on their **melodic and rhythmic patterns** to evoke imagery—from Western landscapes to psychedelic journeys—allowing listeners to project their own interpretations onto the music. This lack of lyrical content is both a strength (universality) and a weakness (limited emotional depth), but it ultimately serves the album's goal of emphasizing rhythm over narrative. ## 2 Musical Style and Composition The music on *Bongo Rock* is a **fusion of funk, rock, Latin, and surf** influences, characterized by its **percussion-heavy arrangements** and upbeat, party-ready energy. The album consists largely of covers of popular songs from the 1950s–1970s, reimagined with aggressive bongo and drum breaks. Key tracks include: - **"Apache"**: A funk-driven reinterpretation of the Shadows' classic, featuring **iconic breakbeats** that have become a staple in hip-hop and dance music . - **"Bongolia"**: An original composition showcasing frenetic bongo patterns and horn sections, embodying the album's **exuberant spirit** . - **"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"**: A truncated but rhythmically intense cover of Iron Butterfly's epic, emphasizing **percussive experimentation** over psychedelic sprawl . - **"Last Bongo in Belgium"**: A blues-rock-funk hybrid with a **psychedelic guitar solo** and swaggering grooves . The album's strength lies in its **irresistible grooves** and technical proficiency, though some critics note that the bongo-centric approach can feel repetitive or gimmicky over its 35-minute runtime . ## 3 Production and Sound Quality Produced by Michael Viner and Perry Botkin Jr., the production is **clean yet raw**, capturing the spontaneity of the sessions while highlighting the dynamism of the percussion. The mix prioritizes the **bongos and drums**, placing them at the forefront of each track, while horns, guitars, and keyboards provide complementary layers. The sound is **unpolished but energetic**, reflecting the project's origins as a low-budget venture. Despite this, the production has aged well, thanks to its **organic texture** and the clarity of the breakbeats, which made it ideal for sampling. The album was recorded with limited resources but benefited from the **expertise of session musicians**, resulting in a sound that feels both loose and meticulously executed . ## 4 Thematic Elements *Bongo Rock* revolves around themes of **celebration, rhythm, and innovation**. The album is designed to evoke dance and movement, with its tracks serving as **soundtracks for parties** and communal experiences. Thematically, it explores the idea of **reinterpretation**—taking familiar songs and injecting them with new life through percussion. Additionally, the album reflects the **cultural zeitgeist** of the early 1970s, blending elements of funk, rock, and Latin music into a accessible, crossover-friendly format. While lacking in lyrical depth, its themes are conveyed through **instrumental virtuosity** and the sheer physicality of its rhythms . ## 5 Influence and Legacy *Bongo Rock* is arguably one of the most **sampled albums in history**, particularly in hip-hop, drum & bass, and electronic music. Its breaks, especially from "Apache" and "Bongo Rock," were foundational to the **birth of hip-hop** when DJ Kool Herc used them in his Bronx parties in the 1970s . The album's influence extends to: - **Hip-Hop**: Tracks like "Apache" have been sampled by artists such as Nas, Sugarhill Gang, and Massive Attack . - **Breakbeat Culture**: The album's percussive breaks became a blueprint for DJs and producers seeking rhythmic foundations . - **Cultural Longevity**: The album has been reissued multiple times, testifying to its enduring appeal . Despite its initial commercial modest success, its legacy has grown exponentially, cementing its status as a **cultural touchstone** . ## 6 Pros and Cons of the Album ### Pros: - **Historical Significance**: The album is a **breakbeat treasure trove**, providing the rhythmic backbone for countless hip-hop and electronic tracks . - **Energy and Groove**: Tracks are **infectiously energetic**, designed for dancing and movement . - **Innovative Covers**: The reinterpretations of classics like "Apache" and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" are **creative and transformative** . - **Musicianship**: The session players are **top-tier**, delivering performances that are both technical and exhilarating . ### Cons: - **Repetitiveness**: The bongo-heavy focus can become **monotonous** for listeners seeking variety . - **Lack of Depth**: The absence of lyrical content or structural complexity may make the album feel **superficial** to some . - **Dated Elements**: Some productions choices, such as the use of flute or certain horn sections, sound **firmly rooted in the 1970s** . ## 7 Conclusion *Bongo Rock* by Incredible Bongo Band is a **flawed yet groundbreaking** album that transcends its commercial origins. While its percussive focus may not appeal to all listeners, its **historical importance** and influence on modern music are undeniable. The album remains a vital listen for anyone interested in the **roots of hip-hop**, breakbeat culture, or the art of the cover song. Despite its shortcomings, it is a testament to the power of rhythm and collaboration, earning its place as a **must-hear classic** . ## Key Track Recommendations 1. **"Apache"** - For its cultural impact and iconic breaks. 2. **"Bongolia"** - For its pure, unfiltered funk energy. 3. **"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"** - For its psychedelic-meets-funk experimentation. 4. **"Last Bongo in Belgium"** - For its musical complexity and solos. *Bongo Rock* is available in various reissued formats, including deluxe editions with bonus tracks and remixes .
