I had a hard time with reggae as a genre for a while, I am not sure what I thought it was. In my mind, reggae consisted of mostly Bob Marley clones. I stumbled onto this album one day and I am in love. It is my album of choice when I am alone in the lab and want to have a good time while doing my cell culture.
First, a little history/clarification: the album “Funky Kingston” actually refers to two regionally different and distinct albums by the group; I am referring to the Jamaican/UK release from 1973. The other version is almost completely different, keeping only 3 songs and replacing the rest with songs from other albums.
I discovered this album with the intention of confronting my preconception of reggae. I viewed reggae as an institution held up strictly by Bob Marley. Funky Kingston goes against my biases in a big way, it was a thrilling first experience.
Each song is sonically distinct yet thematically consistent. They are tied together by the a tight rhythm section, strong horns (which are not actually performed by any member of the band1) and the powerful Frederick (Toots) Herbert. Toots is one of those vocalists that takes the basics of singing to a higher level. Some other artists that have strong command over the microphone are Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Nina Simone. The tracks are incredibly intricate without being overwhelming. Each layer is given just enough volume to capture your attention at your own pace. The end result is a perfectly crafted album that uses their technical prowess as a tool, not a feature.
I really love the artwork on this album – it has charm. While the range of colours is narrow, I think it lends itself to emphasis on the emotions the people are presenting us. The album-in order of my visual attention-looks happy, inviting and relaxed. While the music itself might have an upbeat tempo, I still calm listening to it.
I haven’t listened to much more reggae since discovering Funky Kingston. There is so much to appreciate about this album that I am yet to get tired of it. I highly recommend this album to expand your view of reggae, and music on a whole.
1 The horns were actually performed by a Ghanian band, which makes this album a bit of an international collaboration – as well as an international hit.