Mondo Bongo + Posters Import

From the opener Straight up (could have come straight from The Fine Art Of Surfacing) this album had me interested. A change of direction for the rats on many songs here. The single Banana Republic with the sexy bass line and dreamy hook line is testement to the bands versatility. Elephants Graveyard should have been a big hit (love the line "justice isn't blind, it just looks the other way") while fall down is so different you wouldn't have said it was The Boomtown Rats at all. Nice little 60's feel to Whitehall 1212 complete with james bond style guitar riff. I loved this album when it came out and listening to it today still feel the same.

A very hard album to find in this bands back catalogue some very good tracks on this album

Actual cassette is good tracks good quality ok

Mondo Bongo saw the Boomtown Rats moving firmly away from the sound of The Fine Art of Surfacing into more rhythmic waters. Led by the reggae tinged Banana Republic it showed be Rats experimenting in a way they hadn't done before. Fortunately all of the experiments paid off and the result is an enjoyable and imaginative album. I like the sound of the remaster, it sounds clear to me. The reissue includes the previously uncredited curio that finished side two of the vinyl release, now titled Cheerio, one b side, an rewarding cover of Arnold Layne and a good live version of Another Piece of Red. This album was the sound of the rats spreading their wings and it paved the way for the richer textures of V Deep.

After three patchy but occasionally brilliant albums, The Boomtown Rats started to get very near to rock bottom on this decidedly unimpressive album. Firstly, the sound quality is positively dreadful but that is something that can be alleviated slightly by good material. Unfortunately that is not the case here, not at all. In trying to keep up with contemporary music trends, the always derivative Rats just lost their way, completely. The album is, to put it politely, a total stinker.TRACK LISTING (this was the original vinyl album track listing)1. Mood Mambo2. Straight Up3. This Is My Room4. Another Piece Of Red5. Go Man Go!6. Under Their Thumb Is Under My Thumb7. Please Don't Go8. The Elephants' Graveyard9. Banana Republic10. Fall Down11. Hurt Hurts12. Whitehall 1212"Mood Mambo" is a bizarre attempt to "go tribal" as Bow Wow Wow meets Lene Lovich and The Slits at a Taking Heads "Remain In Light" gig. Taken in isolation, it is ok, but I don't quite get the point of it, because nothing else is remotely like it on here. "Straight Up" is lively enough, but its production is appallingly tinny, its guitar riffs overwhelmed by shrill synthesiser ones. "This Is My Room" is a dirge-like mess that requires no further comment."Another Piece Of Red" has admirable, anti-British Empire sentiments and is one of the album's higher points, but once Geldof's voice is questionable. "They're calling for an umpire, it really isn't cricket..." is good line, though. Whatever "Go Man Go!" may have had is buried under a weight of muffled synthesisers. When Geldof's vocal kicks in, it is positively awful. I am, as any reader of my reviews will know, a very positive writer on the whole, but, I am sorry to say this is garbage. It is briefly redeemed by a good saxophone solo, but that's all I can say in its favour. They try to turn it into "Rat Trap" at the end and fail miserably too."Under Their Thumb Is Under My Thumb" is a strange attempt to ska-up The Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb". Actually, it is one of the album's more listenable tracks, with a Specials sound to it. "Please Don't Go" tries to sound like The Velvet Underground and doesn't really sound like anything. It is terrible. "The Elephants' Graveyard" was a minor hit single and is one of the album's better tracks, with Geldof doing his affected Graham Parker-style voice (but nowhere near as good as Parker's). Indeed he almost sounds as if he is losing his voice on the "guilty till proven guilty..." chorus part. "Banana Republic" was a big hit single and is undoubtedly the best offering on here. It is the Rats' shot at joining in with the white reggae thing that The Police and The Clash had enjoyed success with. It is atmospheric and effective. It is also the only track on here with remotely decent sound, as if it had been recorded at at a different time, in a different studio (which may well have been the case, as it was a pre-album single)."Fall Down" is a plaintive piano-backed ballad that shows up Geldof's voice no end. "Hurt Hurts" has a pounding drum sound and some reasonable guitar to half lift it out of its tinny sonic morass. "Whitehall 1212" is actually reasonable "Sandinista!"-style dubby instrumental to end on a high(er) note.Look, there are several Boomtown Rats tracks that I really like, even "Banana Republic" from here, but otherwise I can't avoid but say it as I hear it. This was a dreadful album in 1981 and it is now.

