Various - Hit The Bongo! (The Latin Soul Of Tico Records) Vinyl Record Reissue, 2xLP

Various Artists – Hit The Bongo! (The Latin Soul Of Tico Records) (2xLP, Craft Recordings Reissue)
The Music Inside

This definitive 2LP compilation captures the explosive Latin soul movement that defined New York City in the 1960s and early 70s. Featuring legendary artists like Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Joe Cuba Sextet, Willie Bobo, Eddie Palmieri, and La Lupe, Hit The Bongo! showcases the raw energy of boogaloo, Latin jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms that set dance floors on fire. This Craft Recordings reissue in a gatefold sleeve delivers the authentic sound of Tico Records—one of the most important Latin music labels in history. A must-have for Latin soul collectors, boogaloo enthusiasts, and crate diggers alike.

Tracklist

Side A
A1. Ray Barretto Y Su Charanga Moderna - El Watusi
A2. Willie Bobo - Bobo! Do That Thing
A3. Willie Bobo - Be's That Way
A4. Joe Cuba Sextet - El Pito (I'll Never Go Back To Georgia)
A5. Joe Cuba Sextet - Bang! Bang!
A6. Candido - Madrid
A7. Ray Barretto - Babalu

Side B
B1. Eddie Palmieri, Cal Tjader - Come An' Get It (Boogaloo)
B2. Tito Puente And His Orchestra - Fat Mama
B3. Joe Cuba Sextet - Oh Yeah!
B4. Joe Cuba Sextet - Sock It To Me
B5. Tito Puente, La Lupe - Steak-O-Lean
B6. Tito Puente And His Orchestra - TP's Shing-A-Ling
B7. Joe Cuba Sextet - Hey Joe, Hey Joe (Hey Girl, Hey Girl)

Side C
C1. Joe Cuba Sextet - Psychedelic Baby
C2. Eddie Palmieri And His Orchestra - The African Twist
C3. La Lupe - Fever
C4. Al Escobar & His Orchestra - Tighten Up
C5. Al Escobar & His Orchestra - The Horse
C6. Celia Cruz, Tito Puente - Aquarius / Let The Sun Shine In

Side D
D1. Gilberto Sextet - Yes I Will (Part 1)
D2. Tito Puente And His Orchestra - Hit the Bongo
D3. Tito Puente And His Orchestra - Oye Como Va
D4. Jimmy Sabater - Times Are Changin'
D5. Joe Cuba Sextet - Do You Feel It?
D6. Joe Panama - My People

Sample Notes
This compilation is a goldmine for producers and DJs—tracks like "Oye Como Va," "El Watusi," and "Bang! Bang!" have been sampled across hip-hop, house, and Latin music. The tight percussion breaks, infectious horn sections, and raw boogaloo grooves are essential crate-digging material. These are the sounds that shaped Latin soul and continue to inspire new generations of music makers.

Product Overview

• Format: 2×LP, gatefold sleeve
• Label: Craft Recordings / Craft Recordings Latino (Reissue of Tico Records catalog)
• Condition: Mint (M) media, Near Mint (NM) sleeve—pristine quality
• Genre: Latin Soul / Boogaloo / Afro-Cuban / Latin Jazz
• Era: 1960s–early 1970s New York Latin music scene
• Special Features: Gatefold sleeve with comprehensive liner notes

Why This Album Belongs in Your Collection

Hit The Bongo! is an essential document of the Latin soul explosion that transformed New York City's musical landscape. Featuring the biggest names in boogaloo and Latin jazz, this compilation captures lightning in a bottle—the moment when Afro-Cuban rhythms, soul, and R&B collided to create something entirely new. This Craft Recordings reissue preserves the legacy of Tico Records in pristine—and collectible—form, making it indispensable for anyone serious about Latin music history.