Lover’s Rock – a UK branch of emphatically romantic reggae – gyrated onto the scene in the ‘70s and ‘80s, created by a generation of youths struggling with racism; “It was about love man, love.” True to their enthusiasm, the documentary features live performances of hits such as 'I’m In Love With A Dreadlocks' and insight from passionate front runners in the movement (Janet Kay, Dennis Bovell and Maxi Priest). Filled out with tender, yet cheesy, comedy sketches from its patrons, it’s more of a nostalgia device for young black people – many of them women – empowered at the time, than a bulletproof case for a repeatedly underrated genre that would go on to influence Police, UB40 and Culture Club. Interesting to note that there’s a Lover’s Rock scene in Japan, though.
The Story Of Lover’s Rock Review
The story of how Lovers Rock, or 'romantic reggae', came of age during the late '70s and '80s as riots and racial friction exploded around Britain.
Release Date:
11 Nov 2011
Running Time:
96 minutes
Certificate:
12A
Original Title:
Story Of Lover’s Rock, The
If the idea of a UB40 origin story fills has you hiding in your kitchen, there's a whole lot more to this entertaining doc than the musical influences of an underground scene. The guest interviews are a lot of fun and as a snapshot of a moment in time, it's hard to beat.
Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us