The Piglets

The Piglets is a British studio project created in 1971 by producer and songwriter Jonathan King. The group never existed as a permanent line-up: in fact, it was a name used for the release of the single "Johnny Reggae", sung by anonymous backing singers recruited for the occasion, of whom Barbara Kay is often cited as the lead vocalist. The song, composed and produced by King, is a light-hearted parody of the skinhead reggae style then in vogue in the UK, mixing an uptempo rhythm typical of reggae pop with humorous and deliberately stereotyped lyrics, recounting the adventures of a "bad boy" named Johnny. Released on Bell Records, "Johnny Reggae" became a commercial success, reaching No. 3 in the UK charts at the end of 1971. The song also enjoyed some popularity in Europe, notably in the Netherlands (#13) and Germany (#19). The Piglets never released a full-length album or gave live performances, confirming their status as a one-off studio project. The name is briefly reused for a second single, "This Is Reggae", without the same success. " Johnny Reggae" remains a typical example of the British novelty hit of the early 1970s, straddling the border between pop, pastiche and opportunistic production, and reflects the growing influence of reggae in pop culture at the time.

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