Los Angeles, California: George Nooks has been described among the best kept secrets in reggae history - mostly by people who are only just discovering him. For everyone else, the so-smooth toned Nooks is remembered not only for the 1996 Billboard R&B hit “Real Man” - itself the culmination of a string of Jamaican smashes; but also for so many dynamic DJ performances under the name of Prince Mohamed.
That’s him on the late 70s disco mixes of Dennis Brown’s “Money In My Pocket” and Horace Andy’s “Five Up The Land”; that’s him again on Augustus Pablo’s Dub With The Help Of His Majesty album. And that’s him emerging under his real name with “Tribal War” back in 1978 and “Left With A Broken Heart” a little later. In fact, Nooks’s partnership with producer Joe Gibbs remains one of the most earthshaking in either man’s career.
And while you can say he’s been relatively quiet in recent years, when he does re-emerge it’s always with a bang. In 2016, George’s album, Ride Out Your Storm not only made number 4 on Billboard’s Reggae album chart, it hit the Gospel chart as well - a rare occurrence for any reggae recording!
Now God Is Standing By is on its way, set for release on November 14, but previewed today by the single “How Great Thou Art” - one of several past triumphs to be revisited across the album, but so gorgeously re-envisioned that it could be a brand new song.
SINGLE: https://orcd.co/georgenooks_howgreatthouart
Neither is it alone in that. Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run,” Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” all come in for the new Nooks treatment, while his version of Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” is going to open eyes and ears far beyond traditional reggae circles.
And is that an Oasis cover we see halfway through? Yes it is, and sounding fresher and more audacious than that crusty old warhorse has in years. And so it should, as George explains. “These songs were specially chosen by me and done with all my love for you…Enjoy!”
CD: https://cleorecs.com/products/george-nooks-god-is-standing-by-cd
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/georgenooks_godisstandingby
Track listing
1. God Is Standing By
2. How Great Thou Art
3. Ride Out Your Storm
4. Bridge Over Troubled Water
5. Wonderwall
6. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
7. Rest Your Love On Me
8. One Love
9. I Must Tell Jesus
10. Rolling in the Deep
11. Run Rudolph Run
