The roots of Lovers Rock lie in the early days of reggae, with Jamaican and American singers such as Ken Boothe, Johnny Nash, and John Holt enjoying international hits with reggae versions of well-known love songs.[2]
A style suited to the London reggae scene, Lovers rock represented an apolitical counterpoint to the conscious Rastafarian sound dominant in Jamaica at the time.[1] It combined the smooth soul sounds of Chicago and Philadelphia soul with reggae basslines and rhythms.[3][4] Rooted in the Sound systems of South London, the style had particular appeal amongst women and produced many female stars including Carroll Thompson, and Louisa Mark, who aged 14 was the first British artist to have a lovers rock hit with her version of Bobby Parker's "Caught You in a Lie" in 1975, which was followed by Ginger Williams' "Tenderness". The husband and wife production team of Dennis and Eve Harris then had a big hit with T.T. Ross's "Last Date", and Dennis Harris then set up a new label, Lovers Rock, along with John Kpiaye and Dennis Bovell, which gave the new genre a name.[4]
South London trio Brown Sugar (including a young Caron Wheeler, later of Soul II Soul) pioneered a subgenre, 'conscious lovers', with songs such as "I'm In Love With a Dreadlocks" and "Black Pride". Others who released records in this subgenre included the Battersea songstress Winsome.[4] Lovers Rock became a staple of London's sound systems such as Chicken Hi-Fi, Success Sound, and Soferno B.[2] Neil "Mad Professor" Fraser would be a key Lovers Rock producer, working with Deborahe Glasgow, while Bovell would produce one of the genre's biggest hits, Janet Kay's "Silly Games", which reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1979.[1][2][3] Although noted for the preponderance and youth of its female exponents, the new style produced its fair share of male stars as well, notably Trevor Walters, Honey Boy, and Winston Reedy.
Subsequently, numerous well-established Jamaican acts came to try their hand at the new sound. Most successful among these were Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Sugar Minott, and later Freddie McGregor.[2][3] Brown's "Money In My Pocket" (#14 in 1979) and Minott's "Good Thing Going" (#4 in 1981) were both big hits in the UK Singles Chart.[2]
(Wikipedia)
Mostly 12" I picked up over the last couple of years so not been in a mix by me before as far as I remember. The first mix will be interesting to those who like the "Originals.." thread (at DHR's Foundation forum), lots of covers of soul and reggae tunes!
All mixes are just under 80mins, split into 10 tracks and have a Word format CD sleeve in the folder to make them easy to burn to CD.
Enjoy!
BLACK IS OUR COLOUR- SIMPLICITY (KING AND CITY)
I'M IN LOVE WITH A DREADLOCKS- ALPHA (AMBASSADOR)
I WANT TO MAKE IT WITH YOU- JEAN ADEBAMBO (THIRD WORLD)
YOU'RE STILL WAITING- SANDRA (CHARMERS)
STORMY NIGHT- ROLANDS (PLANTATION)
SWEET FEELINGS- THREE STAR (ARAWAK)
LET ME LOVE YOU- BLOOD SISTER (NEVILLE KING)
