Donovan Germain began a professional relationship with Marcia Griffiths in the 1990s.

His Penthouse Records is largely responsible for her career revival 30 years ago.

He confesses, though that he has been a fan of her music since the 1970s.

The producer’s latest project with the legendary singer is Friends of Marcia Griffiths: Celebrating 60 Years.

Released on October 25 by Penthouse Records, it features various artistes covering songs Griffiths recorded during her six-decade career.

While the compilation album includes fresh takes on classics like Melody Life by Nikki Burt, Truly by Twiggi, Stepping Out of Babylon by Carlene Davis, and I Shall Sing by Shuga, Germain selected a handful of unfamiliar songs.

“I could have gone and done songs from her Studio One catalogue, but I wanted to do something different. I wanted to showcase songs that a younger generation can appreciate,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Those songs include Sweet Bitter Love, an Aretha Franklin original Griffiths recorded for producer Lloyd Charmers in 1974. Adele covers Let Me Be Yours Until Tomorrow, which Griffiths cut for Clement Dodd at Studio One in 1972.

Penthouse was a dancehall force during the 1990s with acts like Buju Banton, Beres Hammond, Wayne Wonder, and Cutty Ranks among the label’s top acts. Germain recruited Griffiths to record on some of his hippest rhythms, which resulted in hit songs like I Shall Sing, Land of Love, and Live On, a duet with Hammond.

He was not surprised when the dancehall audience embraced Griffiths.

“I always maintain that God gives every generation an exceptional singer, and she [Griffiths] is one of my generation’s exceptional artistes,” said Germain.

Marcia Griffiths & Friends, a show celebrating her 60th anniversary in the music business, takes place on Sunday at Hope Gardens.

Shaggy, Skip Marley, Cutty Ranks, Busy Signal, Tessanne Chin, Nadine Sutherland, and Duane Stephenson are some of the guest artistes.

— Howard Campbell