The Melodians, one of reggae’s great harmony groups, are back this summer with “I’ll Take You Where The Music’s Playing”, a cover of The Drifters classic.
The song was recorded for the trio’s 2017 album, “The Return of The Melodians,” which entered the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart. Featured on the song are group founder Trevor McNaughton, Winston Dias and Taurus Alphonso. McNaughton died in 2018.
“I’ll Take You Where The Music’s Playing” was re-recorded recently at the HeavyBeat studio of producer Willie Lindo. The new version has live drums by Lee Milio, who joined the group after McNaughton’s death. There are also live horns, Lindo on guitar, the legendary Robbie Shakespeare on bass and Lindo’s son Kashief playing keyboards.
Dias and Alphonso joined The Melodians after the deaths of original members Brent Dowe and Tony Brevett in 2006 and 2013, respectively. That edition performed throughout South Florida, Philadelphia, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. Milo, who is from Montego Bay, has been a fixture on the South Florida reggae scene for 40 years. Fans in the region are familiar with his work for the Tishan band.
Formed in Greenwich Farm, Kingston, The Melodians are one of reggae’s storied groups. McNaughton, Brevett and Dowe had a series of hits at producer Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle studio during the rocksteady craze of the 1960s, such as “Little Nut Tree,” “Swing And Dine” and “Sweet Sensation.” Their biggest hit was “By The Rivers of Babylon,” produced by Leslie Kong.
