Funky Kingston

Hugely influential in British Ska and Punk/new wave and bounces with joy. Toots was one of the pioneers that bought Reggae to the UK and the Ska sound that dominated part of my childhood scene. A joy, a great pick.

Quite good!

This is wonderful. Reggae is a taste I acquired very slowly, but I am glad I can now appreciate those gems. They're admittedly above the smaller fry in the genre in terms of songwriting, composition, arrangements and performance -- whether for the original compositions or the couple of covers thrown there. In short, this stuff is so exquisitely thought out and crafted. That said, what are we supposed to review here? The 1973 album, as stated up there ? Or the later 1975 compilation released in the US, which the Spotify link for instance points to -- in spite of the fact that 1973 is also referenced as the year there? All of this feels a little sloppy, whether for Spotify's "automatic" blunder, or the lack of specifics in this generator. Of course, one could consider the compilation as a proper album given how difficult it initially was to buy reggae albums in the US in the early seventies... If it's the 1973 album we're talking about, you gotta take into account its opener "Sit Right Down" -- displaying terrific work for the rhythm section and intricate arrangements, and unfortunately missing from the 1975 compilation. And if it's the latter, well you gotta take into account the fact that there is absolutely zero dud in its tracklist. It's a string of reggae bangers, going from "In The Dark" and the indeed surprising mix of reggae and funk of the title-track to the fun "Country Road" cover and the all-time classic "Pressure Drop". Special mention:for "Love Is Gonna Let Me Down", originally from the *In The Dark* LP. It's such a moving song... Too bad that the absolute bop "54-46 Was My Number", also from *In The Dark*, was not selected for the compilation, which is puzzling to say the least. Are you still following all this, by the way? Well it doesn't really matter whether you do or don't. This is a wonderful example of the heights good reggae music can reach, and I am going to give it a mark that's close to 5. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list dedicated to essential albums, rounded up to 5. 9.5/10 for more general purposes (5 for the musicianship and production values + 4.5 for the artistry) ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 124 (including this one) Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 143 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 319

More funk than reggae, but as I understand it these guys were some of the founders of reggae, so that fits. I like my reggae a bit heavier and my funk a bit ... funkier, but this was really solid and a good add.

Can't believe the original list had room for Finlay Quaye and Fishbone under 'reggae' but not this. Now rectified, and though not quite a five star due to the edition confusion, I listened to the original 1973 version, it's a straight strong 4.

Sounds more essential than Peter Tosh, who did make it into the book.

Just because you can make everything reggae doesn’t necessarily mean you have to. I’ll let it slide this time.

I much prefer this album to the other Toots album on this list, cover songs be damned. I also appreciate the addition of the original Pressure Drop to the American pressing of this, 5yrs before The Clash covered it (and well). Funky Kingston is a highlight and needs as much attention as most Marley joints. I’ll listen to this again.

Regrettably, reggae is an overlooked genre. While of course Bob Marley and the Wailers and former Wailer Peter Tosh deserved their place on the original list, I was surprised Toots & the Maytals were not once I heard their classic reggae sound. Then again, no one was more influential in bringing reggae to the US than Marley. Anyway. Funky Kingston is IT. Toots & the Maytals had reggae on lock. In addition, some songs had a funk aspect, which must have made it more palpable to Americans, especially Black Americans. I guess that was a given considering the album's name. It flowed so well, which is at least partly due to how chill reggae is, and the funk gave a familiar, comfortable element to my ears. "Time Tough" is an honest song, one that I'm glad was written to show the realities of Jamaicans, though I suspect the lyrics could've gone grittier. "Love Is Gonna Let Me Down" sounds like a classic fifties heartbreak song that you'd hear by someone like Frank Sinatra. My heart was so moved! "Pressure Drop" is arguably one of the best reggae songs ever (and I will argue with you). Some songs are covers, and I don't mind. Toots & the Maytal's reimagining of "Country Roads" is so charming, and I was happy to hear how they changed the song to suit Jamaica. This might be my favorite reggae album I've heard. The album was short, yes, but I definitely listened to it three times in a row.

This was an easy to listen to and fun-sounding reggae album (as many reggae albums often are). This album even had a couple of covers of songs that would be familiar to an American listener. I am not a reggae expert, but I feel like this album served up excellent song after excellent song, maybe even more so than most reggae albums I've heard on this project.

It's a shame this version was chosen, they're take on 'Country Roads' (which is on the other one, is fantastic. Still a brilliant choice though.

That was indeed funky!

I listened the US version which looks like it has a pretty different track listing from the UK/Jamaica release. Wasn't bad. Seemed like a standard reggae album from the era.

I didn't know I needed a reggae version of Country Roads in my life. But I really, really did.

