Program February 14, 2018

Lovers rock is the flip side of roots reggae: it's romantic rather than dangerous, sunny instead of stormy.  It grew out of Jamaicans' love of American soul music.  They say all soul songs can be broken down into three categories: Beg, Scream and Shout.  Lovers rock is reggae's "Beg" songs.

The genre got its name and some fame in London in the mid 70's (it was tagged after a record label which got its own handle from an obscure Augustus Pablo B-side), but the sound predates the name and continues to be popular today.  Importantly, lovers rock was the avenue by which many female singers were able to break into the male-dominated Jamaican music business.

For Valentine's Day, I'll spin a full hour of some of my favorite lovers rock tracks.  Also this week: the man who got Mali dancing the twist and the Madison, and a set of samba-funk from Brazil.

Podcast: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/96135
All the podcasts: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/series/Global+A+Go-Go


Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year

Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001

Boubacar Traore | Mali | Macire | Dounia Tabolo | Lusafrica | 2017
Boubacar Traore | Mali | Kar Kar Madison | Kar Kar | Contre Jour | 1998

Les Filles De Illighadad | Niger | Inssegh Inssegh | Eghass Malan | Sahel Sounds | 2017
Imarhan | Algeria | Azzaman | single | City Slang | 2017

Tim Maia | Brazil | Do Leme Ao Pontal | single | Seroma | 1980
Gerson King Combo | Brazil | Uma Chance | Gerson King Combo | Polydor | 1977
Banda Uniao Black | Brazil | Everyone's A Winner | Banda Uniao Black | Vampisoul | 2006

Da Cruz | Brazil-Switzerland | Minha Luanda | Eco Do Futuro | Boom Jah / Broken Silence | 2017
Mysterious Traveller | Brazil | The Guitar, The Drums, The DJ | Brazilart | Irma | 2000

Chris Murray | Canada-USA | Lovers Rock | The Clash Goes Jamaican | Golden Singles | 2013
Louisa Mark | England UK | Caught You In A Lie | single | Safari | 1975
Gregory Isaacs | Jamaica | Night Nurse | Night Nurse | Island | 1982

Christopher Martin | Jamaica | If I Were A Carpenter | Strictly The Best 46 | VP | 2012
Hortense Ellis | Jamaica | Piece Of My Heart | single | Upsetter | 1971
Norma Fraser | Jamaica | The First Cut Is The Deepest | single | Coxsone | 1967

Tinga Stewart | Jamaica | A Brand New Me | single | Pantomine | 1972
The Frightnrs | USA | All My Tears | Nothing More To Say | Daptone | 2016
Barrington Levy | Jamaica | Moonlight Lover | single | Dub Irator | 1978
Hollie Cook | England UK | Walking In The Sand | Hollie Cook | Mr Bongo | 2011

John Holt | Jamaica | Stick By Me (And I'll Stick By You) | single | Jackpot | 1971
June C. Lodge | England UK-Jamaica | Someone Loves You Honey | single | Joe Gibbs Music | 1980
Dennis Brown | Jamaica | Westbound Train | single | Observers | 1973