VIVA 500! by BLUE BONGOS
Sota Takagi is the mastermind behind INOKASHIRA RANGERS, a group with a dedicated following worldwide. He is also the organizer of the label PARKTONE RECORDS and the keyboardist for his own band, Super Cats. This album represents the very foundation of his career, which spans over 30 years.
BLUE BONGOS started in 1991 as an instrumental group with a horn-driven jazz-funk sound. Their cool and groovy style quickly gained traction in Tokyo’s club scene. Their performances were almost exclusively at clubs like Yellow, THE ROOM, END MAX, MC1000, and SLITS, making them a true party band.
In 1993, with the addition of Sota Takagi on organ and a lineup change, the band evolved both in sound and structure. The hammond organ became the lead instrument, and their style expanded into a unique fusion of soul, bossa nova, funk, and jazz. With a pop sensibility and a strong '60s MODS influence, they stood alongside groups like Manfred Mann, JTQ, Galliano, and Corduroy, making them one of the earliest Japanese bands to embrace the rising Acid Jazz and Talking Loud movement of the early '90s.
This album was originally released in 1995 on Tokyo’s indie label WONDER RELEASE.
The advance single "Don't You Wanna Touch My Baby" was released on 7-inch vinyl, featuring the exclusive B-side "Post 6", which was not included on the album.
Tracklist
| 1. | Fly George | 2:54 |
| 2. | VIVA 500! | 3:40 |
| 3. | Santa Ana | 4:13 |
| 4. | Don't You Wanna Touch My Baby | 5:04 |
| 5. | No Mo'Jazz | 3:53 |
| 6. | The Crater | 3:38 |
Credits
License
All rights reserved.
Founded in 2014, the company released a number of artists from the Japanese underground scene, with a focus on indie ,punk, garage rock and hardcore and We have reissued many of his past works and his selection is trusted by core music fans.