OLDIES SUNDAY: Love Joys – All I Can Say (1981)

It’s a new month, and we’re glad to be here providing music for you to enjoy on “Oldies Sunday“. Since its inception, we’ve highlighted classic singles, guilty pleasures, underrated hits, and allowed our audience to get familiar with music they’ve never heard before. This Sunday is no different as today we feature UK-based Reggae duo Love Joys, and their single, “All I Can Say“.

Produced by Lloyd Barnes a.k.a. Bullwackie for the Wackie’s label and released in 1981, Love Joys were all about making the world a better place in “All I Can Say”. The cousin duo of Sonia Abel and Claudette Brown encouraged listeners to live a better life, call out those who do wrong, and hope and pray that things get better for us all. Over some solid production, the pair deliver conscious messages along with some melodies. “All I Can Say” was featured on their 1981 album, “Reggae Vibes“, and their official 1982 debut album “Lovers Rock (Reggae Style)“. The song became a hit for the duo, and became known in Jamaica, and various parts of the world. It was sampled in 2024 by Texas Rapper BigXThaPlug for his track “Havin Freestye“, which featured Ro$ama and Yung Hood, and produced by Tony Coles. “All I Can Say” was also featured on hit Video Game “Saints Row” through the in-game radio station.

Since the release of “All I Can Say”, not much was heard from Love Joys. The duo was recognized as one of the first all-Female Roots Reggae groups, but they disbanded in the 1980s. In the 2000s, Sonia Abel (now Sonia “Marla” Allen) would create the duo Natti Love Joys with her Husband Anthony “Jatti” Allen. “All I Can Say” is still remembered by fans, and “Saints Row” gamers.

Check out the track below, and share with a friend. Show us some love/follow us on Twitter, TikTok, Threads, and Instagram at @13thStreetPromo.