Anyone hip to ‘90s dancehall/roots-reggae knows ‘No Heathen’ by Anthony Redrose. Released in 1994, it caught the ears of a budding singer known as Terry Linen, who vowed to one day cover the song.
He did that last year with Redrose. Their collaboration, scheduled for release on January 12 by Tad’s International Record, is produced by Tad Dawkins Jr.
“Is jus’ a song mi always love an’ anytime mi would see Anthony Redrose mi tell him we should do a version. Is a song with many powers,” said Terry Linen, who handles lead vocals on ‘No Heathen’, with Redrose singing the hook. They are backed by saxophonist Dean Fraser, trumpeter Okiel McIntyre, guitarist Mitchum “Khan” Chin, drummer Kirk Bennett and Donald “Danny Bassie” Dennis.
The original ‘No Heathen’ was done during a revival of roots themes in Jamaican reggae thanks to acts like Garnet Silk, Tony Rebel and Everton Blender. It was produced by Richard Bell of Startrail Records on a revamped version of the Tempo ‘riddim’ on which Redrose broke through in 1985 with a song of the same name.
Terry Linen is best known for the songs, ‘Couldn’t be The Girl For Me’ and a cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘Your Love is my Love’.
Written By Howard Campbell