Looking for jungle-themed music for a NYE party

December 29, 2005 7:14 AM

Looking for jungle-themed music for a NYE party. More inside.

I'm trying to come up with a playlist for my stop on a NYE progressive dinner party. I need a couple hours of music, at the most. We're the first stop, and our theme is "Welcome To The Jungle." I've been scouting around for music, and don't have a lot yet. Keep in mind, as the appetizer stop, people won't necessarily be dancing yet, but the music should still get people moving a little. I've got a jungle noises album that I am tossing short pieces of into the mix between songs.

So, aside from the obvious choices (Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie, OutKast - Humble Mumble) what are some other songs that would work well on my playlist? I think anything with some form of jungle connection or tribal beat, that would get people moving, would work.

posted by fearless_yakov to media & arts (23 comments total)

The Cramps' Pyschedelic Jungle seems to fit that bill.
posted by Tommy Gnosis at 7:15 AM on December 29, 2005

For tribal beats, I also recommend anything off of Killing Joke's first four or five album's. This band is pretty obscure for most people nowadways, but anyone at the party that grew up in the 80's will appreciate hearing any KJ as a rare treat. I know I would!
posted by Tommy Gnosis at 7:18 AM on December 29, 2005

Junebug - B52s.
posted by Wolfdog at 7:27 AM on December 29, 2005

Slightly different, but how about Fela Kuti?
posted by Amizu at 7:27 AM on December 29, 2005

Off the top of my head:
The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens.
Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses (obvious)
Jungle Fever by The Chakachas
posted by bering at 7:33 AM on December 29, 2005

Bungle in the Jungle by Jethro Tull
posted by Fat Guy at 7:34 AM on December 29, 2005

Jungle Exotica

Also Martin Denny
Apeman - The Kinks
Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tight Fit

It would sound kind of wierd to play real African tribal music or indeed African pop music. You need the fake stuff.
posted by dydecker at 7:36 AM on December 29, 2005

Monkey Man by the Rolling Stones
posted by jrossi4r at 7:47 AM on December 29, 2005

The Apocalypse Now Sessions by the The Rhythm Devils (Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead) comes to mind. Avoid the soundtrack though as much of that is dialogue from the movie.

Mickey Hart has done some other drumming albums that may suit your needs as well.
posted by terrapin at 7:48 AM on December 29, 2005

"Jungle" by Electric Light Orchestra
"Tusk" by Fleetwood Mac
"Meanwhile, Back in the Jungle" by David Johansen
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:02 AM on December 29, 2005

Two words: Crash Worship. As tribal as it gets. Too bad that they don't perform live as much as they used to; that was a naked, sweaty treat.

Btw, the particular Killing Joke record I had in mind was Fire Dances.
posted by Tommy Gnosis at 8:02 AM on December 29, 2005

If you are looking for music with jungle beats and not necessarily a jungle theme, you might like Bow Wow Wow.
posted by MegoSteve at 8:08 AM on December 29, 2005

"Meanwhile, Back in the Jungle" by David Johansen

"Stranded in the Jungle" by New York Dolls?
posted by davebush at 8:10 AM on December 29, 2005

"Tarzanboy" - Baltimora
"Jungle Love" - Morris Day and the Time
"Bungle In The Jungle" - Jethro Tull
"Jungle Love" - Steve Miller Band
posted by SisterHavana at 8:20 AM on December 29, 2005

This track is perfect for you as it's not only timely and jungle related but it's got a great dance beat and, well, it's just wild: King Kong by the Jimmy Castor Bunch. Listen to it here.

Along the same lines and by the same band is the track Troglogdyte (Cave Man), also a great dance track.

Couple more ideas:

I Can't Stand the Rain - Graham Central Station

Nite Safari - The Black Star Sound

Swami Safari - Anandji Kalyanji

And of course James Brown has a whole album called In The Jungle Groove.
posted by soiled cowboy at 8:49 AM on December 29, 2005

Jungle Boy by John Eddie. Really bad and really popular 80's song.
posted by any major dude at 8:58 AM on December 29, 2005

Wow - thanks for all the great suggestions. Keep 'em coming.

I tend to agree with dydecker...

It would sound kind of wierd to play real African tribal music or indeed African pop music. You need the fake stuff.

Since we're going more for stuff that is appropriate for a pretty laid-back party, I'm thinking "jungle-influenced" is probably better than authentic tribal beats.
posted by fearless_yakov at 8:58 AM on December 29, 2005

Tommy Gnosis, Crash Worship scares me:

While the band's three drummers pound trance and industrial rhythms, other members play music, start fires, ignite fireworks and drench the audience in pig blood, water, flour and fruit.

If we were the last stop of the night, maybe...
posted by fearless_yakov at 9:00 AM on December 29, 2005

"Stranded in the Jungle" by New York Dolls?

THAT's the one!
posted by ZenMasterThis at 10:32 AM on December 29, 2005

The Monkey - Dave Bartholomew
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 12:41 PM on December 29, 2005

I can't believe no one's mentioned Morris Day and The Time - "Jungle Love".
posted by philulrich at 12:52 PM on December 29, 2005

I assume you're not really looking for early-to-mid-90s Jungle hardcore stuff from DJ Hype or Mickey Finn, etc, or anything under the Kickin' or Shut Up And Dance or Ganja labels? There are a lot of ingratiatingly cheesy "Jungle! Jungle!" chant songs ala happy hardcore from that era. Many of these were collected on various Telstar and Fantazia and even World Dance anthologies.
posted by meehawl at 1:24 PM on December 29, 2005

Martin Denny, Martin Denny, Martin Denny.
I believe there's a whole Ultra Lounge CD devoted to jungle/tribal/tiki music and it's faboo.
posted by willmize at 2:55 PM on December 29, 2005