It has been 40 years since Eric Clapton famously covered Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff,” and I guess we owe him some thanks because who knows how this whole reggae thing would have fared had he not spotlighted Marley’s undeniable talent as a songwriter.  He obviously holds a very deep respect for Marley and the original Wailers, and he has related this fact in interviews.  Growing up in the UK, he is also a lifelong devotee of Cecil Bustamente Campbell, better known by the stage name Prince Buster.  Buster is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music. The records he released in the 1960s influenced and shaped the course of Jamaican contemporary music and created a legacy of work that reggae and ska artists still draw upon.

Nevertheless, it is surprising although refreshing to see that he covers “Till Your Well Runs Dry” on his new album ‘Old Sock.’  A ska version of American Willie Bell’s signature tune was recorded by Peter Tosh And The Wailers in 1965. Later a reggae version of “You Don’t Miss Your Water” was recorded by Tosh alone for his 1976 debut album, Legalize It. His version of the song, which lasts for over six minutes, is highlighted by a guitar solo midway through the track. The lyrics and music were rearranged from the original, William Bell version by Tosh and Wailer.