Five years ago singer and producer Richie Stephens decided to buck the hardcore trend and put out a love song. And that song, Take Me Away, in turn led to a trend, a concert series that will be staged for the fifth time next Sunday.

"Is just a vibe I was feeling at the time. I felt I wanted to do a love song especially for the ladies. Things were so hardcore that people were just ignoring the ladies. I know love will never go out of style," Stephens said.

Take Me Away, which was produced on Stephens' Pot of Gold label, came out first as a reggae song on the album Standing Ovation. Then the advice of a radio disc jock led to the R&B version which has found enduring popularity.

"Crazy Chris from Kool FM said 'Richie, this should be done R&B'," Stephens told The Sunday Gleaner.

The team of musicians was Othneil Lewis (keyboards), Mikey Kennedy (bass guitar), Johnny (drums) and Rudy Valentino (guitar). Valentino also arranged the song and did engineering duties, with Pam Hall and Heather Cummings doing the background vocals. Written and produced by Stephens, the song was recorded at his Pot of Gold Recording Studio and became an album title track.

Stephens pointed out that Take Me Away was recorded over a number of days, the basic tracks laid down first, Lewis adding some keyboards the following day, backing vocals coming next. The longest time was spent on Stephens' lead vocals.

"It took me a while to get the vocals done, as I wanted to get a great vocal performance down," Stephens said.

The patience paid off, as Stephens said Take Me Away "became a favourite. It didn't go to number one. It takes more than a good song to go to number one these days".

More significantly, though, while Stephens was squeezing in the song on shows with many performers, persons kept asking when they would see him doing Take Me Away in a setting where he could present it as it should be done. And that in turn led to the first Take Me Away concert at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in 2005. From there, the concert has grown, moving to the National Indoor Sports Centre and next week Sunday it goes outdoor at the Cable and Wireless Golf Academy in New Kingston.

It is slated to start at 8:00 p.m. and end at 11:30 p.m.

Jeffrey Osbourne is the special guest, with Gregory Isaacs, Ken Boothe and Leroy Sibbles doing a 'Three the Hard Way'. Tony Greene, Stevie Face, LUST, Gem Myers and, of course, Stephens, will perform.

Part proceeds will go towards building a shelter for abused women.

"I am proud of what the song has produced," Stephens said. And he is not surprised at its popularity. "Jamaican people love good music and are into good music. Once it is a good song they will respond in a particular way."