Mighty Diamonds 'Rise Up' and shine.

Byline: LEWIS TAYLOR The Register-Guard

It's been four years since the Mighty Diamonds have played the United States. As far as the Jamaican vocal trio is concerned, that's four years too long.

"It's been so long for us," said lead singer Donald "Tabby" Shaw, speaking by phone from California. "The people, them very nice. They seem to be having a good time."

Back with a new album, the Diamonds will play the McDonald Theatre on Thursday. The Yardbeats, Bunny Wailer's 10-piece backing band, will accompany the trio.

"Rise Up" (VP Records) is the Mighty Diamonds' latest release. After being held up for a year in legal limbo, the album is just now hitting the shelves. It's melodic and soulful, and all three Diamonds compare it to the group's seminal 1975 release "Right Time."

"That album was strong," said vocalist Fitzroy "Bunny" Simpson. "This one, we put our hearts into it, so it came out strong like that one."

Recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, at King Jammy's Recording Studio, "Rise Up" showcases Shaw's lean tenor and the sweet vocal harmonies of Simpson and Lloyd "Judge" Ferguson.

The title track is a bass-heavy anthem, "John Gotti" is a moral tale with a sugary melody and "Searching" is a pure-soul slow jam.

On their current tour, the Diamonds will be focusing on the new songs, but with 43 recordings to their name, the old favorites are impossible to ignore.

"We're playing a lot of new songs, but the old songs are popular grooves," Simpson said.

Songs such as "Country Living," "I Need a Roof," "Bodyguard," and "Pass the Kouchie" (later adapted by the British band Musical Youth as "Pass the Douchie') are now considered Mighty Diamond classics.

The band, originally known as the Limelight, formed in Trenchtown in 1969. Shaw's mother began calling the band the Diamonds, and the name stuck.

Originally inspired by Jamaican singers Ken Booth and John Holt and American acts such as the Stylistics and Curtis Mayfield, the soulful Diamonds released their first record, "Girl You're Too Young," in 1970, and scored their first hit three years later with "Shame and Pride."

By the mid 1970s, the reggae band with the Motown sound was an underground favorite.

In 1975, the trio went global with "Right Time." Shortly thereafter, the band signed with Virgin Records.

The Mighty Diamonds' success has been tempered by poor management and some shady record deals, said Traver "Irish" Downes, the group's new manager. Downes and the band are working with lawyers in an effort to recoup some of the royalties that they say are due.

"It's rough times still, but we never give up, just keep on going," Simpson said.

Another challenge for the Mighty Diamonds has been to erase the false impression that the band is a no-show at concerts. One reason for the group's absence on U.S. stages, members of the trio say, is that promoters have been advertising shows without formally booking the group, and then publicly blaming the Diamonds when the shows fall through.

"We are trying to put the record straight," Ferguson said. "The truth always comes out."

Asked what has kept the Mighty Diamonds together, Judge and his band mates shrug their shoulders and attribute the band's longevity to "Jah" (God).

"They say diamonds are forever, diamonds are a girl's best friend, diamonds are the hardest substance known to man," Ferguson said. "We have the right name."

MIGHTY DIAMONDS

WITH: Vibe Nation, DJ Massive Cansa Man With Zion Heart

WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: McDonald Theatre, 1010 Willamette St.

TICKETS: $15 advance, $17

door

ALSO: To hear musc from the Mighty Diamonds' new album, call GuardLine at 485-2000 and select category 9941