‘Boonoonoonoos’ is notable for being the last studio album to feature the original line-up before Bobby Farrell's temporary departure from the band. Put together by producer/songwriter Frank Farian, Boney M’s albums and singles were aimed directly at the dance floors across the world for their euro disco feel of songs.

Boney M's sound featured male/female harmony vocals, a stomping disco beat, swooping strings, funky guitar, a bit of reggae and hook-filled melodies that are still fondly remembered by millions of fans worldwide. After Boney M, Farian's next successful project was the equally popular but ill-fated Milli Vanilli who went into controversy for pilferage of songs.

This album features fabulous songs that drag us to the sunny Caribbean islands with songs like Mike Batt’s Ride to Agadir (Agadir is a city in Morocco) with full force of the London Philharmonic Orchestra making the song a symphonic rock piece. There’s also Silly Confusion, but also beautiful songs like the soft and simple rhythm of Consula Biaz or Goodbye My Friend. There’s also beautiful melodies such as We Kill the World (Don’t Kill The World) on the destruction of our planet or Homeland Africa that speaks on slavery.

The album title song Boonoonoonoos (a Caribbean word for "Happiness", derived from Latin "Bonus" = good) has its good moments too. The song is a cover of Larry Dillon's ska-title Train to Skaville, which was intertwined with new rap parts as "That's Boonoonoonoos". Other pieces on the album include the beautiful cover version of Fadhili Williams Malaika alongside the ballad Consuela Biaz. Other tracks that made the album was Sad Movies, African Moon and Goodbye My Friend.

Originally announced for a release on 1^st September, 1981 it was eventually postponed to a later date of 28^th September, 1981. ‘Boonoonoonoos’ first entered the German charts at No. 59 in mid-November and reached its peak at No. 15.

As for the sun kissed album cover, although hundreds of photos had been taken during the group's trip to Jamaica by photographer Didi Zill, the concept of Boney M standing in the setting sun did not materialise in the end. With this not working, both front and back cover of the album were shot in a studio in Germany, the front cover with Boney M. posing as black silhouettes with raised hands against a setting sun on a red sky. The inner sleeve featured a cartoon drawing of Jamaica on one side with the head line "Sun, Sea And Jamaica – That's Boonoonoonoos" with various small photos of the group.

I remember most of these songs as a child, but I didn’t realise or appreciate them so much the. Now years later, when I hear them sing together the harmony is like nothing you will hear today.

Sadly despite some gems, this album did not have the success it deserved and that's a shame.

Release date: October 1981

Label: Hansa

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira