Various Artists — Jungle-A-Rama Volume 1

Jungle-A-Rama Vol 1 is a twenty-eight-track CD compilation focusing on swinging-through-jungle rock ‘n’ roll. It focuses purely on the ten years between 1953 and 1963- with the pace largely kept upbeat, buoyant, playful, and of course grooving throughout.

The CD comes presented in an eight-panel mini card lime green-coloured gatefold. On its cover, we find quirky cartoon art of a moustached adventurer & a shaker-shacking native woman. Inside the gatefold, we have the track listings- with details of who & when each was recorded, as well a few facts/ points of interest.

In the first half of the compilation, we move from jaunting double bass, jiving keys, and swinging horn work of Joe Benson’s “Rock And Roll Jungle”. Through to the steady jungle beat, smashing cymbals, strutting guitars, and layered male ‘n’ female doo whoop backing vocals of Ward Darby’s “Safari”. Onto sassy horn  & quirky vocal gymnastics of Bert Convy’s “The Gorilla”.

 

In its second half, we go from bounding bass, tight snaking percussion, and Presley-like vocal judder ‘n’ jive of Joe Wallace’s “Leopard Man”. Onto the tip-tap percussion, dirge bound groove, and mix of swooning female & male backing vocals of The Shades “Voodoo Woman”.  Through to the twist-on-your-heels horn ‘n’ bass jive of E.C. Beatty’s “Tarzan” which features ape hollers, and a nice rock-a-billy guitar breakdown.

 

Unlike some retro 45 compilations, Jungle-A-Rama Vol 1 remains fairly strict on its rock ‘n’ roll focus, which is fine- but of course, it does mean there are no great surprises or truly bizarre moments here. But what you do get a well-arranged, audibly crisp, and curated collection- but you really need to be here just for the R ‘n’ R, and not general 45 quirky-ness