Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Richie Stephens sings about Jamaica on 'Come to Jamaica'. - Winston Sill

With a title like 'Come to Jamaica', it is expected that singer Richie Stephens' new VP Records album will have a patriotic tendency. But in addition to exploring Jamaica lyrically, he also takes a trip through Jamaica's rich musical history.

"I think our music is such a big creation. I do not think we are utilising it sufficiently," Stephens told The STAR.

A lot of respect

He has duly addressed that on Come to Jamaica, which he "approached with a lot of respect. This is Jamaican music. This has been around long before I decided to go into music".

So the opening track, Circle Jamaica, is ska, the autobiographical Country Bus is mento, My Girl Dis (a duet with Maxi Priest) is lovers rock and Go Home is dancehall, with a healthy serving of roots reggae naturally on the 15-track set.

One of his favourites, though, is not normally associated with any genre of home-grown Jamaican music. "One of the closest songs to my heart is the National Anthem," Stephens said. It is also the CD's closing track. "I sing it with a lot of pride. I consider myself representing my country."

Influenced the emotions

And on the occasion that the live cut was recorded Stephens, along with all Jamaicans, was especially proud. It was just after Usain Bolt's world 100m record-breaking run on May 31, 2008, in New York.

"Here is a Jamaican that broke the record of another Jamaican. It was in my soul and it really influenced the emotions you heard in the singing of the anthem that day," Stephens said.

Among his guests on the CD are Maxi Priest and Toots Hibbert, Stephens doing the ska Joy with the latter. He says they are "two of my favourites, artistes who I have a lot of respect for so it was an honour". His mother Mama Carmen is on Shine, Copper Cat is featured on Caribbean People and Jigsy is the guest deejay on Love Me Forever.

Promote Jamaica

While the title track had been recorded some time ago (the melody was used for the CVM TV jingle), when he was working towards the full-length set Stephens took his time. "I was recording songs for the past four years. I was not in a rush," Stephens said. Four years is an interval which is especially relevant in these Beijing times and Stephens says, "I realised the album had to come out in a certain time. The idea was to bring it out before the Olympics."

Most of the work was done at his Pot of Gold studio, with Stephens handling the bulk of the production work. He sees it as more than an entertainment product and says that other performers have told him they also have songs about the good side of Jamaica.

"If more of us sing about Jamaica in a positive light and promote Jamaica the better the effect we will all have," Stephens said.