Mondo Bongo NOT Mondon Bongo.One of the patchier albums by the Boomtown Rats.Some superb tracks like Banana Republic and Fall Down here in their full unabridged glory. Elephant's Graveyard and Go Man Go are also among the finest moments from the Rats. Elsewhere there are a number of solid tracks, however Mood Mambo, Whitehall 1212, and Under Their Thumb aren't really worth writing home about though none are particularly offensive.The re-issues also contains the Rats worst song, Another Piece of Red. TWICE! As if once wasn't enough for the tuneless dirge you get a live version that is even more inferior. Heaven knows what possessed them to do Arnold Layne. Pink (sic) will be turning in his grave.Get this once you have listened to the first three albums and their swansong, In The Long Grass.

...it's just a shame the sound levels are so wrong. It's remastered too loud, so it sounds as though your speakers are maxed out. A real shame, as we've been waiting years for the Rats back catalogue to be re-released.Other than that, it's a classic album. It's not the Rats at their punkiest, but's it's not the disaster that was 'V Deep'. One of my favourites. I don't care what they were doing off wherever they recorded this, it worked a charm.

Bought this because I heard that Bob was on a boat in the thames and swore at some fishermen who were protesting about how their livelihoods had been diminished, needless to say the music was horrible.

Sagt Ihnen der Name Bob Geldof etwas? Vielen wird er lediglich als der Frühstücksdirektor globaler Benefiz - Langeweiler bekannt sein - der nette, aber wenig aufregende Benefiz - Bob. Und das ist wirklich äußerst schade, denn Bob Geldof ist auch Musiker, und zwar ein verdammt guter. Mit seinen "Boomtown Rats" hatte er einen Riesenhit: "I don't Like Mondays", der einigen von Ihnen noch im Ohr sein dürfte."Mondo Bongo" (1981) ist das Meisterwerk dieser oft mit dem Etikett "New Wave" versehenen, auf dem hintersten Regal einsortierten und zu Unrecht vergessenen Combo.Hochintelligenter, verspielter und hinreißender Pop, fünfzehn funkelnde, geschliffene Juwelen aller Farben und Facetten: das giftig - subvervise "Banana Republic",das mitreißende "Whitehall 1212",das hinterhältige, als Schnulze getarnte "Another Piece of Red", in die Beine und in den Kopf gleichermaßen gehende Pop-Knaller wie "Straight Up", "Go Man Go","Under Their Thumb" oder "Don't Talk To Me".....letzteres übrigens ein netter Bonus -Bonbon vom guten Onkel Bob, der es sich nicht nehmen läßt zu erklären, warum die Anordnung der Songs gegenüber dem Original - Album geändert wurde. Auf diese Erklärbärnummer hätte man getrost verzichten können. Sei's drum: ein wirklich großartiges Album, ins Ohr, ins Hirn, in die Beine und zu Herzen gehender Britpop allererster Kajüte. Echt cool - im besten Sinne!

A the peak of the Rats career and the must have of any new wave collection from this time period.

曲順はオリジナルからいじられているわ。チェリオのブレイク時間もＣＤの再生に関係してかそっけないものになっていてがっかり。この作品でブームタウンラッツは、「何か新しいことをしないとだめだ」との気負いが強かったのではないかと思える。レゲエやったりサルサやったりで、初期の荒々しさがなくなったのがファンには受け入れられなかったのでは？個人的にはピアノの弾き語りの「Another Piece Of Red」がお気に入り。美しい曲で、このＣＤにはポーツマスでのライヴ音源が収録されている。昔のファンが懐かしがって買うのならいいのでは？？

ブームタウンラッツ のファンなら聴くべきアルバムです。一番いい頃のアルバムです。

前作「FINE ART OF…」でロック界を席捲、頂点を極めたブームタウン・ラッツとボブ・ゲルドフは、このアルバム以降、ものすごい加速度でリスナーに見放されていくことになるのですが、それを暗示するかのように、リリース直後のこのアルバムの叩かれ方は相当なものでした。あまりに政治的な歌詞、リズム主体に転身したアレンジアプローチが、「FINE ART」的な傑作を期待していたリスナーを裏切ってしまった、というのが当時の一般的見解。でも「とっつきにくいけど、聴けば聴くほど、なスルメ感覚」で、個人的には「FINE ART」と同じくらい繰り返し聴いていたアルバムです。今回のCD化で久しぶりに聴いて、「これは今なら多くの人に再評価してもらえるのでは？」と思いました。まず、曲順がいじられていて、比較的ポップ寄りのナンバーが前半に集中していること、これは通常なら御法度な行為ですが、本作に限っては成功と言えます。初めて聴く人のための優しさが感じられます。「MOOD MAMBO」で始まったら、ついてこれない人も（リリース当時も）いるでしょうから。変テコなアレンジと濃すぎる歌詞でイメージがグシャグシャになっていますが、「ANOTHER PIECE OF RED」なんて、本当に美しい曲です。「STRAIGHT UP」はブームタウン・ラッツの真骨頂と言えるナンバー。「ELEFANT'S GRAVEYARD」は前作の路線に一番近いでしょうか。シングルカット（当然放送禁止）の「BANANA REPUBLIC」には「？？？」な人もいるかもしれませんが、僕は大好きです。決して上手いとは言いませんが、全体を通じて、ヴォーカル、鍵盤、ドラムスのテンションは、いい切れ方をしています。「FINE ART」が気に入った方は、是非このアルバムまでは聴いてみて下さい。

