The sixth studio album from this veteran singer draws its inspiration from Jamaican lover’s rock, with ten tracks inspired by the mellow sounds of people like Beres Hammond, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Alton Ellis, Sugar Minott, Ken Boothe, and John Holt. Take a listen to A House Is Not A Home on this set. It is a very soulful duet with Marcia Griffiths, tackling a number originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1964, though Hopeton draws largely on Hammond’s 1995 hit version, which itself drew on Luther Vandross’ earlier hit with the song from 1981 – Hopeton and Marcia’s rendition is the very epitome of lover’s rock.
The same can be said of the remaining nine tracks of this release, starting right away with the opening track, Silent Consent. Hopeton again draws on US sixties R’n’B for a strong reggae cover of The Drifters’ Up On The Roof, a hit in 1962. The title track has a light, easy-going sound with the mellow backing vocals contributing to the lights down low feel, whilst Hot Number sounds very much like a late 70s/ early 80s recording, with its shades of the Cool Ruler (though perhaps just a little more energetic!)
One for those special moments with that special one in your life!