Percussion, Conga, & Bongo Rock
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Historically, "jungle" records could mean old novelty-rock 45s capitalizing on the success of "Tarzan" movies and the 1950s obsession with the bongo drum. "Bongo rock" came and went, but Latin soul (popularized by Mongo Santamaria) evolved into the conga funk of soul jazz. Next, a great many American soul and jazz musicians explored all things African in the late 1960s and early 1970s (reviving a trend begun by 1950s jazz pioneers). Congas became the "power" drum to complement the extremes of electric guitar. Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band nailed the quintessential breakbeat ("Apache"), while Dennis Coffey's Detroit Guitar Band came up with the ultimate bongo-rock success, "Scorpio." England's Mandingo ground out a handful of albums of semi-exotic but mostly tedious drum rock. Many of the great albums by top soul-jazz percussionists do not emphasize percussion. Instead they are the drummer's turn at being leader and arranger. Buying: Breakbeat and funky conga LPs always are in great demand. Fortunately conga is ubiquitous throughout soul jazz, funk, and Latin. |
Percussion, Conga, & Bongo-Rock LPs
| Rating | |
| 8 | Charly Antolini: Drum Beat; Saba 15.086; 1966 (MPS 15059) |
| 7 | Charly Antolini: Soul Beat; Saba 15.195; 1968 (MPS 15058) |
| 8 | Charly Antolini's Power Dozen: Atomic Drums; Odeon C-062-29462; 1972 |
| 6 | Charly Antolini: Knock Out; Gema/Jeton 100.3304; 1979 |
| 7 | Louis Bellson/Shelly Manne/Willie Bobo/Paul Humphrey: The Drum Session; Inner City 6051; 1979/1974 |
| 9 | Ben & his Platano Group: Paris--Soul; Barclay/Dare Dare DD-003 (France) |
| -» | Big Black -- see African Jazz |
| Willie Bobo: Tomorrow is Here; Blue Note BN-LA711-G; 1977 | |
| 7 | Candido: 1,000 Finger Man; Solid State SS-18066; 1970/1969 (Candido Camero) |
| 8 | Candido: Beautiful; Blue Note BST-84357; 1970 (Candido Camero) |
| 8 | Candido: Drum Fever; Polydor PD-5063; 1973 (Candido Camero) |
| 8 | Bobby Christian: Jazz Dance Session; Orion LP-101 (drums/bongo bop; Alan Swain, Maurie Laurie, Warren Kime; prod. Gus Giordano) |
| 7 | Bobby Christian: All That Jazz; Orion LP-106 (prod. Gus Giordano) |
| 6 | Billy Cobham: A Funky Thide of Sings (sic); Atlantic SD-18149; 1975 |
| 7 | Joe Dukes with the Brother Jack McDuff Quartet: The Soulful Drums of; Prestige PRST-7324; 1964 |
| 8 | Preston Epps: Bongo Bongo Bongo; Original Sound OSR-LPS-8851; 1960/1959 |
| 8 | Preston Epps: Bongola; Top Rank RM-349; 1961 (bongo/bongo bop/exotica/bongo rock; prod. Sonny Lester; stereo version exists; other Epps LPs & 45s listed elsewhere) |
| 8 | Siegfried Fink/Das Wurzburger Percussions Ensemble: Talking Drums; Gema/Capella/Thorofon MTH-124 (breakbeats & more) |
| 7 | Gus Giordano: Jazz Hand--modern jazz dance routines; Orion LP-143 (percussion; funky rock; soul jazz) |
| 7 | Bobbye Hall: Body Language for Lovers; 20th Century T-534; 1977 (w/Dorothy Ashby, Andy Belling) |
| 7 | The Chico Hamilton Quintet [Plays Jazz Themes for the Sound Track of...] Sweet Smell of Success; Decca DL-8614; 1957 |
| 6 | Chico Hamilton: The Head Hunters; Solid State SS-18050; 1969 |