Seriously groovin'. So entertaining. Highly familiar even though I've never heard the album before this. This album does a real good job of getting its energy straight to your limbic system.
this made me feel like i was in oceans 11 and it was awesome
It’s fun idk
Was peppy music on a day I needed it. Also, it's incredible how hearing this can put you right in the 70's. 4/5
Loads of fun. Love something percussion led.
Tempted to give this a 5, it's so good and crazy influential. I have to go 4, but it's probably a 4.5 for me right now.
At least the band isn't misleading. It has bongos. I thought the album was alright. I can see myself listening to this again in a more relaxed environment.
Quite enjoyable. I dug it.
Great album with notes of neo-nintendo world
Does apache predate the jump on it song? Fun album of instrumental/bongo covers (or many sounded like covers).
Love it 4/5
Notes before starting: I sincerely hope this title is misleading. I fear this is gonna suck real hard. Notes as I'm listening: alright, I'm happy to admit I was wrong about this one. It's pretty great. It helps that, while the bongos are definitely a large part of what's going on, there's enough other stuff going on to make it all work. It's pretty much the backing track to every B-boy record ever. I feel like I'm walking through the score of every 70's urban/blaxploitation film ever, but in a good way. I might actually listen to this again, which is not something I expected. It goes on a little longer than it probably needs to, but it is pretty fun. 3.8/5 I feel like this one deserves to be rounded up.
Now, I won't say my expectations were high going into this, other than I expected some serious bongo action. Well, bongos delivered. But also, this is really fun?? A whole hour is a bit much, but the first 5 or 6 tracks go way harder than they have any right to. It helps that there are songs I love that obviously sample from this. The Roots, Beastie Boys, etc. A very cool surprise.
Let There Be Drums 3.7 Apache 3.8 Bongolia 3.6 Last Bongo in Belgium 4.1 Dueling Bongos 3.7 In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida 3.8 Raunchy 73 3.6 Bongo Rock 73 3.4 Score: 3.7125
I again forgot to save my notes. I liked the album as a whole. Bongo Rock kinda good hard.
What are these other instruments doing in my Bongo album! MORE BONGOS ... Anyway. This album is just so fun. All tunes, covers or not, are all very familiar and easy to vibe to. I guess I really like bongos. Never before have I really listened to bongos in a serious manner, but it works. BONGOS
Ah, an album that I have technically heard partially before. Even if you don’t like funk or the bongos you have to admit that the amount of times this has been sampled is impressive. Are the songs good? Yes. Is Apache still stuck in my head? Yes. Will I listen to any of these songs again? Probably not all at once like this. Bongos are good, but i prefer a little moderation. 7/10. Favorites: In-a-gadda-da-vida, bongolia
Interesting and will listen more in the future
It’s a cool instrumental funk album that has cool beats and nice atmosphere. It’s great!
this was very good and i enjoyed it but it is really too long and after a while i was just wanting it to end
I had no idea this existed and now I'm a bit upset that I didn't. Cool album, definitely unexpected to have something like this pop up.
Cool, unique
Yeah this was fun. Its not their fault some of their songs are overplayed.
Maybe I'm a bongo guy
Fun
They are quite incredible Indeed.
This is a weird one, but an enjoyable deviation from the usual.
4/5
Fun. Point deduction for just being an album of covers
I liked this way more than I expected to
Me encanta el funk instrumental y esta no es la excepción. No conocía este grupo y me llevo una gran sorpresa de esta primera escucha, que no será la última. 4/5
a surprise. entertaining and great to listen to especially while doing chores or other work 4/5
That was the first album I chose not to listen to on my headphones - it would have been too much. I'm pretty certain, I heard this when I was really small. It becomes almost hypnotic after a couple of tracks. Would 100% listen again as background music.
"Apache", that warmed my heart! This album has all the things (thus the sampling); it's cinematic, features '70s groove, has one helluva beat, and ranges from epic organ to full brass. I want to listen to it while walking quickly through the streets of Manhattan. I bet I could shave some time off my estimated time of arrival with "In A Gadda da Vida" in my ears.
So I first was like wtf is this. Then I understood. This record has been picked clean for samples. Very cool.