This was great. It was swelteringly hot here and it was the perfect soundtrack.

Funky Kingston is effortlessly cool and catchy, a lively start then the title track steals the show, and I didn't even mind the Country Roads cover. Better than almost every reggae album we've had so far, Toots' voice is compelling, easy 4.

Brilliant pick and a definite 5 star album, or should I say a definite pair of 5 star albums? As the Jamaican original and the later US version only share 3 tracks they are very different to each other, but both are wonderful. Not only did Toots have a fantastic voice, but he popularised the word ‘reggae’. ‘Nuff said!

Estilo cercano al reggae, aunque no todas las canciones. Agradable de escuchar, buena voz y acompañamientos. Puede parecer un disco del montón. También versiones buenas de temas conocidos.

What a refreshing change. Made in 1973 too which is like a blast from the past. This really lifted my spirits and 'Country Road' made me smile. What would John Denver have made of this version? A great album

Oh, just in time for the HEAT WAVE not first listen. Instead of being faithful to one version of Funky Kingston, I blended them both together like I did for Are You Experienced? by Jimi Hendrix- some of the only times I digressed from the "original" tracklist or whatever the first time I listened to something. Two of my favourite songs from that listen- "In the Dark" and "Take Me Home Country Roads"- are in the 1975 compilation but not in the 1973 Jamaican version. Also "Pressure Drop", a single from '69 that's famously in The Harder They Come soundtrack (a movie I watched last year. Pretty good), is included there, which is such a cheat code of a move. It's a greatest hits comp, let's be real It says 1973 on the tin tho, so I'll focus on the original 8-track. What initially pushed me towards this album(s) was the Burning Spear album from the original 1001. My initial impression was that Funky Kingston conveyed a much more optimistic outlook. "It’s interesting how it & Marcus Garvey show very different sides of the genre; celebration & positivity in the face of current issues with the former, and indignation and fury at said issues with the latter." - Me, like 18 months ago That holds up, and I've returned to the Maytals a lot more than Burning Spear in that time, even though both are pretty excellent examples of reggae music. I gotta be in a specific mood for Marcus Garvey. I could listen to this just about anywhere. HL: "Pomps and Pride", "Louie Louie", "Daddy's Home", "It Was Written Down"

Reggae was never my favourite genre (it all gets a bit too plodding for me), and the original list didn't exactly change my mind, but it made me at least grow a wider knowledge of the genre. I'm glad to have this album here as I do like a couple of Toots' tunes and it turns out they're from this album. Here there's some branching out from the confines of reggae to include some funk and soul. This is the kind of reggae album I need to start changing my mind. Best Tracks: Funky Kingston; Country Road; Pressure Drop

I'm a casual reggae enjoyer so I won't pretend to have a full grasp of this album's context in the wider history of the genre, but it was really enjoyable to listen to. Super catchy and upbeat yet still laid back and chill.

Gritty-funky, tough (or should one say "tuff") and tight and tuneful. A few cuts in the middle sag, but openers and closers are irie-making. "Pressure Drop" is a personal all-time fave. One didn't recall this having so much soul and gospel (lotta James Brown and Ray Charles and Otis Redding). iHow this landmark isn't on the list proper is a mystery (maybe because of different versions internationally)? Excellent choice, thanks, recommender.

Preface, I do not enjoy reggae. I feel like this album was on the original list 10-15 times.

Yeah more of this please. Loved the cover of Country Roads. My personal rating: 5/5 My rating relative to the list: 5/5 Should this have been included on the original list? Yes.

varmaan paras reggae-levy tähän mennessä listalta! 3/5

Toots deserved to get on the main list so great pick to correct that glaring oversight!

I’d never listened to them and only heard the band name without knowing it’s a reggae. I normally find that genre monotonous and annoying after a few songs, but they kept it live!

Reggae. Ni fu ni fa.

Very chill reggae... maybe a bit too chill even. Not really my kind of music, but solid enough. 3/5.

This is some good stuff! I'll say it...I enjoy it over Marley.

More reggae than funk. Toots & The Maytals were instrumental in bringing reggae to audiences outside of Jamaica, alongside the Wailers of course. Unlike the Wailers, the Maytals had more of a distinctly soulful sound. A maybe a little....country? Yes, a John Denver cover makes the tracklist with a true reggae spin on it. That is, if you're listening to the 1975 version of Funky Kingston. The spotify link on this site auto-directs to the 1975 version that was released in the US, but it only contains three of the original tracks from the 1973 release of Funky Kingston. It's effectively a compilation of the Maytals' best songs from previous albums, but it can be forgiven given that it provides us with the incredible Pressure Drop. And really, what is there to complain about for the compilation version? It's highly praised and rightfully so, with many great reggae songs to chill out to. Lovely listen. CONTENDER FOR THE LIST: Yes, replace one of the Wailers albums with this.

