THE Congos’ 1977 album, Heart of The Congos, is included in Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time.

The album is listed at number 82.

The Congos

According to the article — which appears on the publication’s website (rollingstone.com) — the album ranks among Lady Gaga’s The Fame, Madonna’s Madonna and Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut.

The recently published piece lauded the “unearthly harmonies” of original members Roydel ‘Ashanti Roy’ Johnson and Cedric Myton.

“The set is probably the most psychedelic and spiritually potent roots-reggae set ever made,” the article said.

Recorded at the height of the roots-reggae explosion, Heart of The Congos was produced by the eccentric Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.

The diminutive Perry had produced cutting-edge songs by other roots artistes such as The Wailers, Junior Murvin and Max Romeo.

Heart of The Congos contains the hit song Row Fisherman Row and features background vocals by Gregory Isaacs, The Meditations, and Barry Llewellyn and Earl Morgan of The Heptones.

Heart of The Congos enjoyed a revival in the 1990s when it was reissued by British independent label Blood And Fire Records.

The Congos continue to tour, performing mainly in Europe and Brazil.

— Cecelia Campbell-Livingston