- Gaston Boogaerts - 

- Jess and James and the J.J. Band

Genre: soul

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Jungle Fever

Company: Polydor

Catalog: PD-5504

Year: 1972

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): NM/NM

Comments: sealed copy

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4602

Price: $40.00

I remember this group from high school and even have one of their 45s lying around somewhere.  Darned if I knew they were from Belgium !!!  

The brainchild of Belgian musician Gaston Boogaerts, Chakachas actually started recording in the early 1960s though they didn't gain any American exposure until 1972 when Polydor released 'Jungle Fever' as a single.  A prototype slice of Latin porn (and you thought Donna Summer was the first to moan and grown her way on the charts), the single became a club hit that led Polydor to rush the band into the studio to record a supporting album.

Produced by Roland Kluger, the cleverly-titled "Jungle Fever" offered up a mildly interesting set of Latin funk.  Propelled by heavy funk percussion and tasteful horns, there isn't anything else quite as commercial as the title track (though 'Chica Chica Bau Bau' comes close).  That said, the entire album's fun in a cheesy background music kind of way.  Interesting bit of Chakachas trivia - with a hit on their hands but no band to support it, Polydor recruited the New York City-based band Barrio to hit the US tour circuit.  The title track's also become a favorite sampling source among the hip hop crowd.  2 Live Crew, The Beatnuts and Public Enemy have all tapped into it.  

"Jungle Fever" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Chica Chica Bau Bau   (W. Albimoor) - 

2.) Un Rayo Del Sol   (D. Vangard) - 

3.) Cha Ka Cha   (Nico Gomez) - 

4.) Latin Can Can   (Bill Ador) - 

5.) Yo Soy Cubano   (Nico Gomez) - 

6.) Eso Es El Amor   (Peps Iglesias) - 

(side 2)
1.) Harlem Nocturne   (Earl Hagen) - 

2.) Ay Mulata   (Nico Gomez - Tito Madinez) - 

3.) El Canyon Rojo   (Bill Ador) - 

4.) El Rico Son   (L. Ricardo - Bill Ador) - 

5.) Jungle Fever   (Bill Ador) -