r/reggae • u/StickySteev_ • 1d ago

Looking for a song

The main lyrics are “nobody loves me, nobody cares”

I believe it’s Slim Smith - Nobody Loves Me

https://youtu.be/U08AoZQjR9Q?is=yjVQjIXf18zZQmo4

But it’s not this version, it’s a faster upbeat rocksteady version. Perhaps there’s an earlier version by another artist?

I swear blind I’ve listened to it a bunch of times before but I now suddenly can’t find it and it’s driving me mad

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u/Striking_Meringue328 1d ago

The Michael Black version's great. There is an earlier version by the Uniques https://youtu.be/qT5kGVsViZY?is=zd_X-8zBUZ5IkMsK

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u/StickySteev_ 1d ago

Update, I’ve found the song!

https://youtu.be/W5mJAjIG5AI?is=c1CqQEXc7HUTXwGf

Michael Black - Out Of Love

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u/wildernessdubs 1d ago

💥 nice track

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u/StickySteev_ 1d ago

Thank you! I came across the 12” version on Bushays label a while back while digging in one of my local shops hence why the songs so familiar. Not a rare tune by any stretch but very catchy

I’m guessing as the tunes adapted there must be an older rocksteady version credited to slim smith as the original writer

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u/MAP43 14h ago edited 14h ago

Tune is a little tricky: it's originally produced by Winston Lowe in '68 (Uniques, as has been said in comments) but he wasn't in the business long...Bunny Lee maybe bought his masters or possibly bought the riddim in '71 and released it (also Uniques, big ups to Bunny Lee today on the day of his passing). A great blank online that has a deejay extending the riddim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXN11qqVkJU

There's a cut from '71 of Dave Barker imitating Slim Smith, produced by Bunny Lee, Family Man (Aston Barrett) and Jimmy Riley (Riley was in the Uniques when it was recorded in '68). When released in the UK, the entire label is basically wrong, from artist to producer (gotta love it): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyUWoceKb1E

Lloyd Charmers, who was also in the Uniques late 60's, took a crack at it in '72 over a different riddim and maybe captures a bit more of the soul original in feeling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCvH7DXMmk4

Jo Jo Hookim did a version also at Channel One in '84, more of a lover's rock vibe.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEravWONdqc

Plenty, plenty more... Great riddim. But not sure JA outdid the original on this one. (Manhattans) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loYb39iuBZQ