It must be love at the heart of it all. By 11 Labi Siffre knew that. By 18 he’d written his first song, by 19 he’d met the love of his life. He knew all along that nothing, not even a music career, could be more important than love and it never was. “The most important thing in life,” Siffre told the Guardian last year, “is what happens at home. Many people don’t understand this. It is head and shoulders above everything else.”
As a black gay musician, the odds were against him and several times during his brief music-making career he was held back by this fact. He never found great fame himself. It was in part due to the fact he wasn’t narcissistic enough and was never much good at selling himself but he says really he never saw himself as being a superstar. Fame and riches were not something he wanted.
Nevertheless, you will without a doubt have heard his music. Madness’ infamous ‘It must be love’ was originally written by Siffre (‘It must be love’) and the iconic piano intro to Eminem’s ‘My name is’ was from Siffre’s ‘I got the…’. Slowly his impact on the industry is being recognised. He is a truly underappreciated legend of British music.
Siffre remained with Peter Lloyd for all of Lloyd’s life and several years later the pair were joined by Rudolf van Baardwijk. The three lived an idyllic life on a Welsh mountain until both husbands died within two years of each other about ten years ago.
It was tricky picking a single track, they’re all so different. There’s such a vast array of genres it’s hard to pin him down. However, since love has been his life’s dedication I thought it fitting to pick ‘Love oh love oh love’.
I’d recommend having a good dive into his back catalogue though. I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll like. Be sure to listen to the original ‘It must be love’ though.