Cover Culture : Delroy Wilson / Bobby Bland – Call On Me

COVER VERSION VS ORIGINAL SONG

Since the early 1960s and even prior, numerous iconic Jamaican hits were derived from popular foreign songs. The original pop and soul tracks were frequently embraced by audiences on the island, leading reggae artists to create their own renditions. Some of these artists gained fame by covering chart-topping songs, turning these adaptations into timeless classics.

For instance, American artist Bill Withers recorded the Grammy-winning song Ain’t No Sunshine, which Horace Andy later adapted, while Dennis Brown’s rendition of Black Magic Woman originally came from Fleetwood Mac. These two examples represent just a small fraction of the many covers that have emerged over the past sixty-five years.

Since the advent of these adaptations, both Jamaican and international reggae musicians have persistently reimagined pop and soul hits, continuing this tradition into the present. You’re welcome to listen to both the original and the cover versions to determine which one resonates with you the most.

DELROY WILSON

Produced by J. Lazerus, Merritone Records issued Delroy Wilson’s cover of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s 1962 hit Call On Me as the B-side to the 7″ single You Keep On Running in 1971. This initial version was followed by several others, including recordings with producers Joseph “Jo Jo” Hoo Kim in 1975, Bunny Lee in 1978, and Donovan Germain in 1988. All versions were released on 7″ vinyl, except for the 1988 rendition, which appeared on a 12″ single. They were also featured on various albums and compilation sets by the artist. Delroy Wilson began his music career at just thirteen while still attending Boys Town Primary School, earning recognition as Jamaica’s first child star. He enjoyed success until the late 1970s, but his career stumbled in the early 1980s. His fortunes saw a revival during the digital era with releases from King Jammy and Bunny Lee, yet he once again faded from the spotlight as his health declined.

BOBBY BLAND

American blues singer Bobby “Blue” Bland made his initial (unreleased) recording in 1951 alongside talent scout Ike Turner, who accompanied him on piano. At first, Bland released commercially unsuccessful singles. Nonetheless, these tracks piqued the interest of Duke Records. His recordings from the early ’50s reveal his quest for uniqueness, but this was interrupted for two years when he served in the US Army. Bland debuted his first single with Duke Records in 1955. His first chart breakthrough came in 1957 with the single Further Up The Road, which soared to number 1 on the R&B chart and reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. This was succeeded by a string of hits on the R&B chart, including Little Boy Blue in 1958. Bland’s artistry truly shone in a number of early ’60s hits, such as Cry Cry Cry, I Pity the Fool (which topped the R&B chart in 1961), Turn On Your Love Light, and Call On Me, which all became much-covered by other artists.