Words by Jesse Serwer

Talk of late has been all about Otis, but dancehall don Sanchez has a different soul icon he wants to bring to your attention right now: the late Teddy Pendergrass. Sanchez’s lovers rock rendition of Teddy’s signature “Love TKO” is the first single from his upcoming Love You More LP, out on VP Records tomorrow, and it isn’t even the only cover of a song by Pendergrass, who passed away last January at age 59, on the album. In addition to a rendition of Teddy’s post-paralyzation comeback tune, “In My Time,” the (almost) all-soul covers LP sees Jamaica’s karaoke king tackle the Isley Brothers (“Caravan of Love,”), The Spinners (“How Could I Let You Get Away”), LTD (“Shine On”) and, umm, ’80′s mullet-rocker Richard Marx (“Right Here Waiting”). Now, in anyone else’s hands a reggae Richard Marx cover would be better left unmentioned but all we’re saying is reserve your judgment ’cause this is the guy who turned a better-left-forgotten mid-80′s Jermaine Jackson single into one of the most essential tunes in any Golden Era dancehall set.

Stream an exclusive world premiere of “Love TKO”  below and buy Love You More here.

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