Fun and funky, a laid back sunday spin.

Good reggae and a funny cover of Country Roads

It made me look into the lore of Louie Louie, which was nice.

Pressure drop started playing and before any vocals started, I was like “why does this sound so familiar?” Once the “ah-ahah-ah” vocals started and I started humming along without really knowing what was coming next, and I realized that this was the original version of the song that Sam Seder uses for his podcast, “The Majority Report”. He originally used the Clash version, I think, then had to switch to a cover of that version by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists due to some kind of copyright issue. So I knew that song, but thrice removed. Just goes to show what a blindspot reggae is for me. Anyway, this is a pretty excellent record which probably should’ve been on the list. Not a huge fan of the Country Roads cover, but mostly because I don’t like that song in any configuration. Regardless, a great submission.

A fabulous album that, to my shame, I had not listened to in its entirety before now.

Really don't like reggae but this was decent

This seems like a classic reggae album. Reading about it now, I didn't realize there were two such drastically different version of this album. Unsurprisingly the streamers have the second US version of this to listen to which is what I listened to. It does seem like this is the more widely reviewed and included on best lists version of the album, but I always would prefer to listen to the original. Definitely having a tough time finding it anywhere, so I guess the second US version will have to do.

Reggae. Ni fu ni fa.

Flawless

When I put on the first reggae track I was dreading this… but this had funk underpinnings that made this extra groovy in a way that I didn’t mind. Definitely one of the highlights of this genre for me!

A really good reggae album, I’d take this on the orginal list.

Nice reggae album

Apparently I’ve listened to this before and mildly enjoyed it

Banger

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Time tough, Love is gonna let me down, Pomps & pride, Sailin’on

Classic Reggae LP, not usually a fan of the genre but this is just a joy to listen to. Good mix of the genre's slower approach with some surprisingly energetic arrangements scattered in. For the album's short runtime it covers an impressive dynamic range, and the covers are well done and a pretty fun addition – Reggae-style "Country Road" feels so right for some reason. Allowed me to slough off some stress for the day and smile, which is what I needed. Great add, yet another overlooked classic missing from the main 1001!

Legendary reggae classic. Toots

The absolute cojones needed to call yourself Toots with a straight face

Yes. I saw Toots perform at a small/medium sized club in my college town of Lawrence, KS back in the day. He had such a powerful voice. He held the mic far away from his mouth because he could project so well - like he barely needed the mic. Definitely one of my warmest musical memories. RIP Toots.

Of all the genres in the book, followed by the fewer genres from user submitted records, I know the least about reggae. And I've really only ever heard from Bob Marley who is fine, but not a favorite of mine. This, like Marley, is fine. But I am failing to see the appeal. I just don't hear enough differences between the songs. And, (this is more about me than the music) up swing picking kind of annoys me. But I hesitate to try and rate the relative quality of this due to my ignorance of the genre. This is clearly competent. It's well recorded and I hear the heart that went into it. I just don't "get" it.

Yes hahah, been listening to their country roads cover for so many years. It's so good. Country rooads, take me home- ho- hoame, to da plaace, I belo-hooong, WEST JAMAICAAA, MYMYMYMMAMMAMA! Oh won't you take me go home, country roadss. 5

Dude this shit is so rad. Old classics and a completely modern sounding reggae Island funkiness that is a total joy to listen to.

Some really fun awesome reggae. Reggaes classic and roots are some of the most enjoyable sounds put to music. This album is a great collection of reggae songs. A Jamaican cover of John Denver’s biggest song is the epitome of good vibes. Overall a fun well made enjoyable album. 7.3/10

I went through a reggae phase many years ago. I still enjoy it, but only on occasion. This is a solid album. 3 stars.

In the 90s by brother made these fantastic mix cassettes for me, back when media was wierd and fun and listening to music wasn't mainly proscribed among half a dozen tech behemoths, via the ubiquitous pocket hellmouth. He put the title track from this on one, along with (maybe on the same tape, maybe another) Pressure Drop. The former being the absolute banger of this album, by a pretty wide margin to my ears. I like all of it though, very much including the idiosyncratic covers.

Funky Kingston is one of the best reggae albums made. When listening to it, I'm always impressed by the great voice of Frederick "Toots" Hibbert. The songs are fabulous. Each of the cover tracks ("Louie Louie", "I Can't Believe", "Country Road") is a rewritten version that adds a lot to the original song. Certainly the extended (1975) edition including "Pressure Drop" as one of the best reggae songs ever, is a must listen.