Bongo Rock

Fun!

TMB Too many bongos

Interesting from a samples point of view, a bit torturous as a whole album listen, 2.5 ⭐⭐

I honestly thought it was going to be more bongo centred but relieved that it wasn’t. Fine music in the background whilst cooking but I’d hate to have listened with my headphones on.

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

Pretty fun album, although I think I was ready for it to be over when it was over. Not much to say except I liked it. 3.25/5

Lowkey a banger. bonger? incredible bongos. never enough bongos. we love bongos. bingo bango bobs your bongo

Listen…bongos are great. What an important percussive instrument. But a whole album of bongo music? Rock on, but it’s not getting a rave from moi.

Bongers

Album slaps more than I thought it would. Hearing Apache brought me back to middle school dancefloors.

No se merece estar en esta lista; criosas versiones y poco más. Perfecto para una banda sonora de una peli de serie B

I immediately recognized the first few notes of “Apache” from Grandmaster Flash. I love when I don’t recognize an album, but connect the dots from other parts of music history. On top of that this is just an insanely fun album.

Love the Groove to the drums

Now this is more like it! Pure fun and funky drumming. I know Apache already and enjoyed the rest. Kitsch but fun.

Ihan ok, ei säväytä. 2,25/5.

Friendsgiving vibes 🙏

it's really all bongos

It can't sustain itself over the entire runtime, but it's fun in small doses and as background music.

Played this is in my Year 4 class as the children came in in the morning. They were doing their maths, bopping their heads. They asked if we could have it on all day. So we did. Bongo Rock all day long and we didn't get bored of it at all. I even played it again while washing dishes that night. Still fresh.

As the title and the name of the album suggest, this record features a lot of bongos. However, it is also full of relatively catchy instrumentals and guitar riffs in particular. While not spectacular, the concept is interesting.

Incredible indeed! Listened to the LP release first, then ran it back with the full track listing on spotify.

More brass than I was expecting, what with the whole bongo gimmick

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

It’s exactly what it sells itself as. A whole lot of bongos. Not what I would ever choose to throw on for casual listening, but it’s well done 🤷‍♀️

I actually enjoyed this on a rainy day - made it a little brighter. Standouts were Kiburi, Part 1 and Sing Sing Sing

Not bad but so similar it was nothing amazing to me

This was really fun, but I do think that it feels like more of a showcase of cool ideas than actually exploring them. I just wish it were a bit longer, which I think would actually give this album a chance to really explore each idea it shows off in a lot more detail.

Really fun and funky. Wears out its welcome a bit as it drags on and the covers begin to seem more rote.

It's pretty interesting how an album can gain such importance after the fact, and not due to its own merits, but rather because it became an invaluable tool in early hip hop. On its own merits it's fine, but as a cornerstone of rap it's a super interesting heritage item.

No thanks

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.

483/1001

Je ne connaissais qu'un titre de ce groupe. Je n' ecouterais pas ça toute la journée mais ce n' est pas désagréable

Clearly influential but NMS as a standalone listen

I did not expect bongo renditions of The Rolling Stones or Iron Butterfly. That being said the album felt like it went on for too long.

A bongo cover album from the 70s was NECESSARY before I die?

Wrongo

bongoy

Love the horns, bongos, guitar riffs. In A Gada Da Vida track - chef's kiss. Wipeout. Apache. So good instrumentals. Listened before? N Saved tracks? N Favorite track? Lots of them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it.

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.

Simply a bad idea. 1 star or F.

As a big rap fan, this is of course getting a 5. Amazing music, so many recognizable samples, no wailing, I mean singing, just a spectacle all around. If I have to nitpick one thing, I do have to say that for me, Clive, the bongos are hitting almost too well, if anything. Had they dialed down the bongos and let some other instruments breathe a bit more, it could have been even better, but they're called Bongo Band after all.

At least two out of the three words in this group's title are accurate. A good palate cleanser - not sure whether it's more than that.

Bongos, a horn section, very, very 1970s, and quite fun. A nice discovery.

Good but not all for me. Amazing performances!

One of the better sampled-to-death albums on this list. Fun and well done!

It's like I am back in my childhood, watching Sport documentaries from the 70s-80s.

I suppose it is what it says on the tin. Bongo covers. I quite enjoyed it, it’s anything but dull thats for sure. It’s not really for me but can see the appeal.

