Quick, somebody remind Eddy Grant he's scheduled to record with ska revivalists Hepcat for an upcoming Red Hot + Rude compilation. "Whatever it is, there's nothing been finalized," says Grant, regarding the proposed collaboration. "It may have been organized through my office and stuff like that."

Grant, best known for his early-Eighties singles "Electric Avenue" and "Romancing the Stone," was kicking it in Ice Studios in Barbados, when he was asked about the Rascals' "Groovin'", which he and Hepcat may cover for Red Hot + Rude, the proceeds of which will go towards increasing AIDS prevention. There's also the possibility that other third-wave ska band Let's Go Bowling may join forces with General Public's Dave Wakeling to attempt the same song. Perhaps the deciding factor in who gets to record it will come down to which team is actually aware of the project.

Other acts scheduled to contribute material to the ska-and-reggae-tinged compilation include Metro Stylee with original Skatalite Ernest Radlin performing the song "My Boy Lollipop" (made famous in the Sixties by Millie Small). "It's pretty saccharine but we've managed to get it kinda dirty and gnarly," says Andy "Stoker" Growcutt, who produced the song. The former Dexy's Midnight Runner will also handle production duties for a planned Long Beach Dub All-Stars-meet-the Specials collaboration (possibly recording Desmond Decker's "Israelites") and Mephiskapheles recording Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You." Stoker has invited Blondie's Deborah Harry to join on that track, but thus far the invitation has not been RSVPed. A dub version of O'Kaysions' "Girl Watcher" (also produced by Stoker), performed by reggae-legend Pato Banton and General Public's Ranking Roger is also slated to make the cut.

Other artists asked to participate on the album, scheduled for a June release on Gypsy Records, include the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Rancid.

BLAIR R. FISCHER
(January 25, 1999)