"There are events in life that are so significant that somehow you know your life will never be the same. When I eagerly accepted an invitation from Ernie to listen to some material he wanted to have produced, little did I know what a fantastic voyage lay ahead.

"All these years, in the same industry, in the same country, and we had never met. The right time had come. The evening had me close to tears. I was so moved by the songs and more so by the humility and depth of the writer, that without a second thought I offered to produce the songs.

"My only concern was whether I was up to the task and quickly suggested that the very talented Mikey 'Mao' Chung be approached as co-producer. Not only is 'Mao' my first musical influence, it was he who introduced me to the music industry.

"The project has surpassed my wildest expectations. Just to be there to witness the reunion of Now Gen, in my own studio, at Grafton was itself a magical moment and set the tone for the entire days and nights that followed.

"I thank God and the Smiths for the chance to share and reveal some of the talents of this great Jamaican son and to work with one of the greatest bands of all time. Even Geoffrey Chung, whose presence we felt from time to time would have been pleased.

"Thanks to Errol Brown and his protege Rohan, for making the instruments come alive, and I envy the person who will hear this for the first time. What a rush!"

--Mikey Bennett, summer 1997