Review: Various Artists - Mr Bongo Record Club Vol. 8 (Mr Bongo)

Mr Bongo are back with another edition of their Record Club that's just as much of an eye (and ear) opener as Vols. 1-7 and just as essential! 

I can't believe it's been nearly two years since Vol. 7 of this series landed (see reviw HERE) but how can you cram 18 fantastic tracks onto 4-sides of vinyl - or more onto a CD/digital release.

As you've gathered the aim of the 'Record Club' is to expand your listening pleasure to the outer reaches of Mr Bongo's vast expertise to find soul, boogie, disco-reggae, jazz-funk Latin/Brazilian that's going to keep dancefloors happy that are fresh: think you know Tapper Zukie?  Here's 'Visons Of Love for a "cosmic fusion of disco and reggae" that'll funk up your chart of favourite groovers. 

Of course, diggers will head straight for anything that's marked up as a 'Kenny Dope Editfr', especially if its a less known 'Wish I Could Talk To You Baby' as a smooth soul 70s sample favourites, The Sylvers (Note: this is an exclusive Kenny Dope edit).

That said, I'd recommend going from start to finish as these compilations by the in-house Bongo experts don't throw their "favourite tracks, hard-fought finds, andunsung gems from the global stage" together willy-nilly.  In fact, there's seems to be a Latin/World half and the eclectic rest (of the World).

Thhis includes the blistering dantcefloor-focused cut from Ubunto - a DJ and producer with over 10 years in Brazil’s electronic music scene. Putting an electronic tropical twist on a Brazilian classic, Ubunto reinterprets Dorival Caymmi’s sublime folky MPB song ‘O Vento’ from 1959, into a modern-day dancer. 

And other highlights (Ed. but it's all great) include the little known soul group The Trinkas, 'Remember Me', Tommy McGee's 'Now That I Have You' that might owe something to 70s disco-soul, the slow-mo Wilfred Luckie ('My Thing') and where did the 7 and a half minutes of Mac Mathunjwa's 'Give Us More Love' come from?

And not content with that, there's some digital bonus tracks you don't want to miss out on, particularly the lovers/reggae mix of Take Three's 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love' and DJ Nature (remember him from Golf Channel?) with an edit of 'Straight Forward (Non-Stop)' by P.J.City as a new synth-disco-funker big tune.

Of course, there's at least one from the leftfield that becomes an earworm like the magnificent Urias' 'Vontade De Voar' - very cinematic!'

By coincidence, I came across Mr. Bongo Record Club Vol 1 and it's an interesting comparison as to how this series has grown from including, for example, well known/sort after tracks like 'KM110' and Big Youth's 'Mammy Hot, Daddy Cool') to 'Freak' by "No.1" Tapper Zukie (him again!) 

I strongly suspect Vol. 8 will sound as good as Vol. 1 (2016) in 10 years time - and longer!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:  https://bfan.link/mr-bongo-record-club-vol-8

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Mr Bongo Record Club Vol.8

Release date: 26th June, 2026 

Label : Mr Bongo 

Catalog Number : MRB335

Format : 2 x LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp