Randy's Cover Versions

Randy’s Studio 17 was the premiere recording studio in the island of Jamaica during what is considered the golden era of Reggae. An enormous amount of talented musicians and singers - who would go on to become legends - made their most popular and groundbreaking records at the acclaimed studio in downtown Kingston. Along with the many original Roots compositions and Love songs recorded, a plethora of the biggest pop hits of the day went on to receive a crucial Reggae reworking courtesy of Randy’s.   

With a fledging record store on the main floor of the recording facility, the Randy’s team knew exactly which foreign records were in demand by the record buying public. When revisited by the cream of Jamaica’s singers and players these chart topping U.S. and U.K popular tunes took on a complete new life. Recorded during the 1969-74 heyday of the studio, these covers are beloved and rated just as highly as the originals by Reggae fans and casual listeners alike. In many cases they surpassed and undoubtedly matched the sonic vision of the original hit recordings. 

Randy’s Cover Versions features 12 examples of magnificent songs recreated in Reggae. A solo Bob Marley takes on The Archies “Sugar Sugar”, the flawless harmonies of The Heptones trio sing Allen Toussaint’s “Soul Sister”, and even the “Mission Impossible” movie theme is here in a rocking version by the studio’s in-house band, The Randy’s All-Stars. A revelation for those who don’t know some of their favorite Jamaican artists recorded these big hits