曲順が、アナログと違いますが、CD化されてただけでと、儲けもの。ギタリストジェリーコットがこのあと抜けますが、このサウンドで、ギタリスト二人も要らないとどちらかが思ったのか、、。

I've always thought that "Mondo Bongo" was where Bob Geldolf and The Boomtown Rats started to slip, but the years have been kind to The Rats' fourth album. They were trying to grow out of the scene that originally spawned them, and I also began to wonder if their inability to crack the American market (after becoming superstars everywhere else) was wearing on them. It would explain the thoroughly sour tone of many of the album's best songs.Both The Rats' native island and their commercial nemesis took it on the chin on "Mondo Bongo," with the "septic isle" of "Banana Republic" drawing the popular vote - the mix of reggae and Geldolf's angry lyrics was another huge melding of styles for the band and a number one single. As for America, the broadside of "it's Disneyland under martial law" in "Elephant's Graveyard" took a dour look at Florida's disintegration as a retirement paradise.This is also where the eccentricities began to get into the way of the songs. "Please Don't Go" and the re-writing of "Under My Thumb" weren't really all that great to start with and haven't improved. "Fall Down" is almost Pink Floyd in temperament (and odd that a cover of Floyd's "Arnold Layne" is included). Scat singing on "Please Don't Go?" Yikes. There's something else I miss from all these CD's (since it was on the American LP) is The Rats' re-recording of "Up All Night." (Not the version on "V Deep" - the version I speak of is only available on an out-of-print American best of or Rhino Records "Just Can't Get Enough Volume 4.") But unlike others here, I don't have too much issue with the revised running order. "Mondo Bongo" was such an eclectic album that Geldolf's reorganizing the song sequence doesn't seem to really mangle the album's original mood.Like on my review of "The Fine Art Of Surfacing," my main gripe about the new version of "Mondo Bongo" is the re-mastering seems to be too "hot." The drums on several of the songs compress out and distort to the point that, like on "Please Don't Go," the song clips off. Not a good thing.

I've waited a long time for Mondo Bongo to be re-released on CD only to find this is far less enjoyable a listen than my vinyl copy.This new running order simply doesn't flow well, no matter what explanation Bob Geldof gives in the new liner notes. There's just no need to tamper this much with an album. In addition, upon closer inspection fans of the original album will note the 10 second long dramatic pause is now missing in the final song proper, Cheerio. It simply goes from the ultimatum "well you'd better hurry up and say something or else I'm gonna go..." straight into the response "okay that's fine by me, cheerio". Amazing how the omission of a mere 10 seconds of silence can turn a once clever gem into a pointless ditty. (Oh well, at least they included the "cheerio" lyrics as opposed to the 1981 CD release which leaves those words out altogether, chopping the song before it can really end!)The Boomtown Rats released a great album in the early-80s which they deserve to be remembered for. However, this new drastically altered remaster isn't that album. I'm no vinyl purist, but looks like you're going to have to hunt down the vinyl (and possibly a turntable) if you want to hear what really went down when this album came out...in a time when New Wave bands thought ska, reggae, and BONGOS were cool and put them right up front to kick off an album (hence the album title).The only really great feature of this remastered version of Mondo Bongo is the lovingly-designed packaging complete with a full-color foldout mini poster. Too bad it's wasted on the crummy CD inside.Possilbly the Boomtown Rats' 5-star album, but this release is another failure to get it right.Cheerio.

I'm sure some of you have heard of Bob Geldof and his band The Boomtown Rats. "I don't like Mondays", etc. I was lucky enough to see them for this tour in Seattle, WA. Great album and the bonus material is well worth it.

There are six different versions of Mondo Bongo.Some include Up All Night, & some don't.This particular one didn't.