Article Contributed by Cleopatra Records
Published on October 30, 2025
When Junior Kelly first emerged onto the Jamaican scene in the mid-1980s, and across a string of singles released over the ensuing decade, few observers ever imagined just how great an impact he was destined to make.
Those first 45s were fabulous, but he courted controversy too – 1995’s “Go To Hell” was actually banned from Jamaican radio! But a trip to London at the end of the decade introduced him to the magisterial production team of Mafia and Fluxy and there was no holding him back.
“If Love So Nice,”“Life Is So Confusing,” “Love You Like That” – suddenly Kelly was everywhere, at home and abroad, and now, forty years on from his debut, he is both looking back at his past and forward to new pastures with the upcoming Rasta Should Be Deeper album – previewed today with a stunning new single, reworking Eddie Grant’s classic “Electric Avenue.”
SINGLE: https://orcd.co/juniorkelly_electricavenue
He admits the album, releasing on November 28, will surprise his fans. “This album took me out of my comfort zone, as I had to do cover songs from different genres,” says Kelly. “I gladly accepted the challenge and rose to the occasion. I was happy to broaden my musical horizon and also re-record a few of my classic hits as a more mature artist.”
Titled for his 2004 hit “Rasta Should Be Deeper,” the album includes dynamic revisions, too, of “Love So Nice,” “So She Seh,” “Baby Can We Meet” and 2013’s joyous “Lots of Herbs,” while “Electric Avenue” is joined by the old ska classic “Red Red Wine,” Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved,” a breathtaking cover of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day” and a rousing “Power To The People,” the old John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band chestnut given fresh energies for the modern age.
CD: https://cleorecs.com/products/junior-kelly-rasta-should-be-deeper-cd
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/juniorkelly_rastashouldbedeeper
It’s a glorious album – one of Kelly’s best, and one of this year’s finest, too. Junior’s voice is as resonant as ever, his passion undimmed and his enthusiasm is off the chart. And whether you’re familiar with his past hits or not, it’s going to hit you hard.
Track listing
Rasta Should Be Deeper
Love So Nice
Lots Of Herbs
Lovely Day
So She Seh
Wake Up
Baby Can We Meet
Power To The People
Could You Be Loved
Lay Me Down
Don’t You Take Forever
Red Red Wine
Electric Avenue