The various artistes compilation Reggae Gold has consistently been the biggest selling compilation for VP Records. It is usually laden with some of the hottest joints as well as song that have the potential to make it into the US mainstream.

The 2008 edition which is due for release in June, will be no different from the previous editions. The photo shoot for the upcoming edition was recently done in Runaway Bay, St Ann.

According to James Goring, senior product manager at VP Records, Reggae Gold 2008 will be guided by the James Bond theme. "We went real hard with the gold theme. We took the concept from the James Bond series, so we have a sexy Bond girl and she looks amazing," said Goring.

Reggae Gold 2008 will contain between 16 to 18 tracks. The final number will be narrowed down from the current 30 tracks which are under review. "Just saw a kind of a hint of 30 tracks, but it might be cut down to 16 or 18. We have some fire on the compilation, including the current stuff. Die-hard dancehall fans will not be disappointed," Goring added.

The Reggae Gold series which sells an average 100,000 copies each year, was first released in 1996. Asked what has kept consumers consistently supporting the product, Goring explained, "I think it's the fact that it doesn't disappoint people. They know they are going to get the best. We always try to keep it current. It's like the reggae version of the pop/R&B compilation Now."

To further promote the Reggae Gold series this year, VP Records has entered into a marketing partnership with Smooth Magazine. "We are partnering with Smooth magazine this year. One of their calendar girls is our reggae gold girl for the 2008 edition and she will be featured in a six-page spread in the magazine. We will be having a big party in New York to promote the release of the compilation," Goring concluded.

Grace Jones working on new album

Jamaican-born singer/actress and model Grace Jones is reportedly working on new material for release later this year. Jones, who spoke to this writer backstage at the recently-held Reggae Academy Awards, has employed a stellar line-up of musicians and producers to jump start the project.

"I worked with a lot of Jamaicans on the album. I have people like Mikey Chung, Sly and Robbie and Uzziah 'Sticky' Thompson," Jones revealed. The still-untitled album is expected to be released on an international imprint.

Jones also revealed that she will be moving back to Jamaica.
Born Grace Mendoza Jones in Spanish Town in 1948, she is the daughter of Marjorie and Robert W Jones, who was a politician and Apostolic clergyman. Her parents took Grace and her brother Christian (now Bishop Noel Jones), to relocate to Syracuse, New York in 1965. Before becoming a successful model in New York City and Paris, Jones studied theatre at Syracuse University.

She signed with Island Records in the 1970's and released a number of albums and club hits. Among her more popular hits are Pull Up To The Bumper, My Jamaican Guy, Demolition Man and Slave to the Rhythm. Most of her songs scored well on the Billboard Dance and Club Play charts in the US. Over in the UK, she had a handful of hits charting on the UK Singles chart.

Jones' work as an actress in mainstream film began with the role of Zula, the amazon in the 1984 film Conan the Destroyer alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain. Before this she appeared in low-budget films, often with sexually explicit content. She next landed the role of May Day, in the 1985 James Bond movie A View to a Kill. She appeared in a number of other motion pictures including the 1986 vampire film, Vamp. She also played the role of Helen Strange in the Eddie Murphy film Boomerang, for which she recorded the title song, 7 Day Weekend in 1992

Passion Sundays off with a bang at Hillview Avenue

Passion Sundays is the hot new dancehall session held every Sunday at Hillview Avenue off Eastwood Park road in Kingston.
The session attracts a wide cross section of patrons, mostly entertainment and music industry personalities.

When this writer stopped by the session last Sunday, the likes of Fire Links, John Hype, D'Angel, Harry Toddler, Buju Banton, Fahrenheit, Tifa, and Elephant Man were seen enjoying themselves.

According to the promoter, who identified himself as Doop, "This event is the hottest thing right now. It's more of a classy session and if you want your liquor you just hold up your hand and the waitress takes care of you. It's very safe, and we have security all over. We have no fights or any negative vibes. It's an uptown thing."

Doop also revealed that the Warlord Bounty Killer is a regular patron at Passion Sundays.

Of This and That

Newcomer I-Octane, who once recorded under the moniker Richie Rich (while at the Penthouse label, promises to deliver more positive messages to the music-loving public. He recently won an award for Best Reggae Video for Stab Vampire at the EME Awards. He was also nominated in the Reggae Academy Awards. Fans can look out for his debut album later this year.

I'm Waiting topped the charts last year for singer Ce'Cile. Now a remix featuring Shaggy has surfaced. Based on what we heard, the remix looks hit bound. By the way, belated happy birthday wishes are in order for Ce'Cile. She marked another milestone last Sunday.

Music video director, Jason Williams, more popularly known as Jay Will, recently snagged the award for Best Dancehall Music video for his work on Shaggy's Church Heathen (remix). Williams, who is currently in Austria working on a video for Shaggy's theme song for the UFA Cup, says he has a movie coming out later this year.

Mr Vegas is in the studios working on a flood of songs for the summer. Fans can look out for the video for the remix of Tek Weh Yuself which features Lil Kim and Kat Deluna.

Soul singer Cezar has released a hot new video for the track Will You Be, which is featured on the Legal rhythm from Renaissance. The video was shot in New York and directed by Sampson and Naylor.

We haven't heard much from singer Aisha Davis of late. She told this column that she has some new singles getting rotation at radio. A video is expected soon, and she also wrapped up recording collaborations with Alborosie, Tony Curtis (Set it Off); and I Octane.

We are still puzzled as to why Queen Ifrica and gospel newcomer Omari went home empty handed at the recently held Reggae Academy Awards. Ifrica's Below the Waist and Daddy Don't Touch Me There were smash hits last year, while Omari ruled the gospel airwaves and video channels with his autobiographic recording Help.

And speaking of the Reggae Academy Awards, the peanut vendor who was spotted inside the National Indoor Sports centre venue, appeared to have gotten far better treatment than members of the local media who came out to cover the event.

He had access all over including the backstage area where the foreign press seemed to only have access to; and he was comfortably seated among some of the nominees at various times. Where were the seating arrangements for the press? And what's up with those 'security' who were threatening to throw out members of the press who were recording the event, even though some patrons had their own recording devices video taping the event and were ignored by said 'security' personnel?