Great instrumentals and covers, all one note really but very fun to listen to
I was not expecting this album to be so good! Highly enjoyable, brass instruments as well, very fun. Several songs are covers, the others appear to be unique, all are great.
Way better than I was expecting. I thought it would be a novelty record, but it's super funky and fun. And it's super important for hip hop. I think every second of the album has been used somewhere. It's also not quite as dominated by bongos as you might expect.
i love their name. as opposed to what, perfectly average bongo band? and yes, this album does indeed have many a bongo in it. it's seriously catchy and fun as hell, there's some great covers on here. i especially enjoyed their take on "wipe out" and "i can't get no satisfaction". favorite song: "i can't get no satisfaction" overall: 8/10
Yes, too many bongos. But it’s fun in places and it grooves. 3.5. Could be either 3 or 4. I’m going with 4 today. Tomorrow could be 3.
They sure don't skimp on the bongos.
I was quite curious about what Bongo Rock was all about, and it didn't disappoint. Bongo's all over the place, arranged with some classic rock guitar/drum beats. But like many good things, it may become too much and now I'm just curious about the sound of a bongo being thrown out of a window.
packed with classics and funky jams
Nice background summer music
I was pleasantly surprised by this album- a lot of good covers and some original songs. Very 70s vibe- reminds me of a lot of movie scores from the time. Overall- I liked it a lot (especially as driving music). 3.5 to 4 / 5
When this appeared on my landing page I can't lie, my first thought was "here we go..." I was wrong. This was excellent. I recognised most tracks - I realise this album has been sampled to death. A genuine surprise.
8/10
Orchestral rock with bongos and horns, it's a special audio experience.
I like ur swag incredible bongo band
Ihan vaan originellisuudesta +1
Great
Jazzy bongos
I love this album. I have heard Apache a million times and even if I had not heard it before I would be familiar due to how much it was sampled in disco and hip hop. I will definitely listen again. 4/5
Have to say, I was concerned when I saw the length of this album, but it's actually pretty great. Who knew the bongo could carry a whole album?
Прикольно
Rating: 8/10 So many bongos, bongos are good.
Cheesy but quite amazingly so. Some songs sound very contemporary, giving Skeewiff vibes. If you love bongos you will be in heaven with this album. I enjoyed it and will listen again. 3.9
One of the tracks is called Last Bongo in Belgium, so you know that this is going to be a good time. And have a lot of bongos.
While some songs don’t need covering, this was a fun album. More like this.
This one was actually kinda fun! Take popular songs and play bongos to them. Like if Donkey Konga was made in the 1970s
Bongo me up a 3.5 stars
Bangin' on Bongos. A lot of bangin' on Bongos. How many Bongos where involved? Should I buy me a bongo myself? Was there maybe more space for more Bongos? This Album made me think a lot... about Bongos. This Album is my spiritual Bongo awakening. Trully clappin' and bangin' (3.5/5.0)
This album goes way harder than it has any right to. It slapped. It was great.
Turns out that there are, in fact, an *incredible* amount of bongos played on this album. Everywhere. To be fair, this is actually a pretty fun listen - especially noting how much of this was sampled later on. Fun background party album, upbeat, no annoying vocals to get in the way... Also to be fair if they had dialed back the bongos let's say ... 40% or so (honestly 50% would be better) it might have had a bit more impact when they actually did come in. Then again they'd have had to come up with a different band/album name so the whole thing falls apart with any sort of scrutiny... Still, I weirdly can't help but like this quite a bit even with far too much BONGO FURY. 7/10 4 stars
Sometimes the bongos were too quiet in the mix - I wanted consistently bongo forward from Bongo Rock. Is the soundtrack for Ocean’s Eleven etc. related at all to this album? I shan’t look it up.
Very enjoyable
You gotta love when a band is straightforward about their identity, so much so that it's literally their name. Incredible Bongo Band is an incredible band that includes bongos as a feature of their arrangements. The album name, "Bongo Rock," tells you exactly what's on the album. No false advertising, no weird image or facade of the group, no deviation from what they say they are. They are Incredible Bongo Band, nice to meet you. But ok, points for being honest about your identity as a band. So what? How's them music? Fantastic. I'm already a big jazz and funk guy. I love me some great grooves, cool musical attitudes, and some instrumental melodies and solos. And drums? Well I'm a drummer so I'm biased, but I love a drum-centric album. This is amazing. Some great covers (In A Gadda Da Vida, really?!?), some cool originals, and some incredible bongos. I can't say a whole lot more. If you love jazz and/or funk, this is just a fun ride through some bongo-centric music. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Apache, Let There Be Drums, Last Bongo in Belgium, In A Gadda Da Vida, Raunchy '73
Fun!! Band Nerds meet some of the biggest hits of all time with an extra heapin' helpin' of Bongo on every track. I love it!
