Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 17: Bongoland (1997)

About this title: The lounge songs of the '50s and '60s on this compilation are all dominated by the pulsating rhythms of the bongo drum. As with other instrument-specific CDs in the Ultra Lounge series (Saxophobia, Organs in Orbit), it can be too much. However, there is some great mood music here, perfect for creating a Latin-tinted party ambience. "Taboo," by Leo Arbaud, is especially exotic, while "Nightmare," by Joe Loco, is the song to choose if you want your mai tai drinkers to dance. The Middle Eastern go-go dancer take pairing Rudy Vallee's "Deep Night" with Hammerstein's "Softly as in a Morning ... read more

Tracks:

1. Deep Night/Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise [Vallee/Romberg/Hamm]
2. Latin Fever [Costanzo/Cano]
3. Taboo [Russell/Lecuona]
4. Nightmare [Ledesma]
5. On Green Dolphin Street/Hernando's Hideaway [Kaper/Washington/Ad]
6. Dr. No's Fantasy [Norman]
7. A Night in Tunisia [Gillespie/Paparelli]
8. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White [David/Louiguy/Larue]
9. Bernie's Tune [Miller/Stoller/Leib]
10. Brazil [Barroso/Russell]
11. Caravan [Ellington/Tizol/Mil]
12. The Inchworm [Loesser]
13. Misirlou/Quien Sera [Roubanis/Ruiz]
14. Young Savages [Amram]
15. Balinese Bongos [Baxter]
16. Club Caballeros [Almeida]
17. Moderna Muchacha [Ledesma]
18. La Cumparsa/Harlem Nocturne [Lecuona/Hagen]
19. Colon [Wechter]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.