Never Ending is reggae artist Beres Hammond's nineteenth studio album, released on October 12, 2018. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae chart. The 14-track album was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica.[2][3]
| Never Ending | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 12, 2018 | |||
| Studio | Harmony House | |||
| Genre | Reggae, Lovers rock, roots reggae | |||
| Length | 57:09 | |||
| Label | VP Records, Harmony House Records | |||
| Producer | Christopher Chin (exec), Beres Hammond (exec), Kurt Riley, Andre Riley | |||
| Beres Hammond chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Never Ending | ||||
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Background
editThemes on the album include love, overcoming obstacles and celebrating life.[4] Never Ending includes a love song about Jamaica called "Land of Sunshine." The lead single, "I'm Alive", is a 21st-century 'roots' track with Hammond singing praises for life's simple and essential joys. "My Kinda Girl" is an example of modern lovers rock – a sub genre of reggae for which the artist is known.[5][6] Hammond is known to be in the studio three or four times a week when he is in Jamaica. He records songs based on events that happen naturally in life. He is known to visit people - whom he does not know – but who enjoy sharing stories about their lives with him. He internalizes those experiences and records them in song.[7]
The visual for the "Never Ending" music video was directed by RD Studios and portrays Hammond's childhood. Fans are shown the beginning of his love for music to his current-day performing in front of Harmony House – his recording studio on Dumbarton Avenue. Throughout the four-minute video, artistes influenced by Hammond make a cameo. They include Jah Cure, Alborosie, Romain Virgo, Christopher Martin, Shenseea, Jesse Royal, Bulby York, Kurt Riley, and Teflon Zinc Fence.[8]
Track listing
edit| # | Title | Producer(s) | Composer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "I'm Alive" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond, Willie Lindo | 3:20 |
| 2 | "Land of Sunshine" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:03 |
| 3 | "I Will Take You There" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:03 |
| 4 | "Only One" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 3:57 |
| 5 | "My Kinda Girl" | Kurt Riley & Andre Riley | Hugh Hammond, Kurt Riley, Michael Fletcher, Andre Riley | 4:15 |
| 6 | "Sleeping Beauty" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:18 |
| 7 | "Hold You Till It Hurts" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond, Willie Lindo | 4:03 |
| 8 | "Seasons Change" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:07 |
| 9 | "All Love" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:14 |
| 10 | "I'll Try" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond, David Heywood, Leroy Heywood | 4:00 |
| 11 | "Love Foreclosure" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:22 |
| 12 | "Lose It All" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 3:51 |
| 13 | "Survival" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:11 |
| 14 | "Never Ending" | Beres Hammond | Hugh Hammond | 4:25 |
Personnel
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Never Ending Tour
editNever Ending Tour 2019 of the United States and Canada started on July 27 from Danbury Connecticut, U.S.A., and stopped in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Newark, Huntington (New York), Richmond (Virginia), Washington DC, Norfolk (Virginia), Charlotte (North Carolina), Atlanta, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale.[9][10]
Never Ending Tour 2019 Schedule
| Date | Venue | Performing Artist(s) | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday - July 27 | Ives Concert Park | Beres Hammond, Maxi Priest, Yellowman[11] | Danbury, CT |
| Sunday - July 28 | Lake Clifton Park | Beres Hammond, Capleton, Shenseea, Bunji Garlin, Ding Dong[12] | Baltimore, MD |
| Tuesday - July 30 | Riverfront Live | Beres Hammond | Cincinnati, OH |
| Wednesday - July 31 | Patio Theater | Beres Hammond | Chicago, IL |
| Friday - August 2 | Woodbine Racetrack | Beres Hammond | Toronto, ON |
| Sunday - August 4 | Ford Amphitheater | Beres Hammond, Maxi Priest, Romain Virgo[13] | Brooklyn, NY |
| Tuesday - August 6 | Payomet PAC | Beres Hammond | Truro, MA |
| Wednesday - August 7 | House of Blues | Beres Hammond | Boston, MA |
| Friday - August 9 | Theater of Living Arts | Beres Hammond | Philadelphia, PA |
| Saturday - August 10 | NJPAC | Beres Hammond, Maxi Priest, Romain Virgo[14] | Newark, NJ |
| Sunday - August 11 | The Paramount | Beres Hammond | Huntington, NY |
| Tuesday - August 13 | The National | Beres Hammond | Richmond, VA |
| Thursday - August 15 | Howard Theatre | Beres Hammond | Washington, D.C. |
| Friday - August 16 | Howard Theatre | Beres Hammond | Washington, D.C. |
| Saturday - August 17 | The Norva | Beres Hammond | Norfolk, VA |
| Sunday - August 18 | Oasis Shriners Auditorium | Beres Hammond, Romain Virgo[15] | Charlotte, NC |
| Friday - August 23 | Cobb Energy PAC | Beres Hammond | Atlanta, GA |
| Saturday - August 24 | The Hard Rock | Beres Hammond | Orlando, FL |
| Sunday - August 25 | Broward PAC | Beres Hammond | Lauderdale, FL |
References
edit- ^ Lalah, Nashauna (2018-10-07). "Beres' 'Never Ending' journey continues Friday - Two singles herald 14-track album". The Gleaner. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
The album's first single, I'm Alive, is described as a modern roots track, with Hammond singing praises for life's simple joys. The second single, Land of Sunshine,
- ^ "Beres Hammond's Never Ending lands at Number One on Billboard Reggae Chart". Caribbean National Weekly.
