Cover Culture: Wayne Jarrett / Dionne Warwick – Anyone Who Have A Heart

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.

WAYNE JARRETT

Wayne Jarrett was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and relocated to Hartford, Connecticut in 1973 at the age of 17 with his parents. It then led him to New York City, where he crossed paths with producer Lloyd “Bullwackie” Barnes. In 1976, Barnes produced Jarrett’s first studio recording, African Woman. Two years later, Jarrett collaborated with producer Glen Brown, also known as The God Son, to create a wonderful rendition of Anyone Who Had A Heart, originally performed by Dionne Warwick. The track was released in Jamaica under the South East Music label and issued in the US by Rootsman Sounds. The following year, the UK’s short-lived Kingsley Sounds label released a 12″ single featuring Jarrett’s vocal track combined with Tommy McCook’s instrumental interpretation, Flute From South Side.

DIONNE WARWICK

Written by the legendary duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Anyone Who Had A Heart was introduced to Dionne Warwick in a draft form during a rehearsal at Bacharach’s Manhattan apartment. As they prepared for an upcoming recording session, Warwick embraced the song’s potential and went on to record it in November 1963 at Bell Sound Studios, reportedly in only one take. Released on the Scepter label, the single gained early success in Detroit, where it shot to No. 1 in December. It soon became Warwick’s breakthrough hit, marking her first appearance in the Top Ten in January 1964. By February, the track had climbed to No. 8 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Pop 100, and secured the No. 6 spot on the Cash Box R&B chart, solidifying her rising star in the pop and soul landscape.