The King Kong Compilation: The Historic Reggae Recordings

• Artist: Various Artists
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1981
• Total Time: 49:10
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Reggae

Review

One of several successful Chinese-Jamaican producers, Leslie Kong cut important sides during the ska, rocksteady, and early-reggae years up until his premature death in 1971. Working out of Beverley's, the restaurant/record shop he and his brothers owned, Kong came to prominence in the early and mid-'60s cutting hits for Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, and the Maytals, among many others. His early-reggae output circa 1970, though, represents some of his best work, and this Mango compilation brings together 16 highlights from that stretch. Besides such U.S. and U.K. hits as Dekker's "Israelites" and the Maytals' "Monkey Man," the disc includes equally stunning work by the Pioneers, the Melodians, Ken Boothe, and Ansel Collins. An essential collection for any reggae fan. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Israelites	Desmond Dekker, Leslie Kong	Desmond Dekker, The Aces	(2:47)
Monkey Girl	Toots Hibbert	Toots & the Maytals	(2:48)
Sweet Sensation	Renford Cogle	The Melodians	(3:42)
Freedom Street	Ken Boothe, B.B. Seaton	Ken Boothe	(2:50)
Let Them Say	Tyrone Evans	Tyrone Evans	(3:13)
Samfie Man	Jackie Robinson	The Pioneers	(3:07)
It's My Delight	Brenton Dowe, Trevor McNaughton, Renford Cogle	The Melodians	(3:13)
Peeping Tom	Toots Hibbert	The Maytals	(3:15)
Rivers of Babylon	Brenton Dowe, Trevor McNaughton	The Melodians	(4:17)
Gave You My Love	B.B. Seaton	Delroy Wilson	(2:48)
Bitterness of Life		Bruce Ruffin	(2:53)
Sentimental Journey	Les Brown, Bud Green, Ben Homer	Ansel Collins	(3:10)
Long Shot Kick de Bucket	Dawn Agard, Sydney Crooks, Jackie Robinson	The Pioneers	(2:48)
Ah It Mek	Desmond Dekker, Leslie Kong	Desmond Dekker, The Aces	(2:26)
Why Baby Why	Ken Boothe	Ken Boothe	(2:24)
Monkey Man	Toots Hibbert	The Maytals	(3:29)

Credits

Ken Boothe (Performer), Ken Boothe (?), Desmond Dekker (Performer), Toots & the Maytals (Performer), The Melodians (Performer), The Melodians (?), Ansel Collins (Keyboards), Ansel Collins (Performer), Ansel Collins (?), The Pioneers (Performer), The Pioneers (?), The Maytals (Performer), The Maytals (?), Gladdy Anderson (Keyboards), Robert "Kool" Bell (Liner Notes), Robert "Kool" Bell (Compilation), Hux Brown (Guitar), Paul Douglas (Drums), Bobby Ellis (Trumpet), Leslie Kong (Producer), Warrick Lyn (Compilation), Lloyd Parkes (Bass), Lyn Taitt (Guitar), Delroy Wilson (Performer), Delroy Wilson (?), Winston Wright (Keyboards), Desmond Dekker & the Aces (?), Rad Bryan (Guitar), Jill Betteridge (Photography), Roger Dalke (Photography), Bruce Ruffin (Performer), Bruce Ruffin (?), Tyrone Evans (Performer), Tyrone Evans (?), The Aces (Performer), Jackie Jackson (Bass)