More recently, Siffre’s music has received attention through song placements. Director Alexander Payne included melancholy and confessional ballad “Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying” from Siffre’s 1972 album by the same name in Christmas dramedy, ’70s period piece, and Golden Globe winner The Holdovers starring Paul Giamatti. This year, Siffre’s resilient and quietly optimistic “Cannock Chase” with its nimbly fingerpicked acoustic guitar appears in Cannes Film Festival prize-winner Sentimental Value.
Many New Wave afficionados in the USA were introduced to Siffre in 1983 without being aware when ska-pop heavyweights Madness reached #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their cover of Siffre’s 1971 single “It Must Be Love.” Siffre appeared in regular rotation on MTV via the Madness track’s video. In the ’90s, another generation heard Siffre’s influence via prominent use of elements from 1975’s funky Remember My Song track “I Got The…” in Eminem‘s first Top 40 single, “My Name Is.” Carole King-styled piano-pop manifesto “My Song” was sampled by Kanye West. Other artists covering Siffre’s material include Rod Stewart and Olivia Newton-John.
The Apartheid crisis in South Africa shocked Siffre out of his self-imposed retirement from music in 1985. 1987 single “(Something Inside) So Strong” was written in as a response to the humanitarian issue. The song also reflected his own experience with discrimination as a homosexual black man. “The higher you build your barriers, the taller I become,” sings Siffre. Country-pop star Kenny Rogers covered the song and made it the title track of his 1989 album.
The 37-track compilation is spread across two CDs and begins with UK #14 single “It Must Be Love.” Siffre’s bright tenor and tumbling melody are accompanied by Richard Tattersall’s ukulele. The song’s lively bass line served as the roadmap for Madness’ version.
“Bless the Telephone” from 1971 album The Singer and the Song unspools with acoustic guitar arpeggios and words of affection to a lover. The song expresses loneliness broken by a welcome phone call, while echoing the intimate folk-pop confessions of period peers including Cat Stevens. Many will recognize “Bless the Telephone” from recent placement in HBO series Hacks.
The affectionate “Watch Me” has been performed by 70s-rock disciples Greta Van Fleet. The song’s gentle and strummy foundation also echoes in the arrangement of the Allman Brothers’ “Melissa.”
The songs mentioned only view the surface of a treasure chest laden with gems. Siffre’s writing, singing, and playing are all noteworthy and worth examination by any student of pop songcraft. The Best of Labi Siffre is the first compilation of Siffre’s material to be widely available in the USA. Siffre himself is 80 this year and reportedly working on a new album. The fresh opportunity to hear this rich material and meet a vital artist is better late than never.