| 6 | Chico Hamilton: El Exigente/The Demanding One; Flying Dutchman FDS-135; 1970 |
| 7 | Chico Hamilton: Chico the Master; Stax/Enterprise ENS-7501; 1973 |
| 7 | Chico Hamilton: Peregrinations; Blue Note BN-LA520-G; 1975 |
| 6 | HARYOU Percussion Group (Luv n'Haight LHLP-012) |
| 7 | The Louis Hayes Group: Variety is the Spice; Gryphon G-787; 1979 (w/Leon Thomas) |
| -> | Paul Humphrey -- see funk |
| 8 | Bobby Hutcherson: San Francisco; Blue Note BST-84362; 1971 (w/Harold Land, Joe Sample) |
| 7 | Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band: Bongo Rock; MGM/Pride PRD-0028; 1972 |
| 6 | Incredible Bongo Band: The Return of; Atlantic/Pride PD-6010; 1974 |
| 8 | Montego Joe: Wild & Warm; Prestige PRST-7413; 1965 (Roger A. Sanders) |
| 8 | Montego Joe: Arriba! Con Montego Joe; Prestige PRST-7336; 1964 |
| Jo Jones Trio; Everest LPBR-5023 | |
| 6 | Jo Jones/Milt Hinton: Percussion & Bass; Everest LPBR-5110; 1960 |
| 7 | Jo Jones: The Drums; Jazz Odyssey JO-008/BX2 (France; 2-LP w/inner leaves; instructional, partly spoken) |
| 7 | Quincy Jones: The Hot Rock ST; Atlantic/Prophesy SD-6055; 1972 |
| 8 | Craig Kupka: Modern Dance Technique Environments; Hoctor HLPS-4247 (exotic soul-jazz percussion; production/dance-instruction) |
| Craig Kupka: Modern Dance Technique Environments 2; Hoctor | |
| 6 | Craig Kupka: Modern Dance Technique Environments 3; Hoctor HLPS-4384; 1983 (exotic soul-jazz percussion; production/dance-instruction) |
| 8 | James Last: Voodoo-Party; Polydor 2371-235 |
| 6 | Mandingo: The Primeval Rhythm of Life; EMI Studio 2 TWO-400; 1973 |
| Mandingo III; EMI | |
| 6 | Mandingo: Sacrifice; [unlisted label] C-062; 1977 |
| 7 | Mandingo: Savage Rite; EMI EMC-3217; 1977 |
| -> | Sabu Martinez |
| 6 | Ralph McDonald: Sound of a Drum; T.K./Marlin 2202; 1976 |
| 5 | Ralph McDonald: The Path; T.K./Marlin 2210; 1978 |
| 7 | Rasheed Mohamed: East Indian Drums of Tunapuna, Trinidad; Cook 5018 ("The Moslem Drums that can be heard five miles away") |
| 7 | Joe Morello: Another Step Forward; Ovation OV-1402; 1969 (ex-Brubeck, with Les Hooper, Buddy Terry..; soul-jazz drums/breakbeats/mod soul) |
| 8 | Idris Muhammad: Black Rhythm Revolution; Prestige PRST-10005; 1971 |
| 7 | Idris Muhammad: Peace And Rhythm; Prestige PRST-10036; 1972 (partly vocal; some spiritual soul jazz) |
| 5 | Idris Muhammad: Power of Soul; Kudu KU-17; 1974 (arr. Bob James) |
| Grassella Oliphant: The Grass Roots; Atlantic SD-1438; 1966? | |
| 7 | Grassella Oliphant: The Grass is Greener; Atlantic SD-1494; 1967 (w/Grant Green John Patton, Harold Ousley, Clark Taylor) |
| 8 | Johnny Pate/Four Tops: Shaft in Africa ST; ABC ABCX-793; 1973 |
| 8 | Percussion Trio: The Jazz Class; Orion LP-108 (Bobby Christian, Maurie Laurie, Yalcin Oral; prod. Gus Giordano) |
| 7 | Stu Phillips: Run Angel Run ST; CBS/Epic BN-26474 (funky drums/biker/Moog/jaw harp-mouth harp) |
| 6 | Bernard Purdie: Soul Drums; Date TES-4006 |
| 6 | Bernard Purdie: Stand By Me--Whatcha See is Whatcha Get; Flying Dutchman; 1971 |
| 6 | [Bernard] Pretty Purdie: Soul Is...; Flying Dutchman FD-10154; 1972 (w/Horace Ott) |
| 6 | Bernard Purdie: Shaft; Fantasy/Prestige PRST-10038; 1972 |
