10 Lellie Capwell/Contributor NEW YORK, NY: THE KINGSTON Lions breathes new life into the beloved Jamaican songbook, reimagining landmark tracks from the golden era of the 1960s and ‘70s. Formed under the vision of revered guitarist and musical arranger and bandleader Mikey Chung (Lee Scratch Perry, Grace Jones), who was interested in recording a heritage project, putting together a kind of supergroup with his fellow session players, his legendary contemporaries, to do a record remaking timeless Jamaican songs — that vision became The Kingston Lions. Recorded by some of the greatest reggae session musicians and a trio of upcoming vocalists, The Kingston Lions are a tribute to the genre’s most influential architects, paying homage to the landmark originals that made shockwaves in Jamaica in the 1960s and 70s, most of which also strongly impacted overseas. “I went to Jamaica and got a whole bunch of heavy session cats together”, says producer Ralph Sall. “I thought of it as the Buena Vista Social Club of reggae and it’s addictive to listen to because they did such a great job with the songs.” Throughout the album, the band revisits revered classics like Bob Andy and Marcia Griffiths’ ‘Young, Gifted and Black’, Willie Williams’ ‘Armageddon Time’, and Desmond Dekker’s global smash ‘Israelites’, alongside new interpretations of timeless anthems like ‘Rivers of Babylon’, ‘Pressure Drop’, and ‘Dreamland’. Each member of The Kingston Lions boasts a storied career that shaped the foundation of reggae music, from Boris Gardiner’s bass lines anchoring countless Studio One classics to Robbie Lyn’s innovative keyboard work and Mikey ‘Boo’ Richards’ powerful rhythms. Alongside them are legendary names such as Patrick McDonald, Franklyn ‘Bubbler’ Waul, and Uzziah ‘Sticky’Thompson, all of whom contributed to seminal recordings that carried Jamaican music across the globe. With guest vocals from Nick Hexum (of 311) and Dave Wakeling (The Beat/General Public), the album is both a celebration and a rejuvenation of reggae’s enduring legacy. Tragically, several members of this historic line-up, including Sticky Thompson, Mikey Chung, and Karell Wisdom, have passed away since the recordings were completed, making this release not only a stunning musical achievement but also a heartfelt final testament to their enduring talents. THE KINGSTON LIONS TRACK LISTING: 1.Rudy, A Message to You (originally by Dandy Livingstone) 2. Young Gifted and Black (originally by Bob & Marcia) 3. Armageddon Time ft. Nick Hexum (originally by Willie Williams) 4. Rivers of Babylon (originally by The Melodians) 5. Johnny Too Bad (originally by The Slickers) 6. Israelites (originally by Desmond Decker) 7. Book of Rules (originally by The Heptones) 8. War Ina Babylon ft Dave Wakeling (originally by Max Romeo) 9. Soul Shakedown Party (originally by The Wailers) 10. Pressure Drop (originally by The Maytals) 11. Dreamland (originally by Marcia Griffiths) 12. Stop that Train (originally by Keith & Tex) 13. Wonderful World, Beautiful People (originally by Jimmy Cliff) 14. Girl, I’ve Got a Date (originally by Alton Ellis) The Kingston Lions: A bulletproof records release The Leslene and Alvin Morales Benevolent Society (LAMBS) of Highgate held its fifth annual Literary Festival in Queens, NY recently. Here (from left) are Joan Christian, LAMBS Board member, Tracey Thompson McLean, matron of the Manchester Infirmary (Jamaica) who was honoured at the event, and Vilma Daley, LAMBS president and founder. CONTRIBUTED THE WEEKLY GLEANER | JULY 24 - AUGUSt 24, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
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