The incredible bongo band actually seems to be a serviceable covers band you might found in a lounge bar with some added bongos. I did like dueling bongos, the only bit that really showcased their bongo talent. The rest of it was just the sort of jazzy pop with an extra bongo beat that weirdly gave it the feeling of a never ending heist explanation. Were there a lot of bongos in oceans eleven? Its very specific and I do like these sort of niche turns from the list but it's anything but essential.

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

I like bongos, but not this much.

Album might be a bit longer than it needed to be, but overall pretty entertaining.

What if bongos but too much?

Fun

7,5/10

Cheesy AF. How do you make Wipeout boring?? An hour of percussion does not an album make.

Fun, though I wouldn't call it incredible.

I am expecting lots of bongo from the Incredible bongo band!! Bongo Rock sounds incredible, the horns are loud, there is a lot of bongoing for sure and bongo solos and their are some great guitar riffs ontop. This is a very cool album. Bongo Rock really is a 70s sound and sums up the vibe of that time but it can get a bit tiresome as it has vary little variation throughout and its a long listen. Favourite track: Apache and Bongolia were brilliant songs Least favourite track: After time the labum begins to drap and feel very repitiative. it could do with losing 4-5 of the last tracks. Album artwork: More bongos

pretty solid instrumental album

6/10 - good bongos, some epic riffs, but a bit too long

Only listen if you want funky bongo fever dreams

7.0

AStro!

This is a fun album!!

Fun classic sound

magnifique

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.

Not much to say as it's all funk-rock instrumentals with plenty of bongos. It's cool just not something I am likely to revisit. Top Tracks = Apache & Last Bongo in Belgium

Its a good gimmick, but a gimmick nonetheless!

Nimen perusteella ajattelin että tämä on joku erikoisbongomusa diggareiden levy. Tämä on elokuvamusiikkia täynnä! Loistavaa taustamusaa piirtämiseen ja mihin vaan käsityöhön.

This is a wild thing to exist and it's really quite good! Would never listen to this but it would be a great film soundtrack.

Well that was a big surprise. When this came up I thought what the hell have we got now. I loved it.

Love it, so cool and random. I can see how this was sampled heavily.

This was a really fun listen. I saw it pop up and my heart sank, but this was really a solid good time.

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.

Incredible record. This very much reminds me of Booker T. & the M.G.’s where so much modern music is based off of these songs. You hear so much of this in movie soundtracks or hip hop samples or even just in rock songs from the era and beyond. I was picking up some James Brown, Santana in the mix, Iron Butterfly (didn't realize this was a direct rip off at first) and most obviously The Sugarhill Gang. The bongos are incredible, super fun to get transfixed in the beats and movement of it all. The psych guitar and rolling bass take you to space and also keep you on earth while you're brain just goes to town on those bongos. This was a blasty blasty. I feel like I need to do a specialized listen with headphones and herb.

Ironic considering we just purchased bongos for Bubba. Really great album, actually. I love good background music and although this is a LOT more upbeat than the lofi rhythms I'm used to, it's not bad. Probably weird to rank a bongos band over 3 stars tho?

molto divertente però mi è parso infinito

Interesting, but not sure it was really interesting in a good way?

Fun and well done!

1,000 hip hop samples were taken from this bad boy!

3.5 I enjoyed it.

This turned out to be a fun album with notable covers.

*Interesting concept and the band with the bongos sounded tight

Вайб, несомненно, но очень быстро упирается в стену. Лучшая песня - Apache.

f you love hip hop and you've never listened to this madness you absolutely should. Apache is the obvious one but there are a bunch of other tracks here that have been sampled into oblivion. A the-good-drugs-from-the-early-70s-fuelled instrumental masterpiece.

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.

Wikipedia states that the Incredible Bongo Band's "output consisted of upbeat, funky, instrumental music". What it does not mention is that this music is randomly interrupted by ridiculously monotonous and repetitive bongo, conga, whatever drum parts. That's a real shame, because the overly simple and undynamic drum sections detract from the professional impression made by the songs, which are actually good and carefully arranged. Sure, it was a contemporary experiment in the early 1970s, but from today's perspective, it was a failed one. What a pity!

Var basicly med til at skabe hip-hoppen, breakbeat og DJ-kulturen (og drum and bass senere) Afrika bam. En af de mest sampled albums nogensinde og det startede som et kitsch studieprojekt som senere blev populært, da det var her man startede med at vende plader i New york (afrika bambasta, grandmaster flash osv)

Definitely what the box said it was....