A lot of bongos
I've got to say. Of the two albums on the list from bands called the "Incredible [instrument] Band," this one is WAY better. Does that mean I prefer bongos to string instruments? Well, seeing as I literally play a string instrument myself, no. However, I do really like Bongo Rock, even if the album's name is only 50% true. This is not a rock album. It's definitely closest to funk, if anything. The bongo thing is true though. Very true, even. Michael Viner gets his Incredible Bongo Band to bongo all over the place with this album, and it's pretty good. It's all instrumental, but the instrumentation itself is quite strong. It's very fun and enjoyable. Somehow, I don't think there are too many bongos in this album. I think that, given the whole Bongo Band thing, the amount of bongos in this album is sufficient. There's also other instruments like horns and stuff that I enjoy just as much as the bongos. Of course, the thing that this album is known for nowadays is just how much it's been sampled over the years. I've reviewed albums before that revolutionized sampling by doing that thing amazingly. Stuff like Paul's Boutique, Endtroducing, and Since I Left You, you know? But I haven't talked about an album that's important to its history by being sampled as much as an album like Bongo Rock has. "Apache" is the clearest example of this. Apparently, this one song has been sampled over 800 times. That is insane. Of course, this isn't because of the album itself, right? Well, it kind of is. Had these musical compositions been utterly boring, I don't think this album would have the legacy it does. The compositions aren't boring though. I think the high quality and energy of these songs is what has intrigued producers for enough decades to put these songs to good use as sample material. Even on its own though, Bongo Rock serves as a solid collection of fun music. Light 4/5.
7/10.
Some iconic samples from this album, instrumental albums aren’t what I would expect to enjoy, but this one was fun
Good one!
I want to live in Bongolia! Liked Songs Added: Apache In A Gadda Da Vida
Sounded like a soundtrack to 80's police shows/movies....
Super fun
Enjoyed it, but a bit monotone after a while
Does what it says on the tin. They are a band. They have bongos. They are incredible.
Everybody bongo!!
This is exactly what I was hoping for from this list -- something I never have heard, never would have sought out, and really enjoyed. Straight to the "to buy" list
I never heard it before. Perfect album. Apache and In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida are the masterpieces.
That was fun!
This was sick. Sometimes you just need some funky instrumental music to listen to and this delivers excellently in that regard.
this is cool. i kept thinking damn they really used bongos on every single song and then i was like Oh yeah. i wish i had listened to this while going on some kind of quest or errand around the city because it would make me feel like i was in a movie probably. i guess i'll have to take it out for a spin another time
I really liked this album
Smooooooooooth as hell but couldn't last a whole album, novelty wears off pretty quickly
This is really good, I wasn't expecting much but another pleasant surprise from this list. Good funky instrumentals with lots of vibrancy and energy, very fun music. And the bongos themselves aren't too much really, they're only 1 element other than a single track which is only percussion. You can hear the early roots of hip-hop's genesis in this, not just because of how their version of Apache has been sampled either. An important album but a great listen too
Идеальный саундтрек к экшн фильмам и тот самый семпл из песни Ивана Дорна. В целом, мне нечего больше добавить к описанию данного альбома. Он звучит намного свежее своего возраста, и как минимум оригинальная версия, состоящая из 8 треков, за одно прослушивание хорошо воспринимается, подходит для прослушивания под разный вайб. Рекомендую каждому ознакомиться с этим альбомом. Прикольные 4/5.
When this came through I was sceptical...an album of bongo music? Then as I listened and read up, I realised this inadvertently bacame the jumping off point for hip hop. So many great beats and influential elements
4 out of 5. A wonderful celebration of our favorite little pair of drums.
Some good hits
Didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I did.
Awesome takes on classic songs.
A bunch of familiar tunes that I didn't realize had bongos in them, or that could be played this way so well? A nice little album to listen to during my work day.
Never has an album been built on such a groove. Groove is essential to Bongo Rock. Rhythm leads all. Is it a funk album? Sure, but it's also a blueprint and a key record for how hiphop would develop its use of sampling. Incredible drum breaks on this album, with fun percussion to boot.
Love bongos, naturally this is a hit
When I saw the name Bongo Rock and the fact that this album is an hour and 20 minutes, I full assumed this was about to be terrible. What a surprise! The Incredible Bongo Band lived up to their name with a catchy, funky, and just plain fun record. Favorites: In A Gagga Da Vida, Kabuchi, Sing Sing Sing
Another great reason for using this app. I would NEVER have listened to an album called Bongo Rock. Never! It's huge fun, but really good....and has been sampled sooo many times! Loved it
A percussion dominated funk band that covers In A Gadda Da Vida? What’s not to love?
