A Lovers Rock Story

Britain’s contribution to the reggae canon is the sub-genre known as lover’s rock. Created in London in the mid’70s, it fused reggae rhythms with soulful singing and musical sensibilities. Though it often dwelt on romance, it could tackle socio-political issues, such as Brown Sugar’s ‘Black Pride’. The label that pioneered the sound was South London-based Lovers Rock, owned by Dennis Harris. Twenty-five years after it ceased trading, Dennis’ son Peter Harris has brought key tracks by the likes of Brown Sugar, Dennis Bovell, John Kpaiye, TT Ross, and Cassandra, unto the CD format on his Kickin Music label.

Q. As reggae doesn’t feature in the release schedule, why have you released ‘The Lovers Rock Story’ compilation?
This album is a tribute to my father Dennis Harris, and to my show my children their familial past. I have always believed that your past makes your future, and when know where they come from, they normally know where they are going.

Q. What’s lovers’ claim to fame?
It became the first expression of the black feminist movement that started the ‘70s Girl Power movement in the UK. This was long before Spice Girls’ Girl Power.

Q. What more can you say about lovers?
Lovers Rock was the first and only reggae genre outside of JA that influenced reggae and its performers in Jamaica. People like Dennis Brown, Gregory Issacs were all heavily influenced by UK Lovers Rock. 

Q. What are the plans for distribution/licensing outside the U.K.?
The plans are for JVC to release it in Japan, Universal in France, ZYX within GAS, Gran Villa in Spain, Italy, and Benelux. Currently in discussions with Navarre for the USA.

Q. What are some of the hits from the period on the album?
Susan Cadogon’s ‘Hurt So Good’ went to number one in ‘74. The record was licensed to Magnet via Pete Waterman from Dennis Harris’ Lucky Label. Trevor Walters also had a top 10 hit with a Lionel Richie cover of ‘Stuck On You’. Lionel Richie’s version never reached the top 30.

Q. What were the roles of the founding fathers of lovers?
Dennis Harris owned a studio called DIP, which created the music, and he had a shop that sold the music also in south London. He was also the guy who created the term Lovers Rock, with Dennis Bovell. This was what the music became commonly known as. The legendary Dennis Bovell was Dennis Harris’ engineer, along with John Kpiaye at the DIP studios.

Q. I think more importantly than bringing the DIP/LR catalogue into the CD age, it reminds us of the contribution made to the hitherto little known John Kpiaye, who wrote and produced several key track.
John Kypiaye is an unsong hero. He wrote most of the music with Dennis Bovell that came out of the DIP studios during the ‘70s. ‘I’m In Love With A Dreadlock’ being one of the best known. John is an accomplished guitarist. I hate to say it, but if he were white, he would be doing chat shows up and down the land and he would have been lauded by his whites peers. He probably would have been given an MBE or OBE. God knows people who have done less for our community have got more. John and Dennis Bovell are still touring with Linton Kwesi Johnson.

Feb. 14 2005