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

Bongotastic

listened to it a second time straight through while revisiting my notes before doing a dump of reviews. it's just fun.

Amazing. It has all the hits you know and love, but performed with bongos.

It's pretty cool hearing bongos incorporated as a core component of a bands sound. I can only ever think of it being used in a "woah, so trippy dude" way during psychedelic breaks or freakouts by psych and prog bands I definitely feel like I'm familiar with Apache, feels like the kind of thing youd hear on 90s and 2000s British tv Some of these songs feel like vocals have been lifted out of them. Last Bongo in Belgium feels like it should have vocals harmonising with the horns and keys, so it feels weirdly incomplete. Vocals on even just a couple songs would have done the album some good, I think A fun listen Highlights: Apache

A legendary album with some of the greatest drums ever made.

If you want Bongo Rock, this is where you should go. Had a little run in with this on my quest for more soul music 10 years ago, Last Bongo in Belgium is great. A full album of this is not tolerable. But again, for what it is, not bad.

I don't think the Bongos are really bringing a lot to the table here. It's not bad bongo-ing. It might even be great bongo-ing. Nevertheless, it is still bongoing.

Dueling Bongos was neat, but man, who can muster up the steam for an hour+ of this? Ill tell ya who… Matthew McConaughey bONNgoos man… GET IT. YEEEWHOO

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

Band and album name ain’t lyin’. That’s a lot of BONGOS. I think this album would have been a little cooler if they didn’t make it so much about the bongos. There are some good tunes on here. Biggest knock I have is that they’re all covers, so it’s hard to tell what this album is adding other than da bongos.

Not sure why I needed to hear this before I die.

Pretty good. I love a good beat.

DNF soz

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

5/5 Non stop funky rock bongo fun!

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.

2/3

Pretty cool, rhythmic album. I like the vibe. It may be a bit of a gimmick but super well executed.

This wasn’t bad, it was quite well done, but it was incredibly gimmicky and I don’t know if I really needed to hear a bunch of cover songs featuring a lot of bongos before I died.

Sounds like an old cop movie. Cool

First song I think, “oh this I a cover of jump on it. No wait, jump on it must sample it. Okay cool.” Me - going to the bathroom Kori, through the door: “this album is great” Agreed

This was definitely a fun listen and I do like bongos so can't complain. I think it's funny that most of this album is just instrumental bongo covers of other songs. I don't know if I needed to listen to this before I die lol. But I did enjoy it. 7/10.

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

One late night in high school I was hanging out at my friend’s house. His parents were sleeping and we didn’t want to piss them off. So we listened to the radio outside in my friend’s driveway smoking dope. Listening to late night CBC radio, the only station that came on in High Bluff with anything good to listen to at the time. The song “those are not my bongos” by the band fuck played. When I saw today’s album included bongos, I was hoping it was that random band I heard nearly 20 years ago. Alas, The Incredible Bongo Band is not fuck. But fuck those bongos from The Incredible Bongo Band are the backbone of so much iconic music. I don’t think I have ever listened to the original source of so many samples that are all over music history. I guess drums are pretty universal to music samples so it makes sense The Incredible Bongo band is so widely sampled. The first notable sample to me was Apache which obviously is a main sample for Jump on It. Turns out Sugar hill Gang sampled incredible bongo band for the same track title Apache. Then sir mix a lot sampled sugar hill gang to make jump on it 🤯. Fun fact the same track was sampled by Nas, Jay-z, and Kanye. But this album alone was sampled with various other artists including The Beastie Boys, Fat Boy Slim, Buck 65 (another CBC throwback iykyk - likely the radio host that late night evening in highschool), N.W.A, Massive Attack, The Chemical Brothers and more! I really enjoyed this album and absolutely agree you should listen to it before you die. If possible a late night listen with friends having some fun.

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

It's fun and funky. 3/5 #196

Super fun, drum and beat filled album - really fun!

Quite fun as a game of 'spot the sample'. 1 hour 18 minutes of bongos though, that's objectively a lot of bongo 😬

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

Bingo bongo

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

Remember 1970 UK 'variety' shows. "It's Cliff Richard" or "Lulu" or "Summertime Special"? About half way through there would be some troupe of clean cut dancers doing a very 70's routine to some Norrie Paramor or Ronnie Hazlehurst orchestration. Well this is appears to be the soundtrack.

