Funky Kingston
Encyclopedia
Funky Kingston is the name of two albums by reggae
singing group Toots and the Maytals. The first was issued in Jamaica
and the United Kingdom
in 1972 on Dragon Records
, DRLS 5002, a subsidiary label of Island Records, owned by Chris Blackwell
. A different album, with the same cover and title, was issued in the United States
in 1975 on Mango Records, MLPS 9330. That album peaked at #164 on the Billboard 200
and was voted the eleventh best album of 1975 in the annual Pazz & Jop
poll. In 2003, the American version was placed at number 378 on Rolling Stone's
list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
.
with covers of songs by Ike Turner
and Shep and the Limelites
, along with a reggae take on "Louie Louie
."
In 1975, a revised version of the album was released in the United States
. It kept only three tracks from the Jamaican album, substituting six taken from the follow-up In the Dark, adding in the 1969 "Pressure Drop
" single which had been previously issued on album with The Harder They Come
.
On March 25, 2003, Funky Kingston was released on compact disc
by Universal
complete in its original format, along with the Jamaican In the Dark album and the "Pressure Drop" single.
, other than in musical circles reggae music was little known outside of its native Jamaica. The first international release by The Wailers, Catch A Fire
, would not be until 1973. Things were beginning to change in 1972 with the release of the seminal film The Harder They Come
, which became a cult hit that year in the UK, its soundtrack featuring two numbers by the Maytals. The Maytals had been consistent hit makers in Jamaica during the 1960s, and had even given the genre its name with their single "Do the Reggay." As he would with the Wailers the following year, producer Chris Blackwell
tailored the Maytals for the international market on this album.
video game soundtrack, on the fictitious radio station K-Jah West.It also features as the opening theme for the reality show Miami Ink
.
review states that "this is the cream of their crop, with a couple of exceptions".
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
singing group Toots and the Maytals. The first was issued in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1972 on Dragon Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, DRLS 5002, a subsidiary label of Island Records, owned by Chris Blackwell
Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
. A different album, with the same cover and title, was issued in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1975 on Mango Records, MLPS 9330. That album peaked at #164 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and was voted the eleventh best album of 1975 in the annual Pazz & Jop
Pazz & Jop
The Pazz & Jop critics' poll is a poll of music critics run by The Village Voice newspaper. It is compiled every year from the top ten lists of hundreds of music critics...
poll. In 2003, the American version was placed at number 378 on Rolling Stone's
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
.
Content
The original Funky Kingston acknowledged American rhythm and bluesRhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
with covers of songs by Ike Turner
Ike Turner
Isaac Wister Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. In a career that lasted more than half a century, his repertoire included blues, soul, rock, and funk...
and Shep and the Limelites
Shep and the Limelites
Shep & The Limelites was an American doo-wop group of the early 1960s. They are best known for their 1961 hit recording, "Daddy's Home".-Career:...
, along with a reggae take on "Louie Louie
Louie Louie
"Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
."
In 1975, a revised version of the album was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It kept only three tracks from the Jamaican album, substituting six taken from the follow-up In the Dark, adding in the 1969 "Pressure Drop
Pressure Drop (song)
"Pressure Drop" is a song recorded in 1969 by The Maytals for producer Leslie Kong. The song appears on their 1970 album Monkey Man and From the Roots...
" single which had been previously issued on album with The Harder They Come
The Harder They Come (soundtrack)
The Harder They Come is the soundtrack album to the iconic film of the same name, released in 1972 in the United Kingdom as Island Records ILPS 9202. It was issued in February 1973 in North America as Mango Records SMAS-7400. It peaked at #140 on the Billboard 200.-Content:The heart of the...
.
On March 25, 2003, Funky Kingston was released on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
by Universal
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
complete in its original format, along with the Jamaican In the Dark album and the "Pressure Drop" single.
Context
When the music for this album was recorded at Dynamic Sound Studios in KingstonKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, other than in musical circles reggae music was little known outside of its native Jamaica. The first international release by The Wailers, Catch A Fire
Catch a Fire
Catch a Fire is the major-label-debut album for Jamaican reggae band The Wailers, released on Island Records on 13 April 1973. The album established the band as international superstars. Leader Bob Marley in particular became world-famous...