- ^ "Beres Hammond's Never Ending is #1 on Billboard Reggae Chart in its First Week". South Florida Caribbean News.
- ^ Gardy, Kimberely (2018-10-30). "ALBUM REVIEW: BERES HAMMOND - NEVER ENDING". ReggaeVille. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
As usual, the thematic direction is clear as well: of the 14 songs included, 9 circle around the subject of love and romance. "Land of Sunshine", also released as single, is a musical love letter to Jamaica, stressing the beauty of the island and its people despite poverty and ongoing political struggles. "Survival" is a rallying call for all the troubled souls out there, while "Lose It All" is a warning to not build your house on sand.
- ^ Jackson, Kevin (2018-10-04). "Beres's Never Ending hunt for glory". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
"The album features 14 songs, mainly about love and social issues.
- ^ Small, Kimberely (2018-10-12). "Young crooners and music stalwarts celebrate Beres' 'Never Ending'". The Gleaner. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
Fans may be accustomed to hearing the singer's sweet, romantic serenade, and they will get that on this new album. In addition, Never Ending also includes a love song about Jamaica in the form of "Land of Sunshine". The first single, "I'm Alive", is a 21st-century 'roots' track, with Beres singing praises for life's simple and essential joys.
- ^ Johnson, Richard (2018-11-04). "Beres sends love". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
"Over the years I have made it a practice to record three or four times a week, once I'm in Jamaica. I just make songs. I don't record like I am doing this concept and the album is going to be about these songs... no. Everyday of my life is a concept. You go outta street and you see people and you don't know what their thoughts are ... it's those things that log inna my head, so when I come into the studio I just let all that out, let it flow," he told the Jamaica Observer.
- ^ Small, Kimberely (2018-10-12). "Young crooners and music stalwarts celebrate Beres' 'Never Ending'". The Gleaner. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
The visual, directed by RD Studios, wanted to portray Hammond's childhood and the beginning of his love for music to his current-day performing in front of his Dumbarton Avenue studio - Harmony House. Throughout the four-minute video, artistes influenced by Beres make a cameo. They include Jah Cure, Alborosie, Romain Virgo, Christopher Martin, Shenseea, Jesse Royal, Bulby York, Kurt Riley, and Teflon Zinc Fence.
- ^ Campbell, Howard (2019-08-30). "Beres wraps up Never Ending Tour". JamaicaObserver. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
Beres Hammond closed his Never Ending Tour of the United States and Canada on Wednesday with a show celebrating his 64th birthday at Racket, a club in the trendy Miami district of Wynwood.
- ^ SFCN, Editorial (2019-07-25). "Beres Hammond Embarks On Summer 2019 "Never Ending" Tour". South Florida Caribbean News. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
Reggae legend Beres Hammond will begin his Summer 2019 "Never Ending" Tour this Saturday July 27th in Danbury Connecticut.
- ^ "Westside Reggae Fest – Sat, July 27". Ives Concert Park.
- ^ "DMV Summer Fest Concert and Food Festival 2019". VIP Socio.
- ^ "Beres Hammond, Maxi Priest, Romain Virgo for The 8th Annual 'Singers In Action' Concert Series". McKoy's News.
- ^ "Beres Hammond, Maxi Priest, Romain Virgo for The 8th Annual 'Singers In Action' Concert Series". McKoy's News.
- ^ "Love & Reggae Charlotte Starring Beres Hammond". United Ticketbud.