Oh that was fuuuuun!

# 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 .

An hour of the bongo equivalent of the Amen break. Is this what heaven feels like?

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

at least it was short?

But there’s also horns! This album could’ve been a medley. I’m feeling generous today

Changed my life

Nice

Not bad It got me going YES

OK ÇA C'EST MON JAM! J'adore les albums instrumentales funks jazzy, pis il y en a tellement peu dans cette liste que quand je tombe dessus ça fesse encore plus. Seul bémol; le mix de l'album original est un peu flat, je recommande la version 40e anniversaire qui semble agir en remaster en plus d'ajouter des tracks bonus assez chanmé, j'ai envie de dire Aussi, leur cover d'In a Gadda Da Vida >>>>>l'original

Funky and interesting. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to but at the end of the day 1hr 20mins of bongos with no lyrics is a bit much for me

Interesting novelty, amazed that Tarantino hasn’t been all over it for his films.

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

Much better than expected. Just instrumental covers of songs that added bongos. Sounds silly but nothing was bad about it.

Fun little novelty album

La música llevada al circo. Ahora vendrá Claxon éxitos. Cómo número de circo tal vez impresione

Great

Litt rart, men litt nice og

Loads of fun. Love something percussion led.

Nice background, but not my cup of tea

I like these bongos more than I thought I would. Apache is the obvious standout track and the rest isn't very interesting. The album art is 10/10.

They were really going crazy on those bongos. Favorite: dueling bongos

It's a weird record, at first I thought it'd be just a gimmick with not much of interest, but it's very listenable. It works well as background music, and some of the covers are interesting ("In A Gadda Da Vida"), as they're pretty funky and fun versions of the songs. I won't talk about it's value as samples because it wasn't really the point of the album. But it's an interesting listen and it's better than I expected it to be.

Bongos

Hippies going bongo, good montage music!

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.

Lmao a Bongo album? Sure why not Best Song: Apache Rating: 5/10 Stars: 3/5

Quite enjoyable. I dug it.

Yeah. This is pretty good.

quite boring after three songs

With this, I’ve decided to include an addendum for each album in the list from now on, asking the question: do you need to hear this before you die? After all, that’s what the list is about, right? It can’t come as a surprise that this, an album centred around one instrument, sparked the idea for this new clause. It really is just that. A slew of (honestly rather unimpressive) drum solos, occasionally broken by unimpressive guitar, and unimpressive saxophone. Apache has a section sampled famously by The Sugarhill Gang in their song of the same name, and, uh... there isn’t much else of note.

If you like bongos then this is the album for you. 1 hour 17 minutes of unadulterated bongoism. I have never really listened to much bongo music before. Apache was good. After that, it was fine, but I was very conscious of the amount of bongos and nothing else.

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).

Pretty boring!

Pointless album.

Headache, only worth a listen if for some reason you’re obsessed with bongos - obvious from the title, just seems redundant as a must listen album

A novelty item that I'm not exactly sure belongs in this list. Sure, some of the covers are cute, but the idea runs out of juice pretty early on, leaving you with an exasperated sense that maybe bongoes are incredibly overrated, which is an entirely incorrect assumption because the instrument is pretty cool, actually.

Love it 4/5

Bongofied covers of your favorite 70s hits. Way better than you'd expect honestly!

i skipped this at first and put off listening to it for so long but today i thought, ok it's bongo time. this album contains many bongos and is v groovy and fun and now i'm all bongo'd out, thank you x

"How many bongos do you want?" "Yes" 3 ⭐️

Como música de James Bond no está mal. Pero más allá de la gracia, el disco cansa y es realmente predecible. La versión de in a gadda da vida sí es excitante. Pero podría haber escuchado eso y haberme imaginado el resto.

What are we now, all beatniks? Didn't like it, some great cover songs were nearly unrecognizable due to the interpretations taken.

Obviously important to future music with the most sampled beats of all time. As an album though, it was ok. I like drums and can appreciate it, but it felt a bit one note. Also, half of the album on Spotify is the second album , the original track list stops after bongo rock. The drop off to kiburi felt noticable. Do yourself a favour and stop after bongo rock.

