King Kong: A Jazz Musical / O.C.R. King Kong: A Jazz Musical / O.C.R. CD

'King Kong' was a pioneering South African musical inspired by the life and death of the heavyweight boxing champion Ezekiel Dlamini. Billed as a 'Jazz-Opera', 'King Kong' featured music by Todd Matshikiza and lyrics by Pat Williams. The production was first staged at Johannesburg's Witwatersrand University Great Hall, opening on February 2nd 1959 and went on to take South Africa by storm. Nelson Mandela attended the opening night and is on record as highlighting the show as his favourite musical. The original South African production starred Nathan Mdledle, Ruth Nkonyane, Dan Poho and Miriam Makeba, helping launch Makeba's international career. West End theatre impresario Jack Hylton was determined to bring the groud breaking South African musical to London, insisting that as many of the original cast members as possible transfer with the production. 'King Kong' subsequently opened at London's Princes Theatre on February 23rd 1961 and ran for 201 performances. Critics praised 'King Kong' for it's inventive staging, stand out performances and vibrant score and despite initial plans for a Broadway transfer, these failed to materialise. In more recent times, 'King Kong' has been recognised for the pioneering role the production played in breaking down racial barriers, defying the colour bar and uniting black and white South Africans at the height of the apartheid era. In 2017 the musical was profiled by BBC Radio 3 and later revived in South Africa by the Fugard Theatre Company. Stage Door are pleased to debut the Original London Cast recording of 'King Kong' on CD. The recording is complemented with selections from the Original South African Cast Recording, including many songs that were subsequently cut from the London production. The CD concludes with a handful of bonus tracks including pop covers of 'Back Of The Moon' and 'The Earth Turns Over' by Elaine Delmar and a jazz instrumental of the show's title song by Terry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen.

1. Sad Times, Bad Times - Company 2. Marvellous Muscles - Nathan Mdledle, Company 3. King Kong - Nathan Mdledle, Company 4. Kwela Kong - Orchestra 5. Back of the Moon - Peggy Phango 6. The Earth Turns Over - Sophie Mgcina 7. Damn Him! - Joseph Mogotsi 8. Gumboot Dance - Company 9. King King - Company 10. Be Smart, Be Wise - Ben Masinga, Sophie Mgcina, Lemmy "Special" Mabaso 11. Crazy Kid - Lemmy "Special" Mabaso and the Alexander Junior Bright Boys 12. Tshotsholosa - Road Song - Company 13. Quickly in Love - Nathan Mdledle, Peggy Phango, Stephen Moloi, Ben Masinga, Patience Gcowabe, Soph 14. In the Queue - Company 15. It's a Wedding - Company 16. Wedding Hymn - Company 17. Death Song - Nathan Mdledle 18. King Kong (Reprise) - Company 19. Sad Times, Bad Times (Finale) - Orchestra 20. Sad Times, Bad Times (Original South African Cast Recording) - Company 21. Marvellous Muscles (Original South African Cast Recording) - Nathan Mdledle, Company 22. King Kong (Original South African Cast Recording) - Nathan Mdledle, Company 23. Back of the Moon (Original South African Cast Recording) - Miriam Makeba 24. Petal's Song - the Earth Turns Over (Original South African Cast Recording) - Ruth Nkonyane 25. Damn Him! (Original South African Cast Recording) - Joseph Mogotsi 26. Strange Things Happen (Original South African Cast Recording) - Ruth Nkonyane, Joseph Mogotsi 27. Better Than New (Original South African Cast Recording) - Nathan Mdledle, Company 28. Mad (Original South African Cast Recording) - Dan Poho, Company 29. Quickly in Love (Original South African Cast Recording) - Miriam Makeba 30. It's a Wedding (Original South African Cast Recording) - Company 31. Back of the Moon (Bonus Track) - Elaine Delmar 32. The Earth Turns Over (Bonus Track) - Elaine Delmar 33. King Kong (Bonus Track) - Terry Lightfoot's New Orleans Jazzmen