OLDIES SUNDAY: Phyllis Dillon – Don’t Stay Away (1967)

“Oldies Sunday” was made for those who grew up around the Radio, who grew up with Vinyl Records, Cassettes, CDs, MP3 Players, 8 Track, and Music Streaming platforms. In other words, for those who appreciate the music before our time, and those who lived in the time of these tunes. Today’s selection comes from one of Jamaica’s greatest Songbirds. Her name is Phyllis Dillon, and we’re checking out, “Don’t Stay Away“.

Produced by Duke Reid with backing by Tommy McCook and The Supersonics and released through his Treasure Isle Records in 1967, it’s all about a love that has strong hold on someone in Phyllis Dillon’s “Don’t Stay Away”. Dillon shares that if the Man she’s interested knew the extent of her love, he wouldn’t have considered other Women. While there may be other Women who she claims are more beautiful than her and would try to treat him nice, she believes she would do a better job, and he wouldn’t need another. “Don’t Stay Away” was a hit for Phyllis Dillon, was considered “the finest female performance in Jamaican Music“, and was her first Record with Duke Reid. “Don’t Stay Away” was also sampled by Kes The Band for the track, “Tuesday On The Rocks” in 2012 Dillon went on to voice even more music with Duke Reid, acquiring more success along the way.

Since the release of “Don’t Stay Away”, Phyllis Dillon migrated to the United States, and released more music including her debut album, “One Life To Live” while having a career in the Banking sector. She ended her career as a Recording Artist in 1971, but thanks to an invitation to perform in Jamaica in the early 1990s, she developed a renewed interest in recording and performing. By the mid-1990s, a resurgence of Ska music in the United States lead her back into the Studio, and she remained active touring, performing, and recording until her passing on April 15, 2004 after a battle with Cancer. “Don’t Stay Away” remains one of Dillon’s biggest singles, and is still celebrated around the world.