"Jungle Boogie" is a funk record by Kool & the Gang from their 1973 album Wild and Peaceful. It reached number four as a single, and became very popular in nightclubs. Billboard ranked it as the number 12 single for 1974, despite as many as 36 No. 1 singles that year.

In 1994, "Jungle Boogie" was repopularized on the soundtrack of the film Pulp Fiction. It was also used in promo packages by wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling in the mid-1990s.

In 1992, Madonna sampled "Jungle Boogie" in the song "Erotica".

In 1996, the German rap group Rödelheim Hartreim Projekt sampled "Jungle Boogie" in the song "Türkisch" from their album Zurück nach Rödelheim.

Background

The spoken main vocal was performed by the band's roadie Don Boyce. An instrumental version of the tune with an overdubbed flute part and additional percussion instruments, titled "Jungle Jazz", appeared on the album Spirit of the Boogie. There is a Tarzan yell at the track's end and grunting, panting and scatting heard throughout.

Personnel

Track listing

De-Lite Records – DE-559:

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Jungle Boogie" (from the album Wild and Peaceful)Kool & the Gang and Ronald Bell3:08
2."North, East, South, West" (from the album Good Times)Rick West3:36

Certifications

RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)Gold1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

In other media

Charts

Chart (1973–1974)Peak position
US Billboard Hot 1004
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)2