LOVER’S ROCK
In this edition of the World of Reggae Music Collection the selector explores the sweet side of reggae music. Since the early origins of reggae music, love songs have formed an important part of the musical landscape. The sultry voices of Beres Hammond, Ken Boothe, and Dennis Brown alongside the falsetto voices of Courtney John and Bitty McLean bring real soul power to lover’s rock. And the reggae legends Gregory Isaacs, John Holt, Sugar Minott, and Freddie McGregor shined in this style.
Many legends of reggae, including Bob Marley & the Wailers and Jimmy Cliff have made some beautiful lover’s rock tunes, while some artists like Maxi Priest, Peter Hunningale, and Tarrus Riley have relied on the genre producing a plethora of lover’s selections. And there are some classic cuts here, including Tyrone Taylor’s “Cottage in Negril” and Terry Linen’s “No Time To Linger.”
Some artists surprise their audiences with softer sides, for example, roots reggae artist Alborosie and dancehall singjay Busy Signal have recorded sweet songs for the ladies. And there are many women, including Etana, Marcia Griffiths and Hortense Ellis, who have recorded lush reggae songs filled with love. From Alton Ellis to Sean Paul, love music has been an integral part of reggae.
Courtney John – Lucky Man
Delroy Wilson – I Want To Love You
Beres Hammond – Love Mood
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Turn Your Lights Down Low
Sugar Minott – Good Thing Going
Busy Signal – Sweet Love (Nightshift)
Terry Linen – No Time To Linger
Tarrus Riley – She’s Royal
Delroy Wilson – I’m Not A King
Cocoa Tea & Cutty Ranks – Rip and Run Off
Heavy D – Queen Majesty
Gregory Isaacs – Love Is Overdue
Courtney John – Love Is
Bob Marley & The Wailers – High Tide or Low Tide
Tyrone Taylor – Cottage In Negril
Dennis Brown – Love Has Found Its Way
Ken Boothe – Everything I Own
Busy Signal – Come Over (Missing You)
Estelle – Come Over
Beres Hammond – There For You
Freddie McGregor – Lovers Rock, Ja. Style
Gyptian – Beautiful Lady
Johnny Clarke – Do You Love Me
Heavy D – Hugs and Kisses
Sean Paul & Keri Hilson – Hold My Hand (I’ll Be There)
Slim Smith – Love and Devotion
Stevie Face – Can’t Go Round It
Courtney John – So Beautiful
Delroy Wilson – Your Love Is Amazing
Beres Hammond – Can’t Say I Never Tried
John Holt – Love I Can Feel
Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley – Affairs of the Heart
Horace Andy – The Love of a Woman
Busy Signal – Tempted To Touch
Tarrus Riley & Dean Fraser – Cry No More
Heavy D – No Matter What
Ken Boothe – Moving Away
Tanya Stephens – If You Only Knew
Etana & Busy Signal – Love Love Love
Sizzla – Give Me A Try
Tarrus Riley – Burning Desire
Cornell Campbell – Please Be True
Denyque – Summer Love
Barrington Levy – Vice Versa Love
Courtney John, Sly & Robbie – Baby Tonight
Bitty McLean – Walk Away From Love
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Satisfy My Soul
Cocoa Tea – Can’t Be Real
Beres Hammond – Songs of Happiness
Etana & Alborosie – Blessings
Mikey Spice – Roller Coaster
Gappy Ranks – Heaven In Her Eyes
Courtney John – Like Magic
Beres Hammond – No Disturb Sign
Jah Cure – Never Find
Cherine Anderson & Chuck Fender – Coming Over Tonight
Busy Signal – One More Night
Courtney John – Never Keep You Waiting