| 6 | Bernard Purdie: Lialeh ST; Bryan BRS-102; 1974 |
| 8 | Bernard Purdie's Jazz Groove Sessions in Tokyo; Lexington LLP-1001 (2-LP w/Melvin Sparks, Houston Person..) |
| 7 | Buddy Rich: The Roar of '74; Groove Merchant GM-528; 1974/1973 (12-piece horn section; NOT your typical Buddy Rich record) |
| 6 | Buddy Rich: Very Live at Buddy's Place; Groove Merchant GM-3301 |
| 9 | Emil Richards: Yazz Per Favore; Del-Fi (w/Francisco Aguabella; Palladium PLP-105; 1988) |
| 9 | Emil Richards & the Microtonal Blues Band: Journey to Bliss; Impulse A-9166; 1968 |
| 9 | Emil Richards & the Microtonal Blues Band: Spirit of 1976 (Live at Donte's); Impulse A-9182; 1969 |
| 8 | Emil Richards: New Time Element; MCA/Uni 73003 (mod percussion) |
| 9 | Emil Richards: New Sound Element--"Stones"; MCA/Uni 73008 (Moog/percussion) |
| 7 | Al Sigmund: Culmination--Dramatic Drums; Gema/Coloursound CS-66 (production/drums) |
| 8 | Various: De Wolfe Music Library--Sound Book Part One; Irma la Douce 812-LP; 1998 (2-LP compilation) |
Partly Percussion, Conga, & Bongo-Rock LPs
| Rating | |
| 6 | Davie Allan & the Arrows/Various: The Wild Angels ST; Tower T-5043; 1966 (biker/bongo rock/psyche; Mike Curb, Arrows, Hands of Time, the Visitors) |
| 8 | The Cabildos Three: Cross Fire; Vroommm VRL-609 (soul-jazz piano/conga-percussion "African Jewel"/funky rock "Devilry Time"/Brasil-bossa "Max's Movida"; reissued in Italy as Schema SCEB-903LP; title cut is essentially James Brown: "Hot Pants" with guitar) |
| 8 | The Cannonball Adderley Quintet: Pyramid; Fantasy F-79455; 1974 ("Cannon Suite Part 1") |
| 7 | The Back-Wash Rhythm Band: The Golden Breed ST; Capitol ST-2886 (surf/guitar/bongo rock; "In the Curl"; Jerry Styner, Mike Curb, Harley Hatcher, Mike Clifford) |
| 4 | Terry Baxter, his Orchestra & Chorus: 108 Now Hits; Columbia DS-1069; 1973 ("Black Magic Woman"--bongo rock) |
| 8 | René Bloch: Mucho Rock with Rene Bloch; Andex S-4002 (Latin, Latin jazz, & Latin rock w/Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Modesto Duran..) |
| 8 | Bongo Teens/Preston Epps: Surfin' Bongos; Original Sound OSR-LPS-8872/OSR-LPM-5009; 1963 (surf/bongo; mostly Bongo Teens; reissues Epps at least) |
| 6 | Tony Bruno: Hell's Angels '69 ST; Capitol SKAO-303; ("Chase of Death"; biker/conga/flute/country funk) |
| 7 | Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band: Evolution; Buddah/Sussex SXBS-7004; 1971 |
| 7 | Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band: Electric Coffey; Buddah/Sussex SXBS-7021; 1972 |
| 8 | Don Cunningham Quartet: Something for Everyone (overrated rarity reissued as Ubiquity LP-038; 2003) |
| 7 | George Duke: I Love the Blues She Heard My Cry; MPS MC-25671; 1975 (Emil Richards' "Mashavu") |
| 8 | King Errison w/the Lou Adams Orchestra: Drums of Nassau; Bahamian Rhythms BRH-52 (Latin jazz/bongo/conga/calypso jazz) |
| 9 | Johnny Frigo [LPs in the Gus Giordano series; see Soul Jazz for details] |
| 8 | The Gaturs: Wasted; Funky Delicacies DEL-LP-0001; 1984/['70s] ("Yeah, You're Right": New Orleans funk/soul jazz/psyche funk/disco funk) |
| 6 | Joseph Gershenson/Jimmy Daley & the Ding-a-Lings: Summer Love ST; Decca DL-8714 (rock/bongo rock/calypso rock; w/Henry Mancini, Rod McKuen) |
