Soul Jazz Records apparently wanted to end the year in style and with the reissue of two outright lovers rock classics, Carroll Thompson's 'Hopelessly In Love' and Louisa Mark's 'Breakout' they succeed effortlessly. Carroll Thompson is still regarded as one of the queens of the genre and 'Hopelessly In Love', her debut long player from 1981, was an immediate hit at the time of its release. There isn't a single bad track in the track list and the photo used for the cover of the album - a sexy dressed Thompson on the hood of a car - would make her into a style icon for the genre. 'Hopelessly In Love' was originally recorded for C&B Productions, a sub label of Milton 'Smitty' Smith's S&G Records, to this day synonymous with the better lovers rock work.
Carroll Thompson's 'Hopelessly In Love' may be a classic, but the Clement Bushay produced