Goofy AF 70s badass cop show soundtracks FTW! Loved it.
Bongos
I went into this one expecting to give a sarcastic review about the influence of the humble bongo. The concept is a bit ridiculous but this album really delivers! "Apache" is the stand out track and may sound familiar to many. Any wedding DJ should take note if they need to get people energized again. The whole album sounds like it could be the soundtrack to a 70s action movie (which tracks as the songwriter was also a movie producer) with the simple addition of bongos to make it all danceable. The novelty does wear off a bit as it goes on. "Apache" itself is worth an easy 5 stars, but the rest doesn't quite match that.
It was indeed an incredible bongo band. Never seen bongo get used this well. Kinda gets boring towards the end of album tho
This album fucks! Immediately, Apache stands out (shoutout Fresh Prince of Bel Air). Last Bongo In Belgium is awesome. In A Gadda Da Via is a song that Nas sampled on Hip Hop Is Dead and I'm a little disappointed he took out the horns that make this song more fun. I'm putting this one as a solid 4 that approaches 5-status.
Pretty funky. Альбом несомненно повлиял на всю современную музыку, можно хоть и сейчас разбирать его по составным.
I like listening to drums.
Platan byrjar á banger útgáfu af Apache og það er erfitt að toppa það, enda dalar hún smá með síðri lögum sem fylgja í kjölfarið, en þetta er samt þétt, töff og mjög skemmtilegt heilt yfir.
Damn, this thing is awesome, and I'd never even heard of it before today. I'd certainly heard that first track, having been sampled in literally hundreds of hip-hop songs. I can see how some critics dismissed this as kitsch, but I think it holds up as quality party music. Some of the covers of more famous songs (Satisfaction, Inna Gadda Davidda) aren't quite as successful as some of the more obscure covers, but I'm not complaining. The performances and grooves are first-rate. This thing makes me feel nostalgic for a time I never experienced. This album, like the movie Full Metal Jacket, is an interesting study in how well it has aged, thanks to a changing culture they had nothing to do with (this album as a goldmine for sampling, FMJ as a goldmine for memes). Not sure what else to say about it, but it was the perfect remedy for a cold and depressing morning.
I loved this. Got a real kick when I realized what was actually going on. Fun and bobby. Great music for cooking dinner on a cold winter night.
This was just a very fun album. Mostly covers but with some mad bongos and electric guitar and horns instead of singing. I was bopping the whole time
More songs need a Vibraslap in them, and for that reason I love Bongolia. Caught me on a good day, stopped after Bongo Rock as that's the original release. It's nothing special but it's fun.
- wow it's literally all bongos i thought it was just a name - ON IT JUMP ON IT
surprisingly fun album. not shocking that it is very bongo forward. feels like a bit of a joke, but it's also fun as hell to listen to. it's not incredible and has a bizarre cover of 'in a gadda da vida'
All covers, but pretty good. Great for background music while working.
Percussion
Wow this album fucks. Really digging the funk and their commitment to bongos. Opener is immediately familiar, but didn't put my finger on it until the horn breakdown -- Dodgeball used Jump On It, which samples Apache prominently. Last Bongo in Belgium is an absolute jam. Cooking some hash and just vibing. Also realizing this was sampled by Beastie Boys on Paul's Boutique for Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun. Had my hands full for the rest of the album. But made for some great background music while cooking. Solid 4 / 5
4.5 stars. This album was a great listen. All instrumental and it kinda kicked some ass.
Not sure what to expect going into this one. Damn that's a lot of bongos. In all seriousness I did not expect this to be so proggy/funky but I liked it a lot. Felt like Fela Kuti/Ginger Baker at times and Emerson/Lake/Palmer at other times. A couple knocks on this album is it feels very long and very homogenous for what I would really like in an album. Sure some of these solos rock, but hearing them straight for an hour makes them get a bit tired. The bad didn't nearly outweigh the good though. Pretty much brought it from a mid/high 4 to a mid/low 4.
Pretty solid funky instrumentals all around. Nas covered In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida in his song Thiefs Theme. What a jam. Been on some heaters recently with a bunch of 4's. Could just be dat holiday spirit though.
I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Great covers.