MY BABY OF MAGIC- SONIA (CHA CHA)
GIRL OVER BOARD- JACKIE (D-ROY)
SITTING IN THE PARK- CASSANDRA (D-ROY)
LOVE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER- CHARISMA (NK)
LA LA MEANS I LOVE YOU- AL CAMPBELL (NIAGARA)
WE'RE IN THIS LOVE TOGETHER- GEORGE NOOKS (GERMAIN)
LADY WITH THE STARLITE- ROLAND BURRELL (GG'S)
YOU'RE A BIG GIRL NOW- TAMLINS (JB)
MAN OF MY WORD- PAT KELLY (THIRD WORLD)
RIBBON IN THE SKY- DENNIS BROWN (CHARM)
PEEK A BOO- EARL 16 (CSA)
SIT AND CRY- ERROL DUNKLEY (EARTHQUAKE)
SO MUCH LOVE- HUGH GRIFFITHS (CHANNEL ONE)
SHOULD I (PUT MY TRUST IN YOU)- CAUTION & MAXI PRIEST (LEVEL VIBES)
THIS LOVE- ME & YOU (DEB MUSIC)
MAMA DIDN'T LIE- PAULETTE WALKER (BUSHAYS)
LET'S GET IT ON- NATURAL TOUCH (NK)
SHOW AND TELL- KEN BOOTHE (TAXI)
WHAT CAN I DO- BUSHRANGERS (BUSHAYS)
THE SYSTEM- JUNIOR ENGLISH (FORM LP)
MY SWEET GIRL- NATURAL MYSTIC (NEGATIVE ONE)
LET ME BE YOUR ANGEL- PORTIA MORGAN (HAWKEYE)
A LITTLE LOVE MY WAY- THE ROBERTSON SISTERS (POSITIVE ONE)
MAGIC- D. DUBERRY & L.P.J. BAND (MUSIC LTD)
NEVER MY LOVE- DAN JUSTICE (BURNING ROCKERS)
SUNDAY MORNING- REVELATION (KINGDOM)
I SPECIALIZE IN GOOD GIRLS- KEITH DOUGLAS (FASHION)
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF- JUNIOR ENGLISH (FORM LP)
LATELY- NATURALITES (REALISTICS)
EVERYBODY'S DANCING- NATURAL MYSTIC (STARLIGHT)
AT THE STATION- SISTER LOVE (SOUNDOFF)
SHE'S LEAVING YOU- SISTER LOVE (LOVING TIME)
REALITY- MELLOW ROSE (ARAWAK)
UNLOCK YOUR MIND- CASSANDRA (D-ROY)
MAKE YOU MY MAN- SANDRA LORBAN (MUSIC GALLERY)
I COULD HAVE LOVED YOU- TEDDY LINCOLN (REGAL)
IF ONLY- LES MCNEIL (AMBAC)
BETWEEN ME & YOU- CAROL CAMPBELL & LES CLIFF (SEAVIEW)
I DON'T KNOW WHY- DAWN (LONE SHARK)
NOW YOU'VE GONE- MARJORIE DOUGLASS (TCD)
LOVING TIME- JACKIE (D-ROY)
YESTERDAY- CAROL THOMPSON (TUFF PARK)
USE ME- DIANA (SILVER CAMEL)
I LIKE YOUR MOVE- KAREN DIXON (NEVILLE KING)
MEN CRY TOO- BESHARA (MASS MEDIA MUSIC)
BLOW MY MIND- AREMA (CITY BOY)
THAT GIRL- REVELATION (KINGDOM)
TURN OUT THE LIGHT- THE INVESTIGATORS (INNER CITY)
I NEED YOU NOW- STEVEN "DANTE" JAMES (SEVEN LEAVES LP)
AT THE DANCE- LEROY SIMONS (NEVILLE KING LP)
LOSING CONTROL- NATURAL MYSTIC (STARLIGHT)
COOL DOWN AMINA- KEITH DOUGLAS (FASHION)
JEALOUSY- PAULINE THOMAS (BLANK LABEL)
DON'T YOU- DONNA RHODEN (ITAL)
HARD TIMES- SONIA (D-ROY)
ONLY YOU- MELLOW ROSE (ARAWAK)
LOVING KIND- SIMPLICITY (NEVILLE KING LP)
INDEPENDENT WOMAN- SANDRA EDWARDS (TIM LP)
MOVIE STAR- SISTER LOVE (LOVING TIME)
MAGIC MOMENTS ARE REAL- THE ROBERTSON SISTERS (POSITIVE ONE)
SICK AND TIRED- JUNIOR ENGLISH (FORM LP)
IT'S YOU I LOVE- PAT KELLY (THIRD WORLD)
NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP- JOHN HOLT (KINGJAM)
TORTURING- SUGAR TONY BUBBLES (MELLO SOUND)
DANCE WITH ME BABY- AL CAMPBELL (NIAGARA)
LOOKING FOR YOU BABY- AL CAMPBELL (SELENA)
I'VE GOT TO FIND YOU- DENNIS BROWN (BLACK JOY)
IS IT TRUE- SUGAR MINOTT (UP TEMPO)
I LOVE YOU- SUGAR MINOTT (ROOTS POOL)
SOMETHING WRONG- SUGAR MINOTT (UP TEMPO)
SOMETHING ABOUT YOU- CHARISMA (NK)
THIS LOVE IS REAL- SIMPLICITY (SG)