Awesome. Loved the progressions, whole thing was great!!

okayy i expected bongos and i got bongos many bongos many many bongos the music is really chill and danceable i guess you could create some nice remixes with the tracks but all in all i don't really want to listen a whole album with just bongos in my freetime 😭

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.

I usually take a 'why not?' attitude to weird, high-concept shit - especially where excessive percussive elements are involved. But as I listened to this inoffensive but dispensable album I confess I did find myself asking 'why?' - regarding both its conception and its inclusion on the list.

I get that this is an important album in the sense that it is highly sampled in rap/edm, but it's mostly just instrumental covers of rock songs with bongos and horns. I just ain't into it.

I'm shocked that this album rated as well (Globally) as it did! It was just a cheesy 'Hooked on Classics' (if you know, you know) but with bongos!. Who'd have thought!

The original track listing was surprisingly enjoyable (and fun to realised how many of these tracks have been sampled), but by the end of track 8 my bongo tolerance (BT) had significantly decreased. My BT is much higher than my HT (harmonica tolerance) Hopefully neither my BT or HT will get tested again any time soon.

I hate to use the word "gimmicky", since using one specific instrument prominently shouldn't be considered a gimmick, but man does this album feel gimmicky.. The cover of "Apache" at the beginning is pretty great but after that this album becomes very draining. I'm sorry I just don't care about bongos. Also the "Satisfaction" cover is pretty lame. Favorite track: Apache

It's too much bongo for one sitting

Kind of like breakbeat 90's 00's stuff with bongos idk poo poo pee pee

This was definitely not on my radar in any way, shape, or form. That being said, it is an interesting and fun album. Hearing their cover of Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Davita should not be missed.

A curio - some good grooves, and an interesting backdrop to early hip hop and the use of funky samples to build new grooves. But not essential listening - there are 4 Blue Note collections of hip hop roots that are far more interesting than this. (Blue Break Beats Volumes 1 to 4)

This made me laugh for some reason. But dueling bongos was great.

Fluide, funky et amusant, mais tourne à vide assez vide

I can’t lie. It was impressive but for how impressive it was, I’ll never come back to any of these songs ever. And I don’t think this needed to be heard before death. So.

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

No thank you.

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

azt hittem ez kurvameno lesz. közepes volt. aztán jött a 11. szám. satisfaction feldolgozás. ugy berageltem rajta hogy ki is kapcsoltam. csak azért nem adok rá 2-t mert érezhetően nagy zenei tudás van mögötte. de azért felbaszott

Classic stuff. Not something to listen to all the time, but definitely enjoyable.

# Playlist Track - Apache # Notes - "Apache" takes me back. WAY Back! - The entire thing is super cool! It's a really unique sound and, against all odds of it's somewhat silly premise, it's incredibly fun and -save for a few longer solos- chill. Recommend!

Amazing

Mocht er bij een pubquiz ooit een bonusvraag gesteld worden over artiesten die in de 1001 albums lijst staan en die ook het nummer 'Apache' van Incredible Bongo Band hebben gesampled, dan zijn dit allemaal geldige antwoorden: Nas, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, Aphex Twin, Blur, Moby, Goldie, Roni Size, Dj Shadow, Run-DMC, TLC en Mick Jagger. Wat dat aangaat durf ik de 'Legendarisch' stempel wel uit te delen voor Apache van het Ongelofelijke Bongo Orkest. Verder valt er over dit album echt niks te vermelden en kun je de hele boel wat mij betreft gewoon overslaan. Xenos Ennio Morricone meets Safri Duo. Twee sterren.

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

Overall: 5/10 There's lots of bongos on this album. The songs are fine. Don't know what else to say, you get what you expect. Fav Song: Apache

Unironically loved it. Last bongo in Belgium a highlight. Bit long for a bongo album. Filled me with joy

Man this is a cool record that I have zero interest in. Like if I were making shitty beats this might be sick but I just can't. The fully instrumental path this is on is not my style. Even though I dont care about lyrics at all songs just feel naked without some vocals. Could care less what they say but its like an orchestra without the violins. Just feels wrong. The covers are a fun novelty but the whole thing kinda feels like a novelty. Just stack that shit up on tip of itself. Its just not my thing. Also the bongos get old after a while. Its a cool instrument but I dont know enough about percussion in general to really appreciate it. Also it gets old after a while. A long ass album highlighting the same instrument every time just gets boring. I dont hate it but im never coming back that's for sure

Meh it was alright 3 stars

Interesting and will listen more in the future

The most satirical rock n roll group ever. Just plain strange. The Beatles - probably John - loved them. John , you can love anything you want. That's why you were a genius!!

