First released in 1980, Don’t Know Much is one of those songs every singer wants to record. Barry Mann, Bette Midler, Bill Medley, Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt all have versions of the sultry ballad.

Hopeton Lindo and Novel-T recently put a reggae spin on the track. Backed by musicians Willie Lindo and Paul Gauntlett, Lindo produced it for his Irie Pen Records.

He told the Jamaica Observer that as a songwriter, Don’t Know Much has always been appealing. Once he decided to cover it, Lindo called on Novel-T to share the mic with him.

“It was my idea to cover this song as it’s one of my favourite classics and people just love it. As a songwriter myself, I was intrigued by the storyline of meeting someone and don’t know much about them, but just knew that I love them for whatever reason,” said Lindo.

The Aaron Neville/Linda Ronstadt duet is the most commercially-successful version of Don’t Know Much, which won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by A Duo or Group With Vocal in 1990.

Lindo has a track record with Novel-T; he produced Let me Please You and Love Won’t Let us Wait, her collaborations with singer Peter G. Both topped the South Florida Reggae Chart and did well in the tri-state area.

Their take on Don’t Know Much is currently number 13 on the South Florida Reggae Chart.

From Kencot in St Andrew, Lindo started his career in the 1970s on sound systems. His biggest solo hit is Territory, released in 1987.

As a writer/co-writer, his credits include Red Rose For Gregory by Gregory Isaacs, Telephone Love by J C Lodge, and Wanna be Loved by Buju Banton.

Howard Campbell