The Bongos

Hoboken’s Bongos — founded like a trio comprising Richard Barone (acoustic guitar, vocals), Rob Norris (bass), and Frank Giannini (drums, vocals) — produced no pretense to be anything apart from a pop music group; fortunately, these were an excellent pop music group, covering electric guitar pop in the Byrds to T. Rex, everything pulled jointly by Barone’s primary music. Although he was the center point, the other associates were in no way peripheral. After their initial full-length record, Drums Across the Hudson (1982), Adam Mastro became a member of and added some stellar hooks. After launching some singles and an EP on small Fetish Information in 1980 and 1981, the Bongos agreed upon to indie PVC Information. Drums Across the Hudson put together almost all their previously released monitors. They then transferred up to main label RCA and released the five-song Quantities With Wings (1983) as well as the record Beat Resort (1985), before departing RCA and breaking up. (Afterwards, Drums Across the Hudson along with a two-fer of Quantities With Wings and Defeat Hotel had been reissued on Compact disc by Razor & Link.) At their finest, the Bongos produced some irresistible electric guitar pop.