Beres Hammond – Groovy Little Thing
Shabba Ranks – Slow and Sexy
Tarrus Riley & U-Roy – Sail Away
Horace Andy – Riding For A Fall
Heavy D – Chasing Windmills
John Holt – After All
Courtney John – Run To You
Dennis Brown – I’m Coming Home
Barry Biggs – Love Come Down
Richie Stephens & Maxi Priest – My Girl Dis
Beres Hammond – Hold On
Gyptian – Where You Belong
Gregory Isaacs – Promised Land
Collie Buddz – Won’t Be Long
Tarrus Riley – Version of Love (My Story)
Delroy Wilson – I’m Still Waiting
Junior Reid – Love Is The Answer
Heavy D – All I Have
Cocoa Tea – All Night Saturday Night
Alton Ellis – I’ll Be Waiting
Luciano – Love & Devotion
Wowski – Everything Seal
Horace Andy – Take My Hand
Major Lazer, Mr. Vegas, & Jovi Rockwell – Can’t Stop Now
Courtney John – Everyday
Terry Linen – Look Like Love
Beres Hammond – See You Again
Seeed – She Got Me Twisted
Richie Spice – Black Woman
Cocoa Tea – Tek Weh Yu Gal
Beres Hammond – Where Is The Love
Vybz Kartel – Spend Tim Dubb’n
Romain Virgo – Alton’s Medley: Breaking Up / Ain’t That Loving You / My Willow Tree
Pat Kelly & the Uniques – Daddy’s Home
Tarrus Riley – Groovy Little Thing
Dermott Lynch – Adults Only
Dennis Brown – If I Had The World
Shabba Ranks – Let’s Get It On
Maxi Priest – Should I
Cornell Campbell – Only Lover
Jamelody – Love Crazy
Tarrus Riley – Love’s Contagious
Heavy D – Delilah
Gyptian – Rendezvous
Beres Hammond – Love You Like That
Slim Smith – Everybody Needs Love
Sugar Minott – Lovers Rock Medley (Part 1)
Tyrone Evans & The Paragons – Lovers Rock Medley (Part 2)
Sade – No Ordinary Love
Jah Cure – Forever
Cocoa Tea – Come Love Me
Alborosie – Moonshine
Tarrus Riley – Lost For Words (Speechless)
Green – Alone
Freddie McGregor & Roots Radics – Don’t Play The Fool
Peter Hunnigale – Oh Honey
Alborosie & Etana – You Make Me Feel Good
Johnny Clarke – If You Should Loose Me
Ky-Mani Marley – Love in the Morning
Gregory Isaacs – Coming Home
Da’Ville & Sean Paul – Always On My Mind Remix
Tarrus Riley – 123 I Love You
Willie Williams – Easy
Aswad – My Love
Rebelution – Count Me In
Tarrus Riley – Young Heart
Jah Cure & Phylissa – Unconditional Love
Busy Signal – Royal Night
Raging Fyah – Far Away
Ini Kamoze – Rapunzel
Alborosie – Good Woman
Frankie Paul – Ain’t Nothing In This World
Errol Dunkley – Darling Ooh
Cornell Campell – Whenever You Need Me
Barry Biggs – Why Must You Cry
John Holt – My Desire
Beres Hammond – Emptiness Inside
Kymani Marley – The Conversation
Tarrus Riley – Superman
Sugar Minott – You’ve Got the Love
Alborosie & Perfect Harmony – Rude Bwoy Love
Slim Smith – Sitting in the Park
Jah Cure – To Your Arms of Love
Gramps Morgan – Come Back To Bed
Johnny Clarke – Satisfaction
Andy Livingston – My Promise
Cornell Campbell – Undying Love
LUST – Just As I Am
John Holt – It’s A Pleasure
Peter Hunningale & Janet Lee Davis – We Can Work It Out
Frankie Paul – I Wanna Sex You Up
Hortonese Ellis – Unexpected Places
Beres Hammond – I Surrender
Gyptian – So Much In Love
Slim Smith & The Uniques – Born To Love
Romain Virgo – Dark Skin Girl
The Heptones – Pretty Looks Isn’t All
Phyllis Dillon – Win Or Lose
Bitty McLean – Forever Be Mine
Sugar Minott – Mr. Fix It
Pat Kelly – Ebony Eyes
Seeed – Love Is The Queen
Jackie Edwards – Come On Girl
