Jimmy Riley - File

The title track of Jimmy Riley's latest album is a combination between himself and his son, Tarrus. And, the album itself is a fusion of songs from different generations.

In addition to Pull Up Selector, the 2007 father-and-son ode to the sacred space in between the speaker towers ('Dancehall is the people's church,' they sing), there is older material such as Love and Devotion and Sexual Healing. Among the new songs are When She Was My Girl, It's Growing and Riley's favourite on the set, Daughters.

A remake of the early 1980s' Black Mother Pray spans the generations, as the originally slow song is given what Riley calls a 'dancehall-soul' mix. And it is given the treatment by a duo which is extremely adept at blending genres, the same pair, which did the original Black Mother Pray and who share title billing with Jimmy Riley.

The full title of the album, Riley's eighth as a solo performer and first since the 2005 Love Canticle, is Sly and Robbie Presents Jimmy Riley: Pull Up Selector.

"Most of the classics on this album were done originally by Sly and Robbie. At the time, CDs weren't even around. It was vinyl, so now people get them on CD," Riley said. "Why we put the classics on it is there are a lot of new listeners now and they need to hear those songs."

He has no reservations about expressing his confidence in the set. "Almost every track on it is a hit. It's a CD you can put in and just let it play," Riley said.

Still, there is a song done some time ago which appears on Pull Up Selector which has a distinctive place in Riley's heart. "Love and Devotion is my first number one song with Sly and Robbie, so I have something special for it," Riley said.

Distribution

He said the album has been doing well, largely "on the strength of the songs and the music", as there is no big company distribution arrangement. "Sly and Robbie put it out by themselves," Riley said, adding that there is a possibility of distribution in the future as Taxi is currently in negotiations with some companies.

He points out that "my songs are radio friendly. I decided there was so much music that is harsh on the ear, so I decided songs on this album would be easy on the ear".

He has not yet been on tour to support the set, although there were a couple European performances in Holland and Switzerland last summer, where he shared the stage with son, Tarrus. He will be making the cross-Atlantic trip again next month.

And after Sly and Robbie Presents Jimmy Riley, Pull Up Selector, no time will be wasted in putting out another album. "Me and Sly and Robbie have decided to do another album now, all new tracks," Riley said, with two tracks towards the untitled album already recorded.