Partymusik Apache Kracher bzw Filmmusik für action drives

Exactly what I needed for my Sunday morning coffee and dog walking. I've been music first as long as I can remember and have delved deeper into instrumental music as I've gotten older. Never heard of the Incredible Bongo Band and I'm really digging this. In A Gadda Da Vida is the highlight for me. I listened to this a few times and enjoyed it so much I listened to their 2nd album too.

Never heard. Won't listen again. It's pretty much just noise.

It’s a cool instrumental funk album that has cool beats and nice atmosphere. It’s great!

Covers

Блять, как же это хорошо

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

It gets so confusing with these altered track listing on apps. Have to check wiki to make sure. And yes, this album is actually 33 minutes and 8 tracks, rather than 80 mins and 19 tracks as the link takes you to. (Album finishes on ‘Bongo Rock’ btw) Ahhh THIS is where Apache comes from! Solid opener and great introduction to what this band is. Great energy and just asking for dancing or to be used as samples. Interesting history with the MGM exec on bongos and revolving door of musicians. Endless groove and great as an album to listen to with engagement or just have great background vibes. Me likey

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.

An incredible source of samples. But is it more than that?

Cool, unique

Yeah this was fun. Its not their fault some of their songs are overplayed.

Maybe I'm a bongo guy

Fun

Great bongos! But if I’m honest & lying on my death bed I’m not going to ask my nearest and dearest to play Bongo Rock before I die

Now this is what we call bongo. I'm the king of bongo, I'm the king of bongo bong. No manu chao to be seen here. Apache is an absolute banger. But the whole thing seems a bit too long.

Worth hearing for the oft-sampled track "Apache" but you can pretty much lift up the needle after that (seeing that the rest of the album is corny 70s horn-driven pseudo-cop show soundtrack instrumental rock).

Ironically I found this kind of light on bongos.

6/10 Favorite: Apache

Thank you for reminding me of this great album

Nej det här behöver man inte höra innan man dör. Kanske var bongotrummor och elgitarr en kittlande kombo på 70-talet, men inte nu. Dessutom, väldigt lite bongo för något som kallas bongo-rock. Och alla bongosolon låter typ likadant. I slutändan ibland helt ok filmmusik från 60-/70-tals pasticher. Men ärligt , vad kommer sen, panflöjtscovers?! Vill lyssna igen: nej Bästa spår: Apache Betyg: d - 2 av 10 (1 av 5) Dw - 4 av 10 (2 av 5)

Is this a joke of some kind?

Funky covers. Not sure I would revisit much as an album.

musicianship is good but not my thing

Banger! Loved it. 5/5

I liked this enough. Their version of Apache is fun and their version of In a Gadda da Vida is amazing. Overall not something I really need to put in my rotation.

They are quite incredible Indeed.

This is a weird one, but an enjoyable deviation from the usual.

Interesting, you can definitely tell like a million rap samples were made from this album so I get its inclusion, still 3/5

Fun and groovy! Listened at aleishas house while in my cast

This album makes me wish I was a stripper in the 1960s or 1970s looking hella cute dancing nude in a cage among a far-out light show! Some of the music sounds super sexual to me or maybe I'm just horny. OK I hit the stage in 5! Oh Là La!

Interesting listen to see where the breaks are, but otherwise something of a curio. The story behind Winer, however, is a far more interesting slice of random west coast career paths.

It's fine - but an album of covers played on bongos just made me want to here some of the originals

There is only so many bongo covers I can take in a way before seriously questioning my state of mind and how I got here.

4/5

So many bongo drums...this album of covers was great until it wasn't, somewhere around satisfaction. Neat little time capsule of 70s vibe, but a bit much to listen to all at once...

Instrumental versions of semi popular songs but with bongos. 5/10

I usually like a little funk in my coffee. But this hour-plus instrumental odyssey driven by bongos just really didn’t do it for me. Despite some of these covers being of excellent songs, and despite an addition by the Grandmaster himself, I just couldn’t get excited about this. Out of all the albums I’ve heard so far from this list, this (THIS!) was the first one I had to stretch out over five days or so. My body rejected this music. It was a literal chore to sit through.