The bongos are bongoing on this bongo album. Very bongoie. Top 3 Favorites: Apache, Bongolia, In A Gadda Da Vida No bad songs but Dueling Bongos is a just lil repetitive. 3.50-4.00/5
Sounds like a bongo overloaded sample collection in a good way.
hearing Bongo Rock impresses upon me that almost all the crate diggy modern funk (The Budos Band and most artists releasing singles on Colemine Records) owe their existence to The Incredible Bongo Band and projects like it -- studio soundtrack work that just so happens to have a good beat you can lift from it for hip hop. it makes me wonder; do these groups, who often have the same formula of letting the drums hang and filling the space with horn fills and the infrequent Spaghettified library music guitar riff, take inspiration from this brand of funk, or do they take inspiration from its use as sampled material? do the Budos Band, talented and fun as they are, make jazz-funk or do they reverse engineer hip hop? is it loving tribute or simulacrum? anyway, great record. sample something from this if you're stumped.
Uuu kakvo dobro iznenađenje!! Mooožda sam nekad negdje slučajno čula, na dijelove mi je poznato ali generalno ne znam za njih i nisam slušala. Bila sam skeptična čitajući opis, ali ovo mi je baš baš fino sjelo, dosta mi djeluje drugačije i unique i to mi je fora. Najdraže pjesme su mi In A Gadda Da Vida i Last Bongo In Belgium 👌🏻 iako Spotify nešto jede govna pa mi je izbacio krivu verziju albuma u kojem ima 17 pjesama umjesto 8, pa sam usput poslušala još tih par i recimo Kiburi mi je odlična, a ima tu još baš finih peglica. Sigurno ću se vraćati ovome. 4/5 ili 8/10.
Skroz neloše. Kao kombinacija nekog bongo bluza, hard fanka, soula. Vjerujem da bi ovo lajv kidalo Puno bongosa na jednom mjestu je previše čakraški, ali kad se ovako skombinira s bendom zvuči skroz dobro! In a gadda da vida mi je super stvar. Zamišljam si nekog korumpiranog detektiva dok glumi da rješava neki zločin za koji je već dobio novce da zatvori jedno oko
Def gotta see the Thing with two Heads. Although I have a feeling the soundtrack is better than the movie. I really like this. Not sure how this doesn’t get a rock genre tag.
bongos for sure
That's a lot of funky bongo to get through in one sitting. Works better in a Steven Soderbergh soundtrack.
Þetta rokkaði reyndar fáránlega mikið. Kom skemmtilega á óvart. Brjáluð beats. Útgáfa þeirra af Apache hafði gífurleg áhrif á Hip-Hoppið.
Lekker man, goed album Lekker veel samples Ook leuk om puur instrumentaal album te hebben
Starts awesome but then tapers a bit towards the end. It has some very cool standout tracks though and they make up for the record’s flaws.
I was pleasantly surprised by this. It was a good funky album that I enjoyed listening to. The name was super off putting and I thought it was just gonna be weird.
Genuinely surprising how good this is
Pretty cool!
3-4 Apache!
Ok, un album di solo bonghi magari non va ascoltato per tempi prolungati, ma ha qualche chicca, tipo "apache"
Strangely, I really enjoyed this album.
Nice music
Enjoyed this way more than expected - so funky! - and props for providing the samples to some great hip hop tracks.
this was a fun listen i can’t lie
This album was fucking slick and exciting. We need more bongos to make this world a better place. 4.3 stars
Enjoyable throughout
Ok I liked this waaaayyyy more than I thought I would
Imagine fucking on the beat to this. Favourite Songs: Apache, Let There Be Drums, Last Bongo in Belgium. Least Favourite Songs: Dueling Bongo's, Raunchy '73.
They are kinda shredding on those bongos, i can't lie. Funky.
This was a cool listen. I'd heard Apache before of course, but the rest were first listens. The band is clearly very talented and I really enjoyed what they did here, especially the Inna Gadda Da Vida cover. Four stars.
Hello, Incredible Bongo Band? Give me all the bongos you have... no, that's too many...
Hauska ja mukaansatempaava. Erittäin viihdyttävä.
when a pure vibe becomes pure doozie. this band ain't just the song "Apache", it is also incessant energy that keeps levelling and levelling
Clásico
These bongos, do indeed, rock.
Para ser ouvido novamente e levado pra discussão na aula de bateria.
very nice and easy listening! it looks like a \"giaguaro\" record :) - 4 stars
Cool album.
Actually really great
this is weirdly great workout music…who would have thought!
Unusual bongo rock
Apache! This album is one hell of a good time.
