Cover Culture : Delroy Melody / Roy Hamilton – Sit Right Down & Cry

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 MELODY

For many reggae enthusiasts, Delroy Melody might not be a well-known name, but aficionados of roots reggae from the 1970s and 1980s will surely recall treasures like his second album, Dread Must Be Fed, and hits such as Ease Up The Pressure. Born as Lassive Jones, Delroy Melody started his musical journey in a band with High School classmate Jacob Miller. The band recorded tracks like Guilty Of Love and Tell Me Oh at Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle Studio. They also recorded for producer Coxsone Dodd and performed alongside artists like Tommy McCook & The Supersonics and Sonny Bradshaw before disbanding. In 1981, Delroy Melody collaborated with Jamaican producer W.R. Martin, leading to the release of his version of Roy Hamilton’s song I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You) on the Marcus label. This song was also covered by The Maytals during the ska era for Coxsone Dodd.

ROY HAMILTON

The most recognized version of I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You) is undoubtedly the 1956 version by Elvis Presley. However, the original was recorded by outstanding American singer Roy Hamilton as the B-side to his classic hit You’ll Never Walk Alone. Both songs debuted in 1954 under Columbia Records’ newly created Epic label. From 1954 until 1961, Hamilton enjoyed significant commercial success, making him Epic Records’ most prolific artist. Elvis Presley deeply admired this singer, and Hamilton’s unique vocal ability and style greatly influenced Presley’s approach to ballads. He performed several of his ballads in Hamilton’s style including I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You). Also, The Righteous Brothers adopted Hamilton’s style, which contributed to their distinctive soul sound. This influence is particularly apparent in their covers of Hamilton songs like You’ll Never Walk Alone, Ebb Tide, and Unchained Melody.