When singer Dandy Livingstone began recording sessions for a comeback album last year, he just wanted to make "good reggae music". If a hit song came from it, that would be a bonus.
"They Call us Legends" is the title of his first album in over 40 years. Released in July by his Par Three Music label, it contains the title song which is an homage to reggae's pioneers.
Livingstone, who lived in the United Kingdom for over 20 years before returning to Jamaica in 1983, leads a quiet life in Kingston. On "They Call us Legends", he worked with musician/producer Paul "Computer Paul" Henton and veteran toaster U Roy who appears on two songs.
He also puts a new stamp on "Rudy, A Message to You", a hit for him in the UK in 1967. That song has been covered by popular British pop acts which has benefited 76 year-old Livingstone.
"I guess I’m lucky. Maybe I did something good for fans young and old gravitating to my music, especially in Europe and beyond," he said. "When The Specials covered 'Rudy, A Message To You' in 1979 I was elated, albeit I had never heard of them. And the late Amy Winehouse took a liking to it also, and made it a part of her repertoire."
Livingstone's biggest hit is "Suzanne Beware of the Devil" which entered the British national chart in 1972. He produced fellow Jamaican Tony Tribe's 1969 version of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine" which inspired UB40's massive cover in 1983.
"They Call us Legends" has also been released on vinyl in the United Kingdom.
Written By Howard Campbell