The King Kong Cast - Jack Hylton Presents King Kong

This UK London copy is the fourth recording of the production. The same version was also issued on the Decca label in the UK.

The London cast production of "King Kong" opened at the Princes Theatre in London on February 23, 1961.
The original cast production opened at the WITS Great Hall in Johannesburg on February 2, 1959.
There are at least four different recordings of the production, two by the original cast and two by the London cast.

Mono and stereo recordings by the original cast are different recordings with different matrices.
Mono version recorded with the full original cast in Johannesburg on January 26, 1959. ([url=/release/2988145]ABC 17346/17347[/url])
Stereo version recorded again with the full original cast in Johannesburg on July 7, 1959. ([url=/release/13743273]ABC 17701/17702[/url])
Both mono and stereo versions of the original cast recordings feature Miriam Makeba as "Joyce".

The 1961 London cast recordings are separate later performances featuring Peggy Phango as "Joyce" instead of Miriam Makeba.
There are two versions of the London cast recordings. The first version was recorded in Johannesburg before the cast left for London. The second version was recorded in London during the time of the performance. There are mono and stereo versions of both the London cast recordings.
Mono version recorded with the full London cast in Johannesburg around late December, 1960. (ABC 19759/19760; [url=/release/11538407]CPL 2256/2257[/url])
Stereo version of the same recording with the full London cast in Johannesburg around late December, 1960. ([url=/release/23340989]ZCPL 2256/2257[/url])
Mono version recorded with the full London cast in London in February, 1961. ([url=/release/2776779]CPL 2282/2283[/url])
Stereo version of the same recording with the full London cast in London in February, 1961. ([url=/release/4387952]ZCPL 2282/2283[/url])

The four different recordings can be determined by their matrix numbers or by listening to the opening track:
Version 1: (ABC 17346/17347) Mono - Slow horn intro, downbeat.
Version 2: (ABC 17701/17702) Stereo - Isolated upbeat fanfare horns, followed by slow horn.
Version 3: (ABC 19759/19760; CPL 2256/2257; ZCPL 2256/2257) Mono and Stereo - Drumroll followed by upbeat fanfare horns.
Version 4: (CPL 2282/2283; ZCPL 2282/2283) Mono and Stereo - Bright upbeat fanfare horns backed by quieter drumroll.