Sharon Forrester
Sharon Forrester is a renowned Jamaican reggae, soul, and pop singer, born in 1956 in Kingston, Jamaica, into a musical family. She demonstrated a passion for music early in life, starting to sing in church choirs by the age of six, which laid the foundation for her future career in music.
Her professional career took off as a teenager when she began performing in prominent venues, including the Playboy Club in Montego Bay. By the mid-1970s, she had established herself as a leading female vocalist in Jamaica and achieved international recognition.
In 1973, she released a reggae cover of Valerie Simpson's "Silly Wasn't I," which became an international success and was named Melody Maker's reggae single of 1974.
While in England, she made her film debut in the BFI production "Moon Over the Alley" (1974) and performed George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun" on the TV show Aquarius. She was part of the 1974 "Jamaica Showcase" international tour alongside Dennis Brown and The Maytals.
After recording intermittently throughout the 1980s, often serving as a backing vocalist, she made a strong comeback in the mid-1990s. Her 1994 dancehall/jungle single "Love Inside" reached the Top 50 on the UK charts. Her album "This Time" (1996), produced by the legendary duo Steely & Clevie, re-established her as a leading voice in digi-reggae and lovers rock.
Now a resident of South Florida, Forrester remains active in the music industry. Her single "Jamaican Man" reached number one on several music charts, and in 2020, she released a reggae rendition of "Simply Falling".
She has provided vocals for many reggae greats, including Burning Spear, Alpha Blondy, Jimmy Cliff, and The Heptones. Beyond English, she has recorded songs in Japanese and Arabic.
Throughout her career, Forrester has been noted for her versatility, successfully crossing genres from reggae to soul and pop, and she has garnered critical acclaim for her work. Her career has seen many turns, indicating a dynamic presence in the music scene.
Sharon
Arranged By, Barrel Organ, Lead Guitar – Geoffrey Chung
Arranged By, Electric Piano – Robert Bailey
Cowbell – Allan Sharp
Guitar – Winston Deleandro
Harmonica – Del Richardson
Written-By – G Chung, M Cooper, S Forrester
A2 Holly
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Piano, Vocals – Geoffrey Chung
Arranged By – Robert Bailey
Congas – Allan Sharp
Guitar – Winston Deleandro
Written-By – Wm Robinson
A3 Put A Little Love Away
Arranged By – Robert Bailey
Arranged By, Electric Piano, Glockenspiel, Lead Guitar, Organ, Percussion, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals – Geoffrey Chung
Percussion – Allan Sharp
Written By – B Potter, D Lambert
A4 Funny
Arranged By, Electric Piano, Synthesizer [Moog] – Robert Bailey
Arranged By, Organ – Geoffrey Chung
Congas, Tambourine – Allan Sharp
Electric Guitar – Winston Deleandro
Written-By – John Coleman
A5 Clothe My Lonely Body
Arranged By, Organ – Robert Bailey
Electric Piano, Piano [Acoustic] – Mike Moran
Mandolin [Acoustic] – Graham Preskett
Organ [Bass] – Geoffrey Chung
Written-By – Sharon Forrester
B1 Words With No Meaning
Arranged By – Robert Bailey
Congas – Allan Sharp
Electric Piano – Geoffrey Chung
Guitar – Winston Deleandro
Written-By – G Chung, R Cunningham
B2 Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
Arranged By, Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar, Organ, Rhythm Guitar – Geoffrey Chung
Arranged By, Electric Piano – Robert Bailey
Written-By – James Taylor
B3 This Masquerade
Arranged By, Electric Piano, Synthesizer [Moog] – Robert Bailey
Lead Guitar, Organ, Vocals – Geoffrey Chung
Tambourine – Allan Sharp
Written-By – Leon Russell
B4 Silly, Wasn't I?
Arranged By, Flute, Trumpet – Clive Hunt
Arranged By, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals – Geoffrey Chung
Bass – Val Douglas
Drums – Michael Richards
Lead Guitar – Michael Chung
Organ – Earl "Wire" Lindo
Piano [Acoustic] – Robert Lyn
Tenor Saxophone – Fitzbert Martin, Glen Da Costa
Trombone – Jerome Francisque
Trumpet – "Spinners" Graham, David Madden, Elnathan Brackenridge
Written-By – Valerie Simpson, Nick Ashford, Joshie Armstead
Label: Ashanti – SHAN 105
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Reggae
Style: Lovers Rock
Sharon Forrester's self-titled 1974 album, Sharon, is a rare British and Jamaican soul/lovers rock album known for its laid-back, soulful grooves and gentle vocals. The album features a blend of original tracks and covers, with production handled by Geoffrey Chung.
The album is a notable example of 1970s British soul with significant Jamaican music influences, recorded largely in the UK due to a musicians' strike in Jamaica at the time. It is praised by reviewers for its warm, soulful style and features a gentle vocal delivery by Sharon Forrester that complements the midtempo, Fender Rhodes and organ-heavy arrangements. The record has a unique sound that some describe as being akin to early Minnie Riperton mixed with early lovers rock reggae. The album was released on labels such as Vulcan and Ashanti.
It includes Silly, Wasn't I?, the single that brought her initial success in 1973, produced by Chung and featuring the Now Generation Band.
The album is generally well-received for its unique sound and Forrester's vocal talent. Reviewers note a "brilliantly hypnotic mix of soul, funk and disco in every song". The record is seen as a key example of "proto-lovers," offering a soulful take on reggae.
Sharon Forrester is celebrated for her "illimitable talent" and "wide vocal range". The album features a big sound created by a strong backing band.
The album features several tracks that have received attention:
"Silly, Wasn't I?": This track was Forrester's first recording and topped the British Charts in 1974. It was named Melody Maker's reggae single of 1974.
"Love Don't Live Here Anymore": While a cover, this track became a bestseller and is considered "something else" by fans, contributing to her status as a key lovers rock singer.
"Here Come the Sun": Forrester's interpretation of the George Harrison song garnered rave reviews after she performed it on the British television show Aquarius.
On platforms like Discogs and RateYourMusic, the album holds an average rating of approximately 4.45 out of 5 stars, indicating a strong positive reception among listeners.
The album is considered worth seeking out by publications like Record Collector Magazine and has high "want" statistics on collector sites, suggesting its rarity and desirability.