GEORGE NOOKS TAKES IT TO CHURCH ON NEW ALBUM “RIDE OUT YOUR STORM!”

It has been 15 years since George Nooks released God Is Standing By , the cover of Al Green’s gospel hit that dramatically revived his career.

The chart-topping song was followed by the album Standing By, a collection of inspirational songs. Yesterday, Ride Out Your Storm, his second gospel album, was released by Tads International Record.

Driven by the title song, the album has 15 songs, 13 of them covers. One of those is Nooks’ take on the Grace Thrillers’ 1988 hit, Can’t Even Walk.

He told the Jamaica Observer that he always wanted to do a version of the latter, which the Thrillers’ recorded in 1988.

 “From I hear it, it remind mi of my religious upbringing. It show yuh sey yuh can’t go anywhere without Father God at yuh side,” Nooks said.

Since the triumph of God Is Standing By, fans associate Nooks with gospel. But a different generation of music lovers know him from the late 1970’s when he was doing roots songs like Tribal War and Fortyleg Dread. The latter was done as deejay Prince Mohammed.

Ride Out Your Storm, the lead single, was originally done by American singer Betty Jean Robinson. Nooks’ version was released in February.

Nooks produced the album with Tad Dawkins and Tad Dawkins Jnr as executive producers.

“It took a while to complete but that’s because I put my all into it. I wanted things to be perfect,” he said.

Danny ‘Bassie’ Dennis of the Firehouse Crew; keyboardist Bowie McLaughlin; guitarist Monty Savory and drummer Kirk Bennett are some of the musicians who worked on Ride Out Your Storm.

— Howard Campbell