The Mighty Rootsmen’s “Drift Away” reimagines Dobie Gray’s 1970s soft rock hit as a stripped-back roots reggae track. A posthumous studio project assembled by producer Ralph Sall, it features archival vocal recordings from artists including Toots Hibbert and Gregory Isaacs, alongside contributions from Luciano, Mykal Rose, and rhythm section Sly & Robbie. Instrumental tracks were recorded at Anchor Studios in Kingston.

The arrangement retains the original’s melodic core while grounding it in a slow, deliberate groove. Sly Dunbar’s drumming is restrained and steady, while Robbie Shakespeare’s basslines carry the harmonic weight with long, rounded phrases. The vocals, drawn from multiple eras, are carefully arranged to create contrast in phrasing and tone without disrupting cohesion. Mike Campbell adds rhythm guitar, with horns and backing vocals completing the ensemble.

“Drift Away” leads into The Mighty Rootsmen, out 25 July on Bulletproof Recording, a full-length release that reinterprets classic songs through a roots-reggae lens, bridging past recordings with new studio frameworks.

You can stream, listen to and pre-order the album HERE