, would not be until 1973. Things were beginning to change in 1972 with the release of the seminal film The Harder They Come
The Harder They Come
The Harder They Come is a 1972 Jamaican crime film directed by Perry Henzell.The film stars reggae singer Jimmy Cliff, who plays Ivanhoe Martin, a character based on Rhyging, a real-life Jamaican criminal who achieved fame in the 1940s...
, which became a cult hit that year in the UK, its soundtrack featuring two numbers by the Maytals. The Maytals had been consistent hit makers in Jamaica during the 1960s, and had even given the genre its name with their single "Do the Reggay." As he would with the Wailers the following year, producer Chris Blackwell
Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
tailored the Maytals for the international market on this album.
Appearances in other media
The song "Funky Kingston" appears in the Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
video game soundtrack, on the fictitious radio station K-Jah West.It also features as the opening theme for the reality show Miami Ink
Miami Ink
Miami Ink is an American reality show on TLC that follows the events that took place at a tattoo shop in Miami Beach, Florida. The show premiered in July 2005 and has finished broadcasting its fourth season...
.
Reception
Given the significant differences between the two versions of this album, critical reception varies depending on which version is being reviewed. (The Allmusic rating is based on the original Jamaican release while the review is of the US release "arguably their best album".) The reception of the US release invariably regards it as a classic given its inclusion in several "best of" lists. The original Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
review states that "this is the cream of their crop, with a couple of exceptions".
Side one
- "Sit Right Down" — 4:44
- "Pomp And Pride" — 4:30
- "Louie, Louie" (Richard BerryRichard BerryRichard Berry was an African American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed with many Los Angeles doo-wop and close harmony groups in the 1950s, including The Flairs and The Robins....
) — 5:46 - "I Can't Believe" (Ike TurnerIke TurnerIsaac Wister Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. In a career that lasted more than half a century, his repertoire included blues, soul, rock, and funk...
) — 3:29
Side two
- "Redemption Song" — 3:26
- "Daddy's Home" (James Sheppard, Clarence Bassett, Charles BaskervilleShep and the LimelitesShep & The Limelites was an American doo-wop group of the early 1960s. They are best known for their 1961 hit recording, "Daddy's Home".-Career:...
) — 5:05 - "Funky Kingston" — 4:54
- "It Was Written Down" — 3:04
Side one
- "Time Tough" — 4:23
- "In the Dark" — 2:48
- "Funky Kingston" — 4:54
- "Love Is Gonna Let Me Down" — 3:15 listed as "Love's Gonna Walk Out on Me" on Jamaican release
- "Louie, Louie" (Richard Berry) — 5:46
Side two
- "Pomp and Pride" — 4:30
- "Got to Be There" — 3:06
- "Country RoadTake Me Home, Country Roads"Take Me Home, Country Roads" is a song written by John Denver, Taffy Nivert, and Bill Danoff and initially recorded by John Denver. It was included on his 1971 breakout album Poems, Prayers and Promises; the single went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100...
" (Bill DanoffBill DanoffBill Danoff is an American songwriter and singer. His best known song as a performer is "Afternoon Delight", which Danoff performed as a member of the Starland Vocal Band...
, John DenverJohn DenverHenry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, Taffy Nivert) — 3:23 - "Pressure DropPressure Drop (song)"Pressure Drop" is a song recorded in 1969 by The Maytals for producer Leslie Kong. The song appears on their 1970 album Monkey Man and From the Roots...
" — 3:46 - "Sailin' On" — 3:35
Personnel
- Frederick "Toots" HibbertToots HibbertFrederick Nathaniel "Toots" Hibbert is a ska and roots reggae singer and leader of the reggae band Toots & the Maytals.-Biography:...
- vocals - Ralphus "Raleigh" Gordon - vocals
- Nathaniel "Jerry" Matthias - vocals
- Neville Hinds - keyboards
- Jackie Jackson - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Winston GrennanWinston GrennanWinston Grennan was a Jamaican drummer, famous for session work from 1962 to 1973 in Jamaica as well as later in New York City through the 1970s and '80s.-Career:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Charts
Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
| Year | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Pop Albums Top Pop Catalog Albums Top Pop Catalog Albums is a fifty-position weekly albums chart produced by Billboard magazine which ranks the best selling catalog titles, regardless of genre. Billboard defines a catalog title as one that is more than eighteen months old and that has fallen below position 100 on the Billboard 200... |
#164 |
External links
- Funky Kingston at MyspaceMyspaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
(streamed copy where licensed)