Product Description

HEART OF THE CONGOS is a landmark reggae album whose initial obscurity was due to a dispute between producer Lee Perry and his label, Island Records. Perry's idea to create a roots vocal album took shape when Cedric Myton and Roy Johnson auditioned at his Black Ark Studio. The resulting album had Myton and Johnson wrapping their falsetto and tenor around one another in the sweetly rendered "Children Crying" and "La La Bam-Bam".
Perry's production lent HEART OF THE CONGOSa hazy, dub-like sheen that swathed the Rastafarian imageryof songs such as "Sodom & Gomorrow" and "Ark Of Covenant" in muted shadings. Backed by a number of legendary session musicians including Sly Dunbar and Ernest Ranglin, HEART OF THE CONGOS could have been a smash, had Perry not held back the record from Island Records who handled his international distribution. Instead, it became a lost classic cherished by countless reggae aficionados.

Track Listing

1. Fisherman
2. Congoman
3. Open Up The Gate
4. Children Crying
5. La La Bam-Bam
6. Can't Come In
7. Sodom & Gomorrow
8. Wrong Thing
9. Ark Of The Covenant
10. Solid Foundation

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1318 in Music
• Released on: 2006-07-14
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Pinnacle of human achievement
Rate alongside Mona Lisa, Ulysses etc. I bought this on vinyl on Go Feet records in about 1982 as a student desperate to get hip to the sounds of reggae, on the basis of a four star review in the NME.
This record is a revelation.It takes you into the beautiful black heart of Rastafari and the harrowing experience of the African diaspora via the poetry of the bible, the otherworldly vocal harmonising of Cedric Myton et al and Lee Perry's miraculous production. It is truly ravishing and without doubt one of the greatest records of all time.

Redeem your Soul. GET THIS!
Pardon my being repetitive, but it would be a cardinal sin not to share my opinion.
The praise can't be shouted loud enough. Please believe all the hype you have heard about this one!

'Open (your heart) up (to) the gates of Zion', because the genius that is Mr Lee S. Perry is DEFINITELY in full effect here with The Congos, the Upsetters, and his celestial ensemble of back up singers.

Don't do 'The wrong thing'! Build yourself a 'Solid Foundation'. 'Bring the Mackaback', and revel with brother ants inna 'Noah Sugar Pan'.
If the 'Ark of the Covenant' were music, this CD would definitely be it.

Beg, borrow, steal (or preferably) BUY this Album.

Redeem your soul, justify your existence, and lose yourself in the musical, visionary and artistic FEAST that is the 'Heart of the Congos'

The extra disc of mixes/versions is the cherry on top of a pie so sweet that you risk contracting diabetes.

Big up to 'Blood and Fire Limited' for getting this rarity re-released to one & all.

Ras Small Axe

Higher ground
I agree with most of the comments and have to add that this album is simply beautiful.
Do not doubt the asking price if you are purchasing, this album will give you years of satisfaction... there is so much enveloped within the sound that every listen brings further awareness and a further appreciation of its beauty. BUY ! then let all you know listen to it too.
The only other comparable album might be Wackies- Horace Andy : Dancehall Style, which isn't " Dancehall " but is a cracker ! Nonetheless, the harmonies and ethereal sound of Heart of the Congos begs to be absorbed and you will be the better for letting this into your life. Pure class and substance. I love this album, hope you do too ( Children Crying is my fave ).