Mr Bongo

Mr Bongo Record label. Record store. Film label. DJ. Since 1989. Over the following years Bongo moved three times within Soho and opened in Shibuya, Japan.

We started life in 1989 as a small record shop underneath Daddy Kool’s Reggae Store on Berwick Street in London. We were the first shop to sell vinyl releases from independent hip hop labels such as Def Jam, Rawkus, Nervous and Big Beat outside of the USA. We also became an established bearer for hard-to-find, classic Latin music, particularly Brazilian, outside of the Americas. We moved our offic

es to Brighton in 1999 and closed all shops in 2003.

20+ years on we now have a recording roster featuring some of the best Brazilian, Latin, reggae, African and Jazz music by artists including Terry Callier, Jorge Ben, Joyce, Seu Jorge, Prince Fatty, Incredible Bongo Band and Marcos Valle. In 2004 we moved into world cinema, a venture that has grown to compliment the music. In keeping with the record label philosophy, we carefully select and source films from around the world and our catalogue now includes works by esteemed directors including Scorsese, Coppola, Has, Bertolucci, Rocha and Dovzhenko amongst others. We aim to unearth iconic, stylish, hard-to-find gems and cult classics and make them readily available to cinema lovers. We keep production costs relatively low by releasing the feature film without multiple extras allowing us to deliver the highest possible quality prints on DVD’s at the most competitive prices. We are modest compared to our competitors in the film world but hope that our rich history and knowledge has established us as an aficionado that punches above its weight (and is yet to reach its full potential). In 2011 we ventured into the realm of feature film production and theatrical releases with Justin Mitchell's Rio Breaks which premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square in June. We look forward to working on more projects like this. We also have a publishing arm with an in-house team that produces and licenses music for use by third parties. Our clients include advertising, film and TV companies around the world; brands such as Bacardi, Nike, Adidas, Fosters, Nissan and Guinness have used our music. We also deal with worldwide royalty collection for artists and organisations.

This October Mr Bongo reissue the mystifying brilliance of Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo’s 1968 album Dreams.It’s a ma...
07/09/2026

This October Mr Bongo reissue the mystifying brilliance of Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo’s 1968 album Dreams.

It’s a masterclass in Eastern European folk meets Western psychedelia, colliding with jazz. The album features a number of tracks penned by Szabo and Gary McFarland, alongside two interpretations of tracks written by the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla. Additionally, there is an epic cover version of Donovan’s ‘Ferris Wheel’. Pre-order now on vinyl LP in gatefold sleeve and CD - out 23rd October.

Also out today, Mr Bongo proudly presents a first-time worldwide vinyl and CD issue of Rubel’s debut album Pearl. Now a ...
04/09/2026

Also out today, Mr Bongo proudly presents a first-time worldwide vinyl and CD issue of Rubel’s debut album Pearl. Now a global, Latin-Grammy nominated star, Rubel is one of those rare artists who can straddle both mainstream pop success with the humbleness of an independent, underground recording artist. Those roots are on show here on Pearl, embodying an authenticity and rawness that spoke to a generation. Fusing MPB, folk, pop, and indie, it charts Rubel at his purest and most personal.

Order now on black or green vinyl LP and CD.

“The whole comp is a masterpiece. The best compilation I’ve ever heard.” - Luke UnaOUT TODAY - Skyrager’s highly anticip...
04/09/2026

“The whole comp is a masterpiece. The best compilation I’ve ever heard.” - Luke Una

OUT TODAY - Skyrager’s highly anticipated new compilation Coconut Dreams Volume One. It’s the soundtrack to a mythical, utopian retreat nestled in the most exquisite of settings. Unplug, relax and ease into this collection of pleasure-heavy tracks, journeying through sun-drenched folk, dream-inducing soul, astral ambience, AOR breeziness, and much more in between.

Order the compilation now on vinyl 2LP in gatefold sleeve, CD and digital.

It has been 50 years since Michael Orr and Carey Harris self-released Spread Love, their iconic, underground, cult maste...
03/09/2026

It has been 50 years since Michael Orr and Carey Harris self-released Spread Love, their iconic, underground, cult masterpiece. It’s an album that has a sound, production and level of songwriting that could go toe-to-toe with the best, yet was passed over by a number of labels back in ’75.

Spread Love radiates with a message that is as pertinent as ever - heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies covering a spectrum of genres including modern and classic soul, gospel, early disco, and jazz-funk.

Pre-order the Mr Bongo reissue now on black vinyl or gold vinyl variant with obi strip, CD and digital. Out 6th November - https://bfan.link/spread-love-5

Out today, ‘My Weakness’, the next single taken from Ella Thompson’s forthcoming album Triumph & Sadness, set for releas...
03/09/2026

Out today, ‘My Weakness’, the next single taken from Ella Thompson’s forthcoming album Triumph & Sadness, set for release on the October 16th.
One of the leading voices in modern soul, the Naarm/Melbourne-based songwriter, musician, and vocalist serves up an introspective soul number doused in rising horns, hazy lean-back guitars, and her unmistakable vocal tones.

Thematically, ‘My Weakness’ draws on the myth of Narcissus, questioning the cycles of recognition and unsated longing built into life under capitalism. Like Caravaggio’s Narcissus, we are transfixed by our own reflection, unable to look away. Stream / download the single now.

This Friday sees the release of Skyrager’s new compilation Coconut Dreams Volume One. To celebrate its release there are...
02/09/2026

This Friday sees the release of Skyrager’s new compilation Coconut Dreams Volume One.

To celebrate its release there are a run of events happening. This week there’s two instores, Thursday in London at Stranger Than Paradise Records and Friday at Brighton HQ. Then on the 11th September there’s a listening session at Leeds’ iconic .

Three fresh selects from the new additions to the store and site. Brighton HQ open for all your digging needs this weeke...
29/08/2026

Three fresh selects from the new additions to the store and site. Brighton HQ open for all your digging needs this weekend 11am-6pm.

Up first, a big reissue on Supa Dope! Jack Wilkins’ classic cover of Freddie Hubbard’s ‘Red Clay’ as sampled by A Tribe Called Quest on their Midnight Marauders LP. Highly recommended! 

Next, the first new music from any surviving Beastie Boy since 2011, Mike D lets loose a surprise debut solo album. 12 tracks of post-electronic grooves and hypnotic hooks topped with Mike’s unmistakable voice. 

Finally, Floating Points presents the experimental epic ballet score ‘Mere Mortals’ which was commissioned and directed by the San Francisco Ballet’s Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, with choreography by Aszure Barton. Released on Deutsche Grammophon.

A taste of the feedback that’s been landing for Don Glori’s new single ‘Sundancer’. Stream, download and run it loud…
27/08/2026

A taste of the feedback that’s been landing for Don Glori’s new single ‘Sundancer’. Stream, download and run it loud…

Mr Bongo’s very own Gary Johnson giving a glimpse of some of the treats he’ll have in the bag for DeepDig this Sunday at...
26/08/2026

Mr Bongo’s very own Gary Johnson giving a glimpse of some of the treats he’ll have in the bag for DeepDig this Sunday at GROW, Hackney. Gary and Gareth will be spinning a 4-hour special for this Bank Holiday session, with the brilliant Liminal People warming up proceedings on the terrace. Tickets via RA.

Ahead of the release of Coconut Dreams Volume One next Friday, we caught up with Skyrager to get an insight into a few o...
26/08/2026

Ahead of the release of Coconut Dreams Volume One next Friday, we caught up with Skyrager to get an insight into a few of his highlights from the compilation…

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6 Gloucester Yard
Brighton
BN14AF

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