The Bongos "Time And The River" 1982

Led by enthusiastic guitarist / singer Richard Barone, this Hoboken, New Jersey pop band makes no effort to conceal its roots. Mixed among the original songs on Drums Along the Hudson (an expanded version of the Time and the River mini-album, itself a compilation of singles) is a breathy cover of T. Rex's "Mambo Sun"; elsewhere, Barone spins out streamlined Byrds guitar licks and maintains a brisk pace throughout. Tuneful originals like "In the Congo" and "Video Eyes" may trade a certain amount of substance for easy appeal, but there's no better musical equivalent of whipped cream anywhere. - trouserpressHoboken's Bongos -- founded as a trio consisting of Richard Barone (guitar, vocals), Rob Norris (bass), and Frank Giannini (drums, vocals) -- made no pretense of being anything other than a pop band; fortunately, they were a good pop band, covering guitar pop from the Byrds to T. Rex, all of it pulled together by Barone's original songs. Although he was the focal point, the other members were by no means peripheral. After their first full-length album, Drums Along the Hudson (1982), James Mastro joined and contributed some stellar hooks. After releasing a series of singles and an EP on tiny Fetish Records in 1980 and 1981, the Bongos signed to independent PVC Records. Drums Along the Hudson compiled all their previously released tracks. They then moved up to major label RCA and released the five-song Numbers With Wings (1983) and the album Beat Hotel (1985), before leaving RCA and splitting up. (Later, Drums Along the Hudson and a two-fer of Numbers With Wings and Beat Hotel were reissued on CD by Razor & Tie.) At their best, the Bongos made some irresistible guitar pop. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music GuideThe Bongos:
Bass, Sitar, Vocals – R. Norris / Guitar, Vocals – R. Barone / Percussion – F. Giannini

traxfromwax:
01 Question Ball 02 Clay Midgets 03 Burning Bush 04 Certain Harbours 05 Speaking Sand 06 Video Eyes 07 Zebra Club 08 Three Wise Men