‘Good songs never die’
Ian Lewis, bass player and founding member of veteran reggae band Inner Circle, says good songs will always stand the test of time.
He made his comments in an interview with the Jamaica Observer last Friday, after learning that the group’s 1992 hit Sweat (A La La La La Long) was certified gold in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry for sales of over 400,000 units.
“Good songs never die. We see the smile on people’s faces whenever we play this song all over the world,” said Lewis.
Sweat was recorded at Inner Circle’s Circle South Florida studio, House Da Box, and co-produced by Lewis and Bernard “Touter” Harvey, Inner Circle’s keyboardist.
Lewis recalled the recording session for Sweat.
“We played three to four takes before we kept the right one. It was just a good vibe song and we had no idea that it was going to be a massive hit,” he disclosed.
Sweat was released as the lead single from Inner Circle ‘s 12th studio album, Bad to The Bone. That album was later re-issued as Bad Boys in 1993, which has been certified platinum in the United Kingdom and won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1994.
Bad Boys spent more than 150 weeks on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart and peaked at #2.
On the Billboard Hot 100, Sweat peaked at #16, while in the United Kingdom it went to #3. It was #1 in Belgium, Germany, Israel, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe.
The song has been certified gold in Austria, The Netherlands, and platinum in Germany.
Lewis said Sweat helped pave the way for Inner Circle’s rebirth. They had tremendous success in the 1970s with lead singer Jacob Miller, who died in a motor accident in 1980.
“Sweat has opened many doors, including world tours. We are the only reggae band to stay 17 weeks at #1 in over 30 countries and, most of all, we won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album,” said Lewis.
Inner Circle was formed in 1968 by Lewis and his older brother Roger, who plays guitar. Harvey, a member since 1973, and drummer Lancelot Hall, who joined in 1986, are other long-term members. The band’s line-up is completed by singer Trevor “Skatta” Bonnick and lead guitarist Andre Philips.
