Drums – kits with sticks — are critical to any rock and roll band. But the bongo drums, a simple yet essential Afro-Cuban rhythm instrument dating to the 19th century, have brought their fair share of distinctive beats to several classic tunes.
While bongos frequently call up images of hipster beatniks, a classic cartoon sound effect, or the instrument every kid played at least once in elementary school music class, bongos have an important role in many essential rock songs.
Here’s a sampling. Any we missed? Point ‘em out in the comments.
“Ferry Cross the Mersey” (1964)
“Ferry Cross the Mersey” by Gerry and the Pacemakers summons the comfort of true love. The song’s gentle bongo rhythm is integral to one of the 1960s’ most wistfully melodic classics.
“Within You Without You” (1967)
They sound strikingly similar. But it’s tabla drums, not bongos, that usher in George Harrison’s mystical masterwork “Within You Without You” from The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Uncredited Indian percussionist Natwar Soni provides some perfect punctuation to this mesmeric insight into self-introspection.
“There is a Mountain” (1967)
The flute claims front and center in the consciousness-expanding “There is a Mountain.” However, Donovan’s cosmic chronicle wouldn’t be the same without the mellow measure of the cozy bongo backbeat here.
“Sympathy for the Devil” (1968)
Again, it’s close, but it’s not bongos we’re hearing. These are conga drums. Still, the vibe is the thing. Uneasy. Ominous. Foreboding.
Rocky Dijon’s primal pounding on The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” shines a whole new light on the conga beat.
“Fat Man” (1969)
Ian Anderson’s frolicsome “Fat Man” remains a largely under-appreciated gem amidst the vast catalog of Jethro Tull. The bongos somehow serve to reinforce the overarching message of accepting one’s identity, warts and all. That’s pretty damn hard for any instrument to incite.
“Super Fly” (1972)
Perhaps unequaled in its mood-setting mastery is Curtis Mayfield’s movie title song “Super Fly.” The edgy bongo sound scares up the spooky straight from the start in this late, great musician’s portrait of a daring drug dealer.
“Lonely Night (Angel Face)” (1975)
“Lonely Night (Angel Face)” stands out as one of Captain and Tennille’s most imaginative efforts among a myriad of mid-’70s hits. Jungle noises merged with a tribal bongo groove greet the listener before the hubby and wife duo launch into yet another peppy number.
“Juke Box Music” (1977)
It’s a rhythm of urgency that kick starts The Kinks’ rowdy “Juke Box Music.” These bongos blast off from the beginning, laying the full-force foundation for one of the band’s best rockers.
-John Smistad
Photo: Bongo drums (george ruiz via Wikimedia Commons)
And who can forget Cliff Richard as Bongo Herbert in the “classic” 1959 movie “Expresso Bongo?” Er, quite a few people actually! 🙂
Couple-uh young lads outside the cinema in ’59. Buying their tix to see “Expresso Bongo”. Excitedly, one exclaims to the other, “This is gonna be SO gear, mate!”
It is still gear today!
The later version of Traffic had bongos on much of their songs also.
Many, many more, but just a few: For Your Love/Yardbirds; Light My Fire/Jose Feliciano; Horse With No Name/America; Crystal Blue Persuasion/Tommy James and the Shondells. And believe it or not, A Hard Day’s Night – give it a close listen wearing headphones.
Excellent additions; thanks.
How could any discussion of bongos in hit music leave out Preston Epp’s 1959 classic “Bongo Rock” (Original Sound 4)?
“Young Americans”- Bowie
Yup — thanks for the reminder!
“And I Love Her” maybe?
“True Colors” – Cyndi Lauper at the beginning and end of the song.
And don’t forget the bongos in “A Hard Day’s Night” played by engineer Norman Smith!
And who would know better?! Thanks VERY much for reading, sir.