Cover Culture : Delano Stewart / Marvin Gaye – Wherever I Lay My Hat

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.

DELANO STEWART

In 1970, Jamaican record producer Sonia Pottinger unveiled the single Wherever I Lay My Hat by former Gaylads member Delano Stewart in the UK on her High Note label. The track had originally debuted in Jamaica on a blank label the year before. This reggae rendition of Marvin Gaye’s Tamla-Motown classic highlights Delano Stewart’s soulful voice and his ability to deliver a song effortlessly. Winston Delano Stewart began his career with Harris “B.B.” Seaton as the duo Winston & Bibby, which evolved into the Gaylads after Maurice Roberts joined. They became one of Jamaica’s premier harmony trios, achieving several rocksteady hits under producer Coxsone Dodd. After recording for Sonia Pottinger, Stewart departed from The Gaylads to pursue a solo career but remained a recording artist for her. Notable tracks from him include That’s Life, Stay A Little Bit Longer, and Wherever I Lay My Hat. Cornell Campbell and Sanchez also recorded reggae versions of the Marvin Gaye song.

MARVIN GAYE

American singer, songwriter, and musician Marvin Gaye played a pivotal role in defining the sound of Tamla-Motown during the 1960s. Initially, he worked as an in-house session musician, eventually gaining fame as a solo artist with numerous hits that earned him the titles “Prince of Motown” and “Prince of Soul.” The song Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home), co-written by Marvin Gaye, Barrett Strong, and Norman Whitfield, was first recorded by Gaye in 1962. He performed the track from the viewpoint of a wandering musician who embraces a carefree lifestyle. It was in September of that year that he achieved his first major success with Stubborn Kind Of Fellow. This breakthrough led to the release of his second album in 1963, featuring both That Stubborn Kinda Fellow and Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home). The latter song later appeared on the B-side of Gaye’s 1969 single Too Busy Thinking About My Baby. A passionate rendition by UK artist Paul Young reigned at No. 1 in the UK for three weeks during July 1983.