8/10 An extremely pleasant surprise. A novelty album centred around bongos and other drums shouldn’t go this hard Funky instrumental psychedelic rock played by a group of talented musicians who are obviously having a good time. I did too So many of the songs are familiar from prominent samples Great vibes, great brass section Best: Apache
What a trip. Totally fun, and I only knew them from 80s hip hop samples. It added to my funk and happy songs playlists.
What an oddly awesome and interesting record!
Funky! Bongo bounce baby! Apache rules.
Coole Filmmusik. Die einzelnen Stücke sind mir zu lang - macht aber nix 😁
Surely this has been setbreak music. If it hasn't it totally should be
Mint
Where the samples come from! I can’t say I listened *too* closely but it seemed like fun.
The title is not lying… it is incredible….to start with…. then it’s starts to tail off to a sort of muzak vibe by the end of the album… however the first part of the album is so incredible I still give it 4 stars!
Sample farm
Funky ass record
Yep those are bongos
Came for the bongos, but stayed for the deep hip-hop roots that I found.
I loved how different this album was! Instrumentals of banger songs but with some great bongo drums? I didn't even realize this was something I was interested in, but I quickly found myself obsessed. "In A Gadda Da Vida" but with bongos? Sign me up! This album went by all too fast but I received way more enjoyment out of it than I initially imagined when I saw the album's title and the band's name. On its face, Bongo Rock doesn't seem to be on the same caliber as some of the other albums on this list. A quick look at Wikipedia informed me how often The Incredible Bongo Band's music has been used or sampled, which does bring a lot of joy to my life. More people need to know of this album.
This album is a lot of fun
Listen to the Oceans 11 soundtrack. Then come listen to this. I think there is a glitch in the matrix. But this record it brilliant fun.
7/10 I was pleasantly surprised. the beats are fun and the rock was well executed. 6-25-2024
Coming into this record I didn't have high hopes, Incredible Bongo Band? Really? I must say I was much more impressed than I expected. Not only are there bongos (yes, lots of bongos!), but there's some killer guitar, sax solos and overall some impressive musicianship throughout the record. To me, a lot of instrumental albums sound like soundtracks or video game music and this is no exception. It has a 70's TV soundtrack vibe to it with a funky progressive jazz fusion thing happening, which isn't a bad thing, I think the best part of a lot of 70's shows was the music or theme songs and this felt familiar in a weird way. I saw an original pressing of this album at a record store and was intrigued by the shiny silver cover. Now that I heard it, I regret not buying it.
This was... Oddly enjoyable. Not a regular listen or anything, but I'm glad I heard it.
Incredible bongo band
Imagine how cool this could have been if they added different instruments like bongos
vibes
Fun album. Really great high energy rock cover with bongos and horns. Loved it.
Band name and album title might be the most accurate ever. Never have excel spreadsheets been done with so much gusto once I put this on.
With a name like "The Incredible Bongo Band", they do not disappoint.
Wait really?
This was a great surprise! I was transported to a sitcom or detective story in the 70s!
Last bongo in Belgium has an amazing crescendo, literal goosebumps. The originals are really good, the covers generally not my favorite, with Ina gotta devita being the exception, it really slaps (bongo pun)
Lives up to its name for sure. The bingos are incredible. Probably a little better in smaller doses though. And that cover of In-a-Gadda-da-vida is perfect.
Favourite tracks: Apache; in-a-gadda-da-vids; satisfaction; last bongo in Belgium
I loved the uniqueness of this album!
Fully instrumental and interesting. Obviously Apache got a second life as basketball anthem, but this is so much more.
Sehr schöne interpretation zumindest zum Teil. Könnten vielleicht auch die Stadtmusikanten spielen. Deshalb 4 sterne
I Love a bongo.
i have a strong feeling that this is what gorons from the legend of zelda are listening in their caves
Took me over 750 tries to get In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida and it's not even the Iron Butterfly version Also, I’ve heard at least two albums on here that sample “Belgium”, from Leftfield & the Beastie Boys. Legally speaking, this is CanCon but I don't buy it 🔫 They recorded the album in Canada to get more radio play in this country, a heinous crime that must never be forgotten. Big Dumb Bongo Band Good jams though. 🪘 🪘 HL: “Apache", "Last Bongo in Belgium", “Let There Be Drums”, “Bongo Rock” April 28, 2024
This album was a lot of fun. As always +1 for horns. Dueling bongos and the cover of inna-gada-davida were the only tracks I didn’t care for, otherwise a great album!
