Crying Laughing Loving Lying

Released in 1972, 'Crying Laughing Loving Lying' is the definitive statement of Labi Siffre’s early career. Recorded at Chappell Studios in London, the album is a self-produced marvel of restraint. Siffre handles the bulk of the instrumentation himself, including guitar, bass, and keys, which contributes to the record's singular, unified vision. While his later work would delve deeper into funk and political anthems, this third album captures him at his most vulnerable and folk-oriented. The track 'It Must Be Love' (originally on this album's sessions/era) became a massive hit for Madness, but Siffre’s original version embodies the dry, intimate soul-folk aesthetic that defines the LP. Critics, including those at Pitchfork in retrospective reviews, have praised the album for its 'modern' sound, noting that the lack of dated production effects allows Siffre’s songwriting and vocal purity to shine across decades. It remains a high-water mark for the 1970s singer-songwriter movement, distinguished by its unique intersection of Black British identity and pastoral folk sensibilities.