Steel Pulse – House of Love
Alton Ellis – Play It Cool
Beres Hammond – Fly Like An Angel
Di Genius – Need My Love
Chris Martin – What Can I Do (Without A Woman)
Jah Cure – How Can I Forget
Copper Cat – Since You Came In
Maxi Priest – Strollin’ On
Cornell Campbell – I Love You Madly
Ken Boothe – Without Love
Brent Dowe – Swing & Dine
Shuga – Wet Dream
Al Campbell – Lover To Lover
Chris Martin & Alaine – Still In Love
Johnny Clarke – Wating in Vain
Tifa – Into The Night (If I Could Fly)
Ambelique – Sharing the Night
Jamelody – This Time
Ken Boothe – Don’t Stay Out Late
Beres Hammond – I Am Missing You
Claudette Miller – Tonight Is The Night
Maxi Priest – Woman In You
Cornell Campbell – Never Found A Love
Derrick Harriott – Being In Love
Glen Ricks – Story Book
Pat Rhoden – What About You
John Holt – Memories By The Score
Johnny Clarke – I’ve Got The Handle
Leroy Mafia – Sweet Like Honey
Max Romeo – Out of Reach
Pat Kelly – Loving Pauper
Maxi Priest – Let Me Know
NEED
Beres Hammond – Sweetness
Beres Hammond – Love You Like That
Beres Hammond – Come Back Home
Janet Kay – Silly Games
Dennis Brown – Caress Me Girl
Christini – Runnings Run
Freddie McGregor – Forever My Love
Janet Kay – Lovin’ You
June Powell – Please Mr. Please
Errol Dunkley – Peekaboo
Gregory Isaacs – Next To You
Cynthia Schloss & U Brown – Sad Movies
Barbara Jones – This Love Makes Me Happy
Matumbi – After Tonight
Audrey Hall – Heart of Stone
Doreen Schaeffer – That Wonderful Sound
Sugar Minott – Never Too Young
Pat Kelly – No Love
Pam Hall – Perfidia
Susan Cadogan – If
Alton Ellis & Tony Sexton – Telephone Love
Angela Stewart – When Love Comes Knocking
Jimmy London – A Little Love
T.T. Ross – I Will
Yvonne Sterling – If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
The J. Sisters – I Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)
Sharon Foster – She Wasn’t I
Jennifer Day – Together
Marie Pierre – Can’t Go Through Life
Janette Silvera – I’ve Never Been To Me
Audrey Hall – I Can Not Wait (No More)
Barbara Jones – The Power of Love
Barry Biggs & Rudy Thomas – Reflections of My Life
Carol Brown – Just Enough to Keep Me Hanging
Marcia Griffiths – There’s No More Without You
Hortense Ellis – My Willow Tree
Freddie McGregor – Push Come to Shove
Cynthia Schloss – Cha La La, I Need You
Dennis Brown – Lips of wine
Paula Clarke – Skip and Dance
T.T. Ross – Last Date
Gregory Isaacs – All I Have Is Love
John Holt – Memories by the Score
Dave Barker – Lonely Man
The Ethiopians – Sad News
Bob Andy – Honey Child
Glen Adams – Rich in Love
Delroy Wilson – It Hurts
The Heptones – Let Me Hold Your Hand
Ken Boothe – Now I Know
Dennis Brown – Silhouette
John Holt – Why Can’t I Touch You
Inner Circle – You Make Me Feel Brand New
June Powell – The Best Thing For Me
Paula – Dynamic
The Mighty Diamonds – Tonight I’m Gonna Take It Easy
J.C. Lodge – Let Me Down Easy
Morgan Heritage – All I Want
Romain Virgo – Love Doctor
Mr. Vegas – Rise
Sanchez – Can We Talk
Barrington Levy – The Vibe Is Right
Don Carlos – I’m Not Crazy
Mykal Rose – Where Is That Love
Dennis Brown – Hello
Gregory Isaacs – Caught You In A Lie
Junior Delgado – Love Tickles Like Magic
Delroy Wilson – I’ll Never Hurt You
Bitty McLean – Baby Tonight
Sanchez – I’m Missing You
Cocoa Tea – Getting Closer
Bushman – Your Love
