Artist:George Faith w/Lee "Scratch" Perry and The Upsetters
Song:To Be a Lover (Have Some Mercy)
Album:The Ultimate Collection
This 1977 cover of the William Bell classic To Be a Lover was the only big hit for singer George Faith. It also helped establish producer Lee "Scratch" Perry as a force in Jamaican music. Faith was born Earl George Lawrence in 1946 in Rae Town, Jamaica. He started singing as a child in church and at parties. He was a big fan of Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson. Lawrence was a member of The Enchanters as a teen. He was told he would be better off as a solo act. In the early 70s he recorded as Earl George or George Earl with little success. Meanwhile, Lee "Scratch" Perry had built his Black Ark recording studio in his backyard. He had some success in the music business. But he thought having his own studio would allow him to get to the next level. Lawrence met Perry at his record shop in 1975. As George Earl, he recorded a cover of To Be a Lover in 1976. Perry liked it enough to record a full album with Lawrence. He gave him the name George Faith so people would think he was a new artist. The album was released on Island's Black Swan label. Sly Dunbar, Ernest Ranglin and Boris Gardner were among the musicians who plated on the album. A nine minute remix pf To Be a Lover was very popular. That's the version that appears on this Lee Perry budget comp. Lawrence recorded a second album with Perry. But it was never released because Lawrence recorded with producer Miltant Barry at Trojan Records. That ended Lawrence's days with Perry. Lawrence continued to record as George Faith but he could never repeat the success he had with Perry. He died of cancer in 2003. Here's a video for To Be a Lover (Have Mercy) by George Faith with Lee "Scratch" Perry and The Upsetters.
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