1972 - 1973

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 vinyl reissues and 3CD sets. 

1972-1973 brings together Labi’s third and fourth studio albums – Crying Laughing Loving Lying, the follow-up For The Children 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.

Crying Laughing Loving Lying from 1972 is traditionally seen as the album that propelled Labi into the limelight with the UK Top 20 hit ‘It Must Be Love’ – covered to memorable effect by Madness in 1982 where it reached No. 4 in the singles chart. That classic is included here, along with the much-loved ‘My Song’, ‘Cannock Chase’ as featured in the Oscar-nominated film ‘Sentimental Value’, and the stunning title track, covered variously by the likes of Olivia Newton-John and Whitney Houston, and soundtracked on the acclaimed (and Oscar-winning) 2023 film ‘The Holdovers’.

1973’s For The Children was an equally assured set of classic songwriting, combined with Labi’s own sensitive arrangements and production. Including songs like ‘Prayer’, ‘Let’s Pretend’ and ‘If You Have Faith’ it further secured his place alongside early-70s singer-songwriting legends such as James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Bill Withers and Paul Simon.

Rounding up the hot streak on this collection is a third disc of B-sides, the standalone single ‘Watch Me’ and a selection of rare tracks first released in 2006.