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A unique album that pairs the original vocals from timeless pop songs by Blondie, Pretenders, Steve Winwood, Bronski Beat, and others with authentic Jamaican reggae, performed by the all-star band The Kingston Sound System.

Created with the full blessing and involvement of the original artists, Classic Hits In A Reggae Groove reimagines some of music’s most iconic songs. Just as the golden age of 60s and early 70s reggae was defined by inventive covers of international hits, this new album lovingly transforms beloved pop anthems from the 70s, 80s, and 90s through a distinctly reggae lens.

At the heart of the project is a handpicked group of seasoned reggae musicians making up the Kingston Sound System. The band features Devon Bradshaw on bass (Burning Spear), Ian Coleman on guitar (Ziggy & Damian Marley, Wyclef, Fugees), and Donovan Miller on drums (Marcia Griffiths, Chaka Demus). The horn section is made up of two French members of Sly & Robbie’s Taxi Gang – “Stepper” Briard and Didier Bolay.

Classic Hits In A Reggae Groove delivers faithful reggae reinterpretations rather than simply retouching the originals. Among the songs infused with soulful reggae spirit are: Steve Winwood - ‘Higher Love’, Blondie - ‘Heart Of Glass’, The B-52s - ‘Love Shack’, Pretenders - ‘Don't Get Me Wrong’, Sophie B. Hawkins - ‘As I Lay Me Down’, Bronski Beat / Jimmy Somerville - ‘Smalltown Boy’, Tanita Tikaram - ‘Twist In My Sobriety’ and Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’. The album has the full endorsement of all the artists involved, with many contributing newly recorded vocals for the project.

Post punk legends Blondie, no strangers to covering Jamaican tuneage in their career, have praised the project. Singer Debbie Harry said:  “Blondie has always had a special place in our hearts for Reggae music. I am honoured to have our song included in this beautiful collection.” Blondie guitarist and co-founder Chris Stein adds: “If we had thought of this type of approach in 1978, we might have gone this way with the original recording!”

Sophie B. Hawkins was equally enthusiastic, saying: “My first reaction was love. I love the space and feeling—it perfectly fits the tone of the lyrics. It's wonderful to be in such great company on this project.”

Devon Bradshaw, a cornerstone of the reggae scene since his early recordings with the legendary Burning Spear in the 1980s, is among the Kingston musicians bringing this project to life. He says the album was a rewarding challenge for him and his fellow musicians, a process he describes in his own words: 

“Back in the day, we didn’t have much music in Jamaica. We were tuned into jazz and American pop, and when we played in clubs it was mostly American songs. We grew up on that sound, and it integrated into our reggae so easily. In every song, you can hear the reggae beat. It's there, you just have to find it. There’s a different emotion that comes alive, and that’s what reggae brought to these songs - finding the right groove, the right bass line, the right drum pattern to make them our own.”

The album delivers hits infused with a reggae twist that feels timeless, vibrant and grounded in tradition. Every track featured on Classic Hits In A Reggae Groove has been recorded with the involvement and the blessing of the featured artists. No AI, no recording tricks. 

Recorded in Jamaica, the album boasts a band of reggae royalty veterans who’ve played with Ziggy Marley, Peter Tosh, Sly & Robbie and Wyclef Jean.