Frankie Paul – Let Me Be
The Gaylads – Can’t Hide The Feeling
Gregory Isaacs – Objection Overruled
The Heptones – I Do Love You
Junior Murvin – Let’s Fall In Love
Richie Spice – Prime Time Girl
Pinchers – Got To Be Me
Morgan Heritage – Best of Me
Junior Kelly & J.C. Lodge – Love You Like That (Someone Loves You Honey)
Slim Smith – I Need Your Loving
J.C. Lodge & Sugar Minott – Since You Came Into My Life
The Heptones – Every Day, Every Night
Sugar Minott – Roof Over My Head
Sly & Robbie – Pure & True
Gyptian – This Love
The Heptones – Fallin’ In Love
Morgan Heritage – If There’s No Tomorrow
George Nooks – Call on Me
Sanchez – For My Lover
Gyptian – Love Against the Wall
Da’Ville – Never Gonna Cry
Dub Specialist – Love of a Dub
Bushman – Scent of a Man
Honeyboy – You Are Mine
Courtney John – Back Into Love
Bitty McLean – Tell Me
Tinga Stewart – Dry Up Your Tears
[Sony 2011]
[Collision 2011]
[Verve Forecast 2011]
[Vanguard 2011]
[VP Records 2011]
[VP Records 2011]
[Easy Star 2011]
[Capitol Records 2011]
[Greedhead 2011]
[Greensleeves 2011]
[Egyptian/Columbia 2011]
and the 
(Where My Rosemary Goes)
, and the 
dominated American and British pop charts. And many Jamaicans took these tunes and transformed them into Jamaican reggae hits. One of my favorites in this edition is Bob Marley’s cover of the Archies tune “
“Legalize Them”
Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal, Barrington Levy, & Beenie Man – 
, 
, 
, 
, and 
and 
have a broad knowledge of the plight of the poor people around the world. In turn these reggae artists have fashioned brilliant protest songs that bring attention to international social injustice. From Jimmy Cliff’s “
” to 
performing “
” decades of reggae artists have expressed their political viewpoints through music. One of my favorite American musicians that often drenches his original music in reggae sounds, 
, leads the California-based band 
with hard-hitting lyrics. His message of love trumps the political message, but his songs are filled with deep knowledge of social, economic, and political issues. 
are a must in this edition of Roots and Culture. From modern dancehall artists like 
, 
, 
, Perfect, 
, and 
to the classic reggae bands like the 
, 
, and 
the mainstream political worldview often comes into question in these great reggae tracks. And there were strong positive-minded individuals from Jamaica like 
and 
that pointed out the of the hypocrisies of these bad-minded politicians. Some reggae artists even called for social revolution in their music. 
” “I don’t want no peace. I want equal rights and justice. Gotta to get it. Equal rights and justice.”
introduced Robert Nesta Marley to the foundations of the Rastafarian religion or “way of life.” She had seen the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie I on his visit to Jamaica and had been struck by the spirit on seeing what she believed to be an incarnation of God, Jah Rastafari. 
, and 
), 
all professed to the wisdom of Jah in their music. Not only did Marley and the Wailer family play roots and culture reggae, but so did the great rastaman icons 
, 
, and 
, 
, 
, 
, 
,
, 
, 
, 
, and 
rocked reggae for crowds of thousands of listeners and fired the souls and imaginations of millions of fans.
