Breakout (1981)

Louisa Mark’s tremulous, achingly vulnerable vocal style lent itself perfectly to the slow-stepping nocturnal grooves of that particularly British variant of reggae known as lovers rock. In 1975, Mark—only 14 years old—recorded a cover of an obscure soul number, Robert Parker’s heartbreaking “Caught You in a Lie.” Produced and arranged by the gifted Dennis Bovell, the song struck a chord with British listeners, and its mournful, deeply romantic atmosphere laid the groundwork for the lovers rock explosion of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. A wave of soft-voiced female singers emerged in the wake of Mark’s success. But Mark’s lone full-length album—1981’s crushingly beautiful Breakout—stands as the genre's stylistic high-water mark. The 10-song set features lean soulful rhythms from veteran producer Clem Bushay and a veritable who’s-who of reggae instrumentalists including Vin Gordon, Dave Barker, and members of The Heptones. Soul Jazz’s 2012 reissue of this classic full-length includes three bonus cuts, the best of which is the deep roots cut “Step It Brother,” which features a stunning turn from swift-tongued Jamaican DJ Junior “Trinity” Brammer.