Richard Barone / James Mastro - Nuts & Bolts (Expanded Edition) Richard Barone / James Mastro

In 1983, Richard Barone and James Mastro of The Bongos, taking a break after an extensive U.S. tour that produced a batch of new songs written in hotel rooms, planes, and dressing rooms, released a duo album called Nuts & Bolts. Recorded in North Carolina with Mitch Easter (R.E.M., Let's Active), the album had a more acoustic and intimate feel compared to The Bongos’ recordings, showing a different side of the two musicians. Influenced by folk-rock and power-pop sounds, full of hooks and harmonies, and performed with their signature spontaneous energy, the album received critical acclaim and appeared on many best-of-the-year lists (including People magazine!).

Shortly after releasing Nuts & Bolts, The Bongos made their RCA Records debut, and Richard and James resumed touring with the band. Only a handful of live duo shows were played in support of Nuts & Bolts, and the original label, Passport Records, folded, making copies of Nuts & Bolts an instant collector’s item. Originally issued only on vinyl LP and cassette, it was never digitized or released on CD until now. Iconoclassic Records is releasing the meticulously restored and remastered Nuts & Bolts as a deluxe, annotated CD.