Did you Know Shabba Ranks did a cover of a Beatles' Song

Whats popping, my music family. We went back in time for this hardly known about gem. Everyone in reggae land knows the  original " Mr. Loverman" "The Emperor ", "A Mi Man" "Dutty Stintking Shabba Ranks" aka  Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon, arguably in the late 80 and early 90 the most popular Jamaican artist in the world.  Known for his hits "Mr. Loverman". "Housecall" with Maxi Priest, "Slow and Sexy" with Johnny Gill, "Respect", "Pirates Anthem", "Trailer Load A Girls", "Wicked inna Bed", "Caan Dun", and "Ting A Ling" and many more  hits.  He won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1992 for As Raw as Ever and in 1993 for X-tra Naked.^[

Little known fact do you  know he did a cover version of a classic Beatles song "She's a Woman." Well almost he did a DJ  feature on the cover but thats qualifies as part of the cover ....it was music magic  

The  song "She's a Woman" was recorded by Scritti Politti a British punk and pop band back in 1991 with featured guest vocals from Shabba Ranks, the song became a UK Top 20 single, song.  

But lawwwd have mercy when  a remix version by dance collective Apollo 440  was  released the song really took off  Here is Shabba Mr Loverman on di track....maaaad.

 

 If you want to here the original with more of Green Gartside's vocals pree this version, but we like Shabba vocals on the remix more

 

Shabba Ranks the King of Krossover

This weekend Shabba Ranks is the show headliner for the 20th staging of Reggae Sumfest, after a 11 year absence from Jamaica ostensibly because he was not been offered the right money and the right recognition for his contribution to reggae music.

Well it appears he has got both, as the Reggae Sumfest has finally acknowledged both  by honouring him with a commendation this Friday night and of course his highly anticipated performance on the Sumfest stage.


What people don't realize is that  Shabba was doing cross over dance music long before it became fashionable. Here is a gem of a song from 21 years ago ((1991) British punk group Scritti Politti  featuring Shabba Ranks.  "She's a woman", the song is actually a cover of a Beatles song, the original Beatles song  was released as the B-side to "I Feel Fine" in 1964.

and here is the original not as funky

a mee maan SHABBA...maaaahd.

Oh BTW Shabba has sure got better looking with age.