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| "Bongo Rock" | |
|---|---|
| Single byPreston Epps | |
| from the album Bongo Bongo Bongo | |
| B-side | "Bongo Party" |
| Released | April 1959 (1959-04) |
| Genre | Instrumental rock |
| Length | 2:00 |
| Label | Original Sound 4 |
| Songwriters |
|
"Bongo Rock" is arock and rollinstrumental recorded byPreston Epps, written by Epps andArthur Egnoian.[1] Released as asingle in 1959, it charted #14Pop in the United States,[2] and #4 inCanada.[3] It was included in Epps' 1960 albumBongo Bongo Bongo.[4]
The Surfaris' 1963 hit single "Wipe Out" was based on this song.[5]
7-inch single
| Chart (1959) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard Hot 100[6] | 14 |
| "Bongo Rock" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single byIncredible Bongo Band | ||||
| from the albumBongo Rock | ||||
| B-side | "Bongolia" | |||
| Released | 1973 (1973) | |||
| Length | 2:36 | |||
| Label | Pride | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Michael Viner | |||
| Incredible Bongo Band singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Incredible Bongo Band recorded acover version of "Bongo Rock", which charted #57 in the United States.[7] It was included in the band's 1973 albumBongo Rock under the title "Bongo Rock '73".[8]DJ Kool Herc used it in his sets.[9] It gained significant popularity in earlyhip hop circles as abreakbeat.[9]
The song reached #20 on Canadian charts, partly because the producers registered it asCanadian content with MAPL certification.[10] This is despite the fact that the recording had been made in Los Angeles by an entirely American line-up of musicians (Ed Greene,Wilton Felder,Joe Sample,David T. Walker,Bobbye Hall, andDean Parks). The song's MAPL certification helped push it up the charts in Canada.[11] It reached #25 on the Canadian AC charts.[12]
7-inch single
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard Hot 100[7] | 57 |