| 7 | [The Back-Wash Rhythm Band:] The Golden Breed ST; Capitol ST-2886 ("In the Curl") |
| 7 | [Michael Viner's] Incredible Bongo Band: The Thing with Two Heads; MGM; 1972 (Bongo Rock; MGM/Pride PRD-0028; 1972) |
| 8 | The Mark Lewis Trio ["Works Hard and Plays Well"]; C&M LPS-1001 (lounge act/breakbeats/funk/funky rock/soul jazz; note: jacket number may be incorrect--it's NOT LPS-1000) |
| 7 | Enoch Light & the Light Brigade: The Brass Menagerie 1973; Project 3 PRSD-5060; 1972 (mod, funky; w/Candido conga, Vinnie Bell electric sitar, Dick Hyman Moog) |
| 7 | Malon: Rebellion; Philips 6397032; 1976 |
| 6 | Noro Morales: Coma Esta; Tico SLP-1068; 1961 ("Rock-A-Bong") |
| 8 | Dawan Muhammad: Deep Stream; Evidence Artistic 1004; 1979/1976-78 ("Tambu") |
| 8 | Rolley Polley: Mad Drums; Capitol ST-1454 (bongo/bongo bop/bongo rock/percussion/Latin jazz; "Rolley Polley" pseudonym for Pepe Dominguin) |
| 8 | Riccardo Rauchi--Italy's Most Exciting Saxist; Capitol T-10235 ("Mambo Mono") |
| 7 | The Rip Chords: Three Window Coupe; Columbia CS-9016 ("Big Wednesday") |
| 7 | Leonard Rosenman: Beneath the Planet of the Apes ST; Amos AAS-8001 (exotic rock/spoken/apes/percussion: "March of the Apes"; mostly spoken, has "The only good human is a dead human" speech) |
| 7 | Hal Serra & his Orchestra: Tap Concert wth Yvonne Craig; Statler 1129 ("Bongo Rock"; otherwise '20s/big band) |
| 8 | Gene Shaw: Carnival Sketches; Argo LP-743; 1964 (jazz w/Latin/bossa theme; "Street Dance") |
| 7 | Mel Taylor & the Magics In Action!; Warner Bros. WS-1624 (drums/bongo rock/guitar/spy/mod/mod Latin) |
| 7 | Sam "the Man" Taylor & Dick Hyman: Rockin' Sax & Rollin' Organ; MGM E-3553 ("Congo Mombo") |
| 7 | Piero Umiliani: El Corpo ST; Easy Tempo ET-933; 1999/1974 & unreleased (2-LP, [exotic] funk/Moog funk/soul-jazz percussion) |
| 7 | Joni Wilson & the Exciting Debonaires; Gateway GLP-3002 ("Burnt Jello") |
| 9 | Uncredited 10"; Audio/Background Music Publishers BMP-134; 1968 (production) |
| 6 | Uncredited: [Production Music]; Robert Hall/New World W-294/295 (funky Moog/disco/drums) |
| 7 | Various: Hot Rod Drag Races; Almor AS-109/A-109 (hot rod/Latin rock/bongos/mod soul twist/guitar; Dick Dale, Surfaris, Fireballs) |
| 7 | Uncredited: Jazz Power; Statler/Avant AVLP-123 (jazz class/conga/disco/mod jazz/mod twist) |
| 9 | Various: Rare Funk Vol. 6--Mod Funk; Cobalt COBLP-1009 (Gus Giordano: "Do Whatever Sets You Free") |
| 8 | Various: [Black Power Presents:] Suono Libero--A Trip Through Obscure '70s Jazz-Funk Tracks from Italian Music Library (sic); IRMA/La Douce 806; 1997/1968-84 (funk/soul-jazz organ/soul-jazz vibes/soul-jazz piano/soul-jazz flute/soul-jazz horns/soul-jazz conga/Brasil) |
| 8 | Various: Super Funk 2; BGP BGP2-137; 2001 (2-LP; 1st release of Preston Epps: "Funky Bongo") |
| 8 | Various: Trunk Presents the Super Sounds of Bosworth Vol. 2; Trunk Barked 2; 1996 (production; reissue-compilation) |
[Partly] Percussion, Conga, & Bongo-Rock 45s
| Rating | |
| 7 | Bilal Abdurahman w/Jack Stubbs & Latif Abdul-Zahir: Innovative Rhythmic & Tonal Textures [for Little Ones]; Folkways FC-7535; 1976 |
