Mr Bongo started life in 1989 as a small record shop underneath Daddy Kool’s Reggae Store on Berwick Street in London. They were the first shop to sell vinyl releases from independent hip hop labels such as Def Jam, Rawkus, Nervous and Big Beat outside of the USA. They also became an established bearer for hard-to-find, classic Latin music, particularly Brazilian, outside of the Americas. Over the following years Bongo moved three times within Soho and opened in Shibuya, Japan. They moved their offices to Brighton in 1999.
25+ years on they now have a recording roster featuring some of the best Brazilian, Latin, reggae, African and Jazz music by artists including Terry Callier, Jorge Ben, Joyce, Seu Jorge, Prince Fatty, Incredible Bongo Band and Marcos Valle. At the end last year they opened up a new store in Brighton. We are incredibly excited to announce that Mr Bongo have agreed to do a monthly feature of their top 5 in store picks. Below are their 5 favourite records in store last April.
Click the album covers to listen!
Outro Tempo: Electronic And Contemporary Music From Brazil 1978-1992
‘Music From Memory are a record label on fire at the moment and first up on April’s shop list is a MFM double bill. To get things rolling we have a much needed repress of John Gómez’s fantastic and original ‘Outro Tempo’ compilation (the first batch of copies flew out). Experimental deep Brazilian music and a Brazilian collection like no other. ‘
Denis Mpunga & Paul K. – Criola – Vinyl LP
‘Next a collated works of Denis Mpunga & Paul K. This Belgian/Congolese duo combine elements of traditional African music with electronics. Quirky leftfield afro.’
Zimba – Baleka – 12″ Vinyl
‘One of our best ever sellers in the shop! Nyami Nyami do it again, here unearthing an obscure Dutch / African record Baleka by the band Zimba. A unique electronic Afro track with 80’s new wave-esque vocals. An amazing record and essential. ‘
Maureen Bailey – Takin’ My Time With You / I Want You (All For Myself) – 7″ Vinyl
Maureen Bailey Takin’ ‘My Time With You’ is a big favourite of Jeremy Underground and also our own soul master Gary Johnson and is also one of those records I’ve sadly come to realise I will probably never find an original of. We are thankful Soul Brother have made it available for all. Big thanks fellas!!!’
The Pendletons – Gotta Get Out – 12″ Vinyl or Cassette
‘We were lucky to meet The Pendletons main man Eric (E Da Boss) at the Wedding Soul club night in Berlin (go and check their monthly party if you ever in Berlin). After hearing ‘Gotta Get It’ we had to track down some copies for the shop. A new modern boogie band to look out for on the excellent Voltaire label.
