Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Jimmy Cliff: Bongo Man II

In 1970 Jamaican music legend, Jimmy Cliff, was behind a recording that used powerful Nyabinghi drumming as the song’s primary percussion track, “Bongo Man:

A couple years ago I picked up one of those Warner Brothers artist samplers at a local flea market, this one a double album from the late 70s, Pumping Vinyl.

One of the standout tracks on this 2-LP compilation is a newly-arranged version of “Bongo Man” taken from Cliff’s then-current Warner Brothers album, 1978’s Give Thankz:

This version of “Bongo Man” was released as the B-side of the “Love I Need” 45.  Backing vocals are provided by The Meditations with Nyabinghi percussion by Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus.  If you check out Jimmy Cliff’s MySpace page, you will find this track there, as well.

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LINK to Nyabinghi on Zero to 180

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