Singer, songwriter, humanitarian, activist, poet, philosopher, artist… as the music legend Labi Siffre prepares to release his first album of new music in 28 years, Demon are making his stellar catalogue available again as a series of vinyl reissues and 3CD collections.

The third in its series, ‘1975’ brings together the two studio albums Labi recorded for new label Parlophone in 1975 – ‘Remember My Song’, and ‘Happy’ – plus a bonus disc of B-sides and rarities originally featured on the now-deleted ’My Song’ box set from 2020. It comes in deluxe 7”-sized packaging with a reversable front sleeve.

CD1’s masterpiece ‘Remember My Song’ combined emotional honesty, reflective introspection and tight funk-soul grooves in a heady mix… at the time it was seen as something of a gritty departure from the singer-songwriter’s trademark sweeter sound. Since then, it’s come to be seen as a bona-fide mid-’70s classic, kicking off in fine style with the iconic ‘I Got The…’, known to millions as the key sample loop behind 1999’s Eminem / Dr Dre single, ‘My Name Is’.

Conceived and written during an especially prolific period for Labi and recorded virtually back-to-back with ‘Remember My Song’, CD2’s ‘Happy’ moved the dial once again, presenting a suite of soaring, and playful new compositions, ranging from the dancefloor-friendly to the intimate and romantic. Highlights included the boogie-infused ‘Love-A-Love-A-Love-A-Love-A-Love’ and one of Labi’s all-time greatest ballads, ‘Staride To Nowhere’.

Finally, CD3 rounds off the set with a collection of non-album single A and B sides, including two cuts released from the short-lived ‘Labi and Jackie’ duo with session singer Jackie Sullivan.

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