| 7 | The Aire-Dales: Drumsville/Just Plain Mess; Roulette R-4505 (drum rock; prod. George Goldner & Doug Fowlkes) |
| 8 | The Allisons: Surfer Street/Money; Tip 1011 (A-side soul rock/drum rock) |
| 9 | Charly Antolini: Charly's New Drums/Charly in Town; Gema/Cornet 3125 (German; picture sleeve) |
| 8 | Billy Blackwood: Gospel Drums/You Were on his Mind; Billy Blackwood 691219; 1969? (drums/gospel) |
| 8 | The Congo Kid: Trinidad Swing/Slap Happy; Bull Dog 104 |
| 9 | Jack Costanzo: I Got a Bongo/Barracuda; Liberty F-55194 (bongo twist) |
| 7 | Diablito: The Jungle/Merengue Potatoes; Parkway P-850 |
| 8 | Preston Epps: Bongo Rock/Bongo Party; Top Rank 140; 1959 (Original Sound O-4 or OS-11; A-side on LP) |
| 9 | Preston Epps: Bongola/Blue Bongo; Top Rank TR-2067X; 1960 (Top Rank RA-2067; both sides on "Bongola" LP RM-349; bongo/bongo bop) |
| 8 | Preston Epps: Bongo Boogie/Flamenco Bongo; Majesty 1300; 1960 |
| 7 | Preston Epps: Bongo Bongo Bongo/Hully Gully Bongo; Original Sound OS-09; 1960 (A-side on LP) |
| 7 | Preston Epps: Bongo Rocket/Jungle Drums; Original Sound OS-17 (B-side abridged version of LP cut) |
| Preston Epps: ?/?; Embassy; 1962 | |
| 8 | Preston Epps: Mr. Bongos/B'wana Bongos; Donna 1367 |
| Preston Epps: ?/?; Admiral; 1965 | |
| 8 | Preston Epps Trio: Say Yeah/My Lost Love; Polo 214 (A-side mod boogaloo; singer Andre Franklin) |
| Preston Epps: Love is Only Good/Afro Mania; Jo Jo 107; 1969 | |
| Preston Epps: Afro Mania/Africa; Jo Jo; 1969 | |
| 8 | Billy Graham & the Escalators: Oop-Poo-Pa-Doo/East 24th Ave.; Atlantic 45-2372 (B-side conga) |
| 7 | Dick Hyman w/Sam (the Man) Taylor: I'll Get By/Congo Mombo; MGM K-12404 (B-side bongo rock/R&B w/organ) |
| 8 | The International Bongo Band: Hey Mr. Bongo Man/Congo; Challenge 59312 |
| 7 | Larry Lawrence & the Band of Gold: Bongo Boogie/Goofin' Off; Balboa 008; 1959 (A-side bongo rock) |
| 8 | Kahuna Kawentzmann: GoGo Sitar/Road to Estoril; Jazzman/Stark Reality Stark.012; 2001 (bongo rock/funky Moog/sitar; UK; rec. in Germany) |
| 8 | Public School 13: Help [Kick the Habit]/Recess; Juggernaut 406 (B-side; prod. Juggy Murray) |
| 6 | Bernard Purdie: Soul Bossa Nova/Modern Jive; Date 1587; 1968/1967 (as on Soul Drums but longer!) |
| 8 | [Bernard] Pretty Purdie & the Playboys: Heavy Soul Slinger/Good Livin' (Good Lovin'); Flying Dutchman FD-26024; 1972 (w/Horace Ott; best 2 from Soul Is...) |
| 9 | Gene Shaw Sextet: Street Dance Parts 1 & 2; Argo 5495; 1964 (from LP-743) |
| 8 | The T-K-O's w/Hank Jacobs at the Organ: The Charge/Can You Dig It; Ten Star T-105 (boss organ/guitar/bongo-rock |
| 7 | Gloria Walker: Talking About My Baby/The Chevelles: The Gallop; Flaming Arrow 45-FA-35 (B-side) |
| 8 | Ivan Ward & the Swingsters: 66 Rock/Congo Glide; Savoy 1591 |
| 9 | Various: [no title]; Berry/Conroy Music Library BMLP-097; 1972 (production; Afro-Beat B-side by W. Farley; A-side by Power/Walter/Hawsworth/Graham) |
| 8 | Various: Look Who's Surfing Now; King 882; 1964 (rare!; Gene Redd: "Surfin' Beat"; also a super-rare James Brown instrumental) |
| 7 | Various: Music in the Streets; Folkways FD-5581; 1957 (1 street-drum cut) |
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