I had no expectations going into this (and even laughed when I generated the album) but this was surprisingly fun. I had a good time!
honestly i did not expect this to be good. 1001 albums loves including weird ideas that sound halfway interesting on paper but in execution always just fall flat. maybe it's because of the talent/session musicians behind this but it's kind of a jam. some of the covers are pretty recognizable and transformative, like satisfaction and pipeline. the other tracks are all solid and enjoyable. this isn't the greatest album ever or anything but it's nice to see a weird idea actually stick the landing here. also thank god they didn't do the full version of in a gadda da vida favorites: apache, in a gadda da vida, bongo rock, satisfaction, wipeout, pipeline, apache remix
Jeg regnede med at det var helt ironisk jeg ville lytte til den, men jeg nød den faktisk rigtig meget?? En skattekiste hvis man interesserer sig for hiphop samples
- honestly I wish there were more bongos I wasn’t expecting other instruments - insanely enjoyable - 3.5 but I’ll round up
kinda silly but super fun and actually enjoyable. Going to be hard for any other instrumental to top this one. 4
Bloody love this. Where have you been all my life. So Seventies. Also it's sample heaven. GO BONGOS.
Great fun. Bombastic and funky. Could've done with some singing, on maybe a track or two to add an extra dimension, but it was fantastic and wonderfully different to the usual albums in this list.
"Guess what! I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more bongo!"
7.5/10
That... was kinda fun, actually. I mean, there is ENTIRELY too much bongo bangin' going on here but, when you press play on an album called "Bongo Rock" by a band called "Incredible Bongo Band", you kinda know what you're getting into, right? The fact that there is more going on besides bongos was a nice surprise. Lowered expectations and all that, I suppose. The covers were fun and it was a blast to listen to "Apache" given how foundational that song was for early hiphop sampling. I don't know, it was fun and that earns it an extra star despite the completely unnecessary amount of bongos.
Not a funk fan but this is some good stuff. The In A Gadda Da Vida and Satisfaction covers caught me by surprise (in a good way) and Apache is one of those songs I’ve heard before but could never place! The mix included at the end is fantastic.
4 stars for the Apache break alone. Very cool but not really connecting with it to give 5.
This is insanely joyous
As a drummer, this is already way up there for me! It's so groovy, not just the drumming and percussion. You could sample bits of every song, and it's been done a lot. It's not a groundbreaking record, but definitely good and a lot of fun to listen to! Standout tracks: Apache, Let There Be Drums, Bongolia, Last Bongo In Belgium, Raunchy '73 8 out of 10
Surprisingly good covers of songs
I really enjoyed this. Especially as background while I filed my taxes today.
Bongo boys we up again, Apache's influence (specifically the drums) is everwhere Best Song: Apache Worst Song: N/A
Let out a bit of an “ugh” when this popped up, but turns out it was remarkably good. A little goes a long way, of course, but glad I haven’t a listen.
what a vibe lol, i could listen to more of this when im busy for sure, though im not sure if it'd be the go-to if i was just hanging out
Fun listen, lots of good percussion/instrumentals.
It's definitely bongos. It's definitely influential. It's definitely not something I'll frequently come back to.
They really didn't think about this album much did they? "We play bongos and make it our whole identity." Jokes aside, this was pretty good. Nice to have something easy listening in the background. 7/10.
This was cool! Familiar songs with extra rhythm. I love drums!
Surprisingly good instrumental album. A few bangers.
Great vibe. I’m into it
Liked it overall
Incredible 👏
I had zero hope for this based solely on the band name. Little did I know I’ve heard most of these tracks sampled across so many artists all my life. A fun listen - will throw on again when I’m in the mood for some funky beats.
La música instrumental suele ser un riesgo. Por pretender agradar o mostrarse virtuosa, suele caer muchas veces en el aburrimiento. No es el caso de éste disco, nuevamente de un proyecto musical que desconocía. Todas canciones que pueden ser de un soundtrack de Tarantino o que van bien como música de fondo mientras uno trabaja. Qué loco cómo la música también ayuda a hacer más llevadera la monotonía.
Ganz geil! Apache natürlich ein Hit. Wird noch mal angehört.
Was completely surprised to start this album spinning and find it immediately sound familiar. Very of its time but, surprisingly, in a good way. A pretty hilarious conceit executed to perfection. One star off for a little too much of a good thing. Thank you album generator, this ridiculousness was just right for today.
More bongos now
Holy samples batman! This was surprisingly awesome! Lots of bongo and it's true to it's name! My mind was blown by how prolific Apache is and the number of samples that one song has generated. Solid listen, there were moments were I felt like it was an opening scene of a sitcom or like in a James Bond scene where they pan away from him and whatever woman he's with at the time lmao. Super fun to listen to, I'm not sure I'd seek it out exclusively but it's definitely something I would revisit! Standout was Apache
I mean its 30 minutes of bongo covers. But still surprisingly enjoyable