It’s like the soundtrack to a bunch of 80’s & 90’s TV shows and movies. Fun, inventive, catchy but ultimately more kitschy than compelling.

My impression based on the name alone was not great, but this turned out to be better than I thought. It’s still not top-tier level stuff that needs to be included in the list, though. I could see this being the intermission music for a movie theater in the 70s.

This album has no business being this good. It's energetic, fun, and funky as fuck. I can see how influential an album like this can be to early hip-hop and the art of sampling. fav track: "Apache", "Bongolia" and "Bongo Rock". As a drummer, I have to give it a 5/5

Fun. Point deduction for just being an album of covers

I liked this way more than I expected to

Liked it. Had a 70s sound that I like. Great drums.

It was fun! And I recognized some songs - covers - but not sure I found anything for me. Definitely worth a listen, but not personally for me.

Well, if you are really into bongos...

Yea, the bongos are there and this is pretty fun overall but it was too much for a full serving. 3 stars

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.

I am the Great Bongholio!!!

these guys are so famous bc they opened the door to sampling in hip hop. Apache is massive - it's half an episode in the series the history of hip hop - it's been sampled countless times spanning genres. Big fun, great groove don't need a whole album of them b ut I get why they're on the list

"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.

Kitsch as high art. The funkiest damn soundtrack for a film that - as of this writing - has yet to be shot. And just fun fun fun. They had know idea what they hath wrought on the unknowing future.

Bongos are hard to take for 78 minutes.

What an Incredible Bongo Band.

I was initially excited about this. I’ve been doing taiko for about 2 years now, so am more positively inclined to listening to percussion-forward (or even percussion only) music than before. Also! So many of my favorite hip hop artists have sampled stuff off this album! Always a thrill to recognize a sample. That said, I couldn’t make it through this. It’s good for a laugh, but the joke goes on for an hour and 17 minutes, like listening to a kid whose discovered one of those “101 ______ Jokes” books and then reads the entire thing to you on the bus. A couple of zingers, but mostly just me listening politely until I can leave.

Cohesive, not a track that sticked out as bad

On first blush, I absolutely thought I knew nothing of this artist. But... that first song, Apache, I know from the Fresh Prince. Also, it's great that they covered In A Gadda da Vida. I think this is really well recorded and unexpectedly fun. I'm not likely to return to this very often but I'm glad to have added it to my knowledge base!

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

Talented and interesting covers in Bongo style

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.

This sounds like cheesy soundtrack music to a cheesy 70's movie. It's not really my thing but I didn't dislike it. Some of the covers were kind of fun. This would be better in smaller doses, it's a lot for one sitting. 2.5/5

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 enjoyed it to start with, but like most people are saying it's a bit much to sit down and listen to in one go. I know the whole idea is BONGOS BONGOS BONGOS!!! But yeah... perhaps a few bongos too many.

Funky and more entertaining than I thought a bongo focused album would be. I immediately recognized parts MF Doom sampled for a few of his songs, and it makes sense. Overall just a good time.

That was fun! The covers were surprising, especially the instrumentals that I recognized. I’d never heard of this band - pleasant surprise.

Different

It was okay, a bit long.

good but not the type i like

Tricky one to review Listening to the full album ⭐️ I imagine a live performance in the park at a summer concert series with a few buds and brews where they only play two songs, probably ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I get it, bong bong bong bong bong bong bong bong bong bong bong bong bong bong bong OKAY I GET IT.

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

my immediate reaction was, man this is a dog run of albums. Then i checked, this goes for an hour and eighteen minutes? Fine... I was expecting actual bongo covers. not big band embellishments with the hint of bongo underneath. Some sneaky sick beats on here. Gems were - Let There Be Drums and of course, their take on In A Gadda Da Vida

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.

3.5

A nice sunny listen, with lots of recognisable parts that have been sampled elsewhere. Probably won't come back to this though, but was good enough as a novelty.

It's alright

Были знакомые нотки, но на этом всё.

They sure don't skimp on the bongos.

You could give a room full of monkeys with typewriters a trillion years to come up with a better name for this band and they would not succeed.

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

Sometimes you get an album - say, “Bossanova” by The Pixies - where, perhaps to your surprise, you find the title is completely unrelated to the contents therein. This is not one of those albums. (Pretty fun at first, though it overstayed its welcome. Honestly better than I expected.)