These days, reggae cover projects are hardly in short supply. We already introduced you to the album by The Mighty Rootsmen, but producer Ralph Sall was simultaneously involved in 'The Kingston Lions', recorded at Anchor Studios in Kingston, while Germany's Berman Brothers were putting the finishing touches on 'Classic Hits In A Reggae Groove' by Kingston Sound System at Axx Studio in Port Antonio.
By Jah Rebel
When Ralph Sall first approached guitarist Mikey Chung for The Mighty Rootsmen, Chung had a different vision: “My original concept was to make the Traveling Wilburys of reggae with the eminent vocalists that were still around. The first concert I ever went to was Peter Tosh in Miami in 1977, and I was excited about reuniting his Word, Sound and Power band. But when I reached out to guitarist and bandleader Mikey Chung, he was more interested in doing this heritage project, which became The Kingston Lions. Essentially, he wanted to put together a kind of supergroup with his fellow session players, his legendary contemporaries, to remake timeless Jamaican songs. So he made a song list and I made a song list to decide what would end up on the album. I booked out two rooms at Anchor Studios in Kingston and we literally did two different albums at the same time, with The Kingston Lions in one room, and The Mighty Rootsmen in the other.”
For The Kingston Lions, Chung was joined by a lineup of seasoned veterans: Robbie Lyn (keys), Mikey ‘Boo’ Richards (drums), Boris Gardiner (bass), Patrick McDonald (guitar), Franklyn ‘Bubbler’ Waul (keys), and Uzziah ‘Sticky’ Thompson (percussion).
However, on vocals the project leaned on the lesser-known Karell Wisdom, Roger ‘Mitch’ Mitchell (A.R.P.) and Andrew Cassanova (Sons of Thunder, Unique Vision), and that, as far as yours truly is concerned, is precisely where the shoe pinches… Faced with reggae evergreens like ‘Rivers Of Babylon’, ‘Young, Gifted And Black’ or ‘Israelites’, why not opt for instrumental takes that would have allowed these legendary musicians to stretch out, solo, and improvise freely? Instead, what we’re left with is a collection of technically flawless yet uninspired covers. It feels all the more regrettable knowing that Mikey Chung, Mikey ‘Boo’ Richards and Uzziah ‘Sticky’ Thompson have all since passed on. As a musical legacy, ‘The Kingston Lions’ ends up sounding far lighter than it should.
With Kingston Sound System, the collective featuring bassist Devon Bradshaw (Axx Of Jahpostles, Burning Spear), guitarist Ian Coleman (Ziggy & Damian Marley), drummer Donovan Miller (Marcia Griffiths, Chaka Demus), saxophonist Guillaume ‘Stepper’ Briard, and trombonist Didier Bolay, we find ourselves once again in the slipstream of The Mighty Rootsmen: reggae covers of well-known rock and pop classics.
What sets this compilation apart, however, is that almost all of the original artists gave their blessing or even took part themselves. Standout exceptions are ‘Your Love’ by The Outland, here with Ky-enie King on vocals, and Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’, reimagined by former Wailers vocalist Gary Pine.
Personal highlights include the beautifully reworked version of Tanita Tikaram’s ‘Twist In My Sobriety’ (with a lovely trombone cameo from Didier Bolay), a downright stunning take on Bronski Beat’s gay anthem ‘Smalltown Boy’, and the ska-flavoured spin on Blondie’s ‘Heart Of Glass’ about which Blondie guitarist Chris Stein remarked: “If we had thought of this type of approach in 1978, we might have gone this way with the original recording!”.
A bit more predictable, given Chrissie Hynde’s reggae past with UB40, is The Pretenders’ ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’, but ‘As I Lay Me Down (When The Sun Comes Out Again)’ left us momentarily puzzled, as we didn’t immediately recognize Sophie B. Hawkins’ 1994 original.
Irresistibly catchy formula that definitely left us hungry for more!
Founder alongside Jah Shakespear who transitioned to this role in late 2014. Previously worked as critic and reporter, balancing passions for music and Haile Selassie spirituality.
August 26, 2025