Chronixx Says Lt. Stitchie’s ‘Real Power’ Is One Of The Best Gospel Albums Ever
Reggae superstar Chronixx has dubbed Lieutenant Stitchie’s first gospel album, Real Power, as one of the most outstanding gospel albums he has ever come across in his life. Real Power was released in 2000 and was engineered and mixed by Grammy-winning musician Barrington O’Hare.
The Chronology artist was responding on Sunday to an Instagram post made by Stitchie, when he gave the Dancehall icon the compliment.
“You made one of the best gospel albums I ever heard and we listen everybody from the Barns family to tye tribet. ‘Angels protect us’,” the Spanish Town native wrote of the album.
Real Power consisted of 14 tracks including the classic Thank You for Today, Do them No More and Call Pon Him. Other tracks were Solid Rock, Shopping, Give I Strength, War, Problems Never get me Down, You Give Me Love, Angels Protect Us, Cup of Life, My Rock, I’ll wait on You and Softly and Tenderly.
In 2019 Stitchie released Masterclass, his 22nd album, but his view differed from Chronixx, as the Dancehall veteran had described it to The Star tabloid as his “best work ever”, representing the high level at which he demonstrates his skills and passion for Reggae and Dancehall music.
Masterclass comprised 17 tracks and featured collaborations with several secular Dancehall artists including Agent Sasco, Lukie D, Ricky Stereo, Million Stylez and Fantan Mojah.
Among the tracks were Nuh Normal, Witness featuring Lukie D, Angels Surround Me, Like An Arrow, If You Could Be featuring Agent Sasco, Pen and Paper, Heaven featuring Ricky Stereo, Dollars and Free Up.
Stitchie had also predicted that the album, which was co-produced by Gramps Morgan—who he described as a “master in his field”—was destined to become a classic. “The overall feel of Masterclass is the expression of the authentic sound of dancehall music lyrically, spiritually, musically, with the actual rhythms and beats, and the variation of the different tempo with each of the artistes perfectly flatters it,” Stitchie had said at the time of the album’s release.
The singer, who will be bestowed Jamaica’s Order Of Distinction on National Heroes Day in October, had also said that he named the album Masterclass as he was always in “the Master’s class learning and seeking wisdom”.
He contended that as a teacher of biology and physical education, despite him not being in the formal school setting, the world had become his classroom to, among other things, ‘enhance the lives of others by sharing a message of love, peace, and righteousness”.
In early May, the 55-year-old Dancehall legend had told his fans that he was working on his 23rd album, which, from all indications stringed instruments used in orchestras, such as cellos and violins will play a big part.
The Gospel Reggae/Dancehall movement pioneer had also enlisted the likes of singer and Grammy-nominated musician, Benjy Myaz to serve as composer, arranger and producer, on the album.
Myaz, who hails from Montego Bay, has an illustrious track record in production and arrangement, and was among the experts who worked with the late producer Bobby Digital on Sizzla’s album, The Real Thing, and Capleton’s Reign of Fire.
Shortly after a car crash in 1997 while on his way to Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay, Stitchie became a Christian and moved away from secular Dancehall, and started the gospel reggae movement.
His first Gospel Reggae album was titled To God Be the Glory which was released in 1999.
In 2002, he won the ‘Outstanding Male Reggae Vocal Performance of the Year’ award at Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards.
Ten years later he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Cornerstone Christian University in Orlando, Florida, in recognition of his contribution to Gospel Reggae. He was subsequently inducted into the Gospel Hall Of Fame in January 2016, in Kingston.
Stitchie has worked with a wide range of Jamaica’s best producers including Bobby Digital, Danny Browne, Donovan Germaine, Sly and Robbie, and Steelie and Cleevie.
His secular discography is very extensive, but his most memorable track is the hit Wear Yuh Size, about a love interest who forced her feet into a tiny pair of shoes and ended up embarrassing herself. His other secular hits include Romance, Natty Dread, Hot Like the Sun, Broad Hips, and Woman Fe Get Lyrics.