Can’t Take my Space, the new album from Everton Blender, is scheduled for release in late August. The 14-song set is the veteran roots singer’s first studio album since 2011’s Higher Heights Revolution.
The title track, produced by Molando Dale for Ochi City Records, was released in 2021.
The 68 year-old Blender, who lives in South Florida, is excited about the album which is strong on the cultural messages that made him a star during the 1990s roots-revival in Jamaica. So strong, that he refused to pinpoint any favourites.
“To be fair, I can’t leave out anyone in particular. It’s like asking which of all my children is my favourite and I can’t choose, as I love them all… I put my heart in all my songs/babies,” said Blender.
Like Higher Heights, Can’t Take my Space bears the seal of his Blend Dem Music label. It also has songs produced by Jason “Jahson” Bromfield for Open Doors Records in Orlando, Florida, and saxophonist Dean Fraser.
Blender was an unlikely hero of the roots-reggae renaissance in Jamaica 30-odd years ago. From Clarendon parish in central Jamaica, he was 40 years-old when he got the breakthrough with songs like Create A Sound, Family Man and Lift Up Your Head, all produced by Richard Bell for Startrail Records.
Lift up Your Head, the album, was released 30 years ago by Heartbeat Records.
“That album was and still is iconic to this day, and very special to me as it was my debut album. Every single track resonates and speaks to you depending on the situation,” said Blender.
The 1990s marked the second phase of his career. The first took place a decade earlier, but the songs he recorded then made little impact which left him frustrated, resulting in Blender returning to Clarendon where he settled into designing craft items.
Encouraged by friends to have another crack at the music business, Blender linked with Bell, whose company had considerable success throughout the 1990s with neo-roots acts like Anthony B (Fire pon Rome, Raid The Barn), and Garnet Silk (Hello Mama Africa) as well as lovers rock singer Beres Hammond (Come Back Home).
In an interview with Howard Campbell, Bell recalls being unfazed by Blender’s age or anonymity.
“Him did have dat Rastaman vibes ‘bout him, an’ dat was di most import thing. Mi neva look into nuh age thing,” said Bell.
Everton Blender’s last major hit came in 1996 with Ghetto People Song, from the Rootsman Credential album, which was sampled in 2022 by rapper French Montana and Harry Fraud for their song Higher. He hopes to break that drought with songs from Can’t Take my Space.
By Howard Campbell
