By Bob Makin
originally published: 05/09/2025
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “In the Congo,” a live version of which will be released May 23 on “The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985" on CD only on JEM Records. PHOTO BY DEBRA ROTHENBERG
Originally recorded for RCA Records on the steamy Memorial Day weekend of 1985 on the Jersey Shore, The Bongos' only official live album, “The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985,” has remained unreleased until now — the 40th anniversary of the performance.
The album captures the seminal Hoboken band's legendary energy at the peak of its power and features a stellar version of “In the Congo,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “In the Congo” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on May 9 on “Radio Jersey at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
The Bongos — vocalist-guitarist Richard Barone, lead guitarist James Mastro, bassist Rob Norris and drummer Frank Giannini — will celebrate the long-awaited release of the live LP on May 31 at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. Sharing the bill will be Jem label mates The Grip Weeds and The Cynz.
On the album, The Bongos are joined by percussionist Steve Scales, fresh from the Talking Heads' “Stop Making Sense” Tour and movie. Restored from the original 24-track analog tapes, newly mixed and sounding as electrifying as ever, “The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985” brings The Bongos' highly percussive sound to a new generation of fans.
Produced by The Bongos and Steve Addabbo, the owner of New York City’s Shelter Island Sound who helped launch the careers of Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin, “Shroud of Touring” also features “Apache Dancing,” “I've Got A Secret,” “Mambo Sun,” “A Story (Written in the Sky),” “Telephoto Lens,” “Zebra Club,” “Splinters,” “Glow in the Dark,” “Blow Up,” “Come Back to Me,” “Brave New World,” “Totem Pole,” “Numbers With Wings,” “Space Jungle,” “The Beat Hotel” and “Barbarella.” Tape restoration and digital transfer credits go to Steve Rosenthal, who’s also worked with Suzanne Vega, as well as Raven.
The Bongos famously were among the founding fathers of the Hoboken indie rock scene of the 1980s along with The Feelies and others. The group recorded its debut album, “Drums Along the Hudson,” for PVC Records in 1982. The LP was a critical hit on both sides of the Atlantic and a college radio staple. The group toured relentlessly, signed with RCA Records, and released their major label debut, “Numbers with Wings,” in 1983. The sweeping title song became an MTV favorite. Songs like “Barbarella" and "Tiger Nights" fared well on the fledgling alternative radio format and further raised the group's profile.
They released “Beat Hotel” on RCA in 1985, a year that saw them perform more than 300 concerts across the U.S. It was during that whirlwind tour that “The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985” was recorded at the jam-packed Tradewinds in Sea Bright on May 24, 1985.
The Bongos’ upcoming performance at the Wonder Bar brings all four members back to the Jersey Shore 40 years and one week later.
For more about “Shroud of Touring,” visit jemrecordings.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
About the author:
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
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FEATURED EVENTS
