On October 6, VP Records will release Jackson Lovers, a compilation album of Michael Jackson songs covered by reggae artistes.

The 12-track set features Tarrus Riley, Duane Stephenson, Richie Stephens and Singing Melody, doing renditions of some of the King of Pop's best known hits.

Riley's take on Human Nature from Jackson's mega-platinum Thriller album is already popular locally. It is taken from the Rastafarian singer's recently released Contagious album which is also handled by the Queens, New York-based VP.

Stephenson covers You Are Not Alone, while Stephens does I Just Can't Stop Loving You. Singing Melody performs Thriller.

Other tracks include Never Can Say Goodbye, which was recorded by Dennis Brown several years ago (Brown died in 1999). The Girl Is Mine, another song from Thriller, was done by Lukie D and Tony Curtis of the vocal group LUST.

The flamboyant Jackson died in June in Los Angeles from cardiac arrest, at age 50. Weeks after his death, millions of his fans around the world continue to mourn his passing which coroners in Los Angeles ruled to be a homicide.

His doctor, Grenada-born Conrad Murray, has been implicated in his death.

In July, Jackson's older brother Tito performed at the Reggae Sumfest show in Montego Bay. Promoters dedicated the event to Jackson, who had a large Jamaican following.

He performed at the National Stadium in Kingston in 1975 with his siblings as part of the Jackson Five. Several of his songs have been covered by reggae acts including Junior Reid and Sugar Minott. The latter's cover of Good Thing Going entered the British pop chart in 1981.

- Howard Campbell