Johnny Reggae
| "Johnny Reggae" | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Piglets | ||||||||||
| Released | 1971 | |||||||||
| Format | 45 rpm | |||||||||
| Recorded | 1971 | |||||||||
| Genre | Reggae | |||||||||
| Label | Bell Records | |||||||||
| Writer(s) | Jonathan King | |||||||||
| Producer(s) | Jonathan King | |||||||||
| The Piglets singles chronology | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
"Johnny Reggae" is a 1971 novelty song[1] credited to The Piglets. The single cover states that it was "conceived, created, produced and directed by Jonathan King.[2] It was released on Bell Records.
The credits for the main female vocals are unclear. They were attributed at various times to various artists, most frequently to the typecast-tart actress Adrienne Posta and at times to Wendy Richard and to Kay Barry,;[1] some claim that the vocalists were trained (anonymous) session singers coached to sound like teenage girls. King himself in his autobiography 65 My Life So Far says it was, indeed, session singers with the lead vocal performed by Barbara Kay, then in her 40s.
Tracklist
- Side A: "Johnny Reggae"
- Side B: Backing track (of the song)
Covers
- The Roosavelt Singers sang it on their 1972 album Swan Lake with greatly amended lyrics and the amended title "Heavy Reggae (Johnny Reggae)". The track was released as a single on the Sioux Records label.
- The song was adapted to Dutch language in a release by the Chicklets.
- Frank Chickens, a Japanese musical group based in London, sang it on their 1997 album Yukasita – Underfloor World
Chart positions
| Chart (1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 3 |