Katana VentraIP

The Bongos

The Bongos were a power pop band from Hoboken, New Jersey, that emerged from the New York City arts scene, primarily active in the 1980s, led by Richard Barone. With their unique musical style, they were major progenitors of the Hoboken indie-pop community, college radio favorites, and made the leap to national recognition with the advent of MTV. Their breakthrough song "Numbers with Wings" garnered the group a major cult following and was nominated at the first MTV Video Music Awards. Along with a handful of others, the Bongos were instrumental in the advancement of the alternative rock movement.

The Bongos

Hoboken, NJ, U.S.

1980 (1980)–1987

Richard Barone
Rob Norris
Frank Giannini
James Mastro

Beat Hotel (1985, ) – produced by John Jansen

RCA Records

Phantom Train (2013, ) – produced by Eric (E.T.) Thorngren, Chris Blackwell, the Bongos

Jem Records

Beat Hotel – Expanded Edition (2021, /Legacy Recordings)

RCA Records

Numbers with Wings - 40th Anniversary Edition (2023, /Legacy Recordings) – produced by Richard Gottehrer, the Bongos

RCA Records

The Bongos on Legacy Recordings

RichardBarone.com

Chicago Sun-Times review of Drums Along The Hudson-Special Edition, 2007

2007 Hoboken reunion concert photos by Dave Wilson

2007 Hoboken reunion show video at extrawack!

Music video for "Numbers With Wings"

Music video for "Brave New World"