Soul and lovers rock sound systems
Many British sounds played soul, funk and lovers rock, the romantic UK reggae style that grew up at blues parties in the late 1970s. Jah Sufferer, run by Dennis Bovell, helped shape lovers rock. Platinum Soul Sound played soul and lovers rock at west London parties from 1982, and Soul II Soul grew from a sound system at the Africa Centre into a chart act.
On the register
- Black HarmonyUK (area not recorded)Legacy
1970s–80s UK sound; Asher Senator deejayed on it. A Black Harmony track is on Soul Jazz’s “Life Between Islands”.
- Cosmic SlopLeedsStill playing
Leeds. Hope House / MAP Charity; built by Tom Smith with rotary mixers and vintage amps.
- Count SucklePaddingtonLegacy
Paddington. Wilbert Campbell, who opened the Cue Club in 1962. Died 2014.
- Dennis Bovell / MatumbiLondonLegacy
Dennis Bovell ran Jah Sufferer (Sufferah) Hi-Fi 1976–80 while leading Matumbi.
- Disco HustlersNotting HillPossible match
Possibly Disco Hustlers, Powis Square, Notting Hill (est. 1998).
- Duke VinLadbroke GroveLegacy
Ladbroke Grove. Vincent Forbes built the first Jamaican-style sound in Britain in 1955; played Carnival for 37 years. Died 2012.
- Jah SuffererLondonLegacy
London. Dennis Bovell’s sound (Matumbi), 1976–80; compiled as “Sufferer Sounds” (2024).
- KillerwattNotting HillStill playing
Notting Hill Carnival since 1982, St Luke’s Road. Family sound run by George Shaw (DJ PoppaShaw).
- MastermindHarlesdenStill playing
London NW10, late 1970s. Soul, hip hop and electro; Carnival regulars.
- Platinum Soul SoundShepherd's BushStill playing
First party in 1982 on Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush. Played soul and lovers rock at London parties and blues dances into the early 1990s; at Notting Hill Carnival…
- Sir LloydSouth LondonStill playing
South London sound started in 1979 by Lloyd Roberts, who had been DJing since 1976; known as the ladies' choice at parties. At Notting Hill Carnival since 1986 with…
- Soul II SoulNorth LondonStill playing
London. Jazzie B’s sound from 1982; Africa Centre nights.
- V. Rocket InternationalNottinghamStill playing
Founded in 1964 in their Nottingham living room by Dougie and Imogen Robinson, who came from Spanish Town, Jamaica. In 1987 it became the first UK sound to ship its…
Ran a sound, chatted on one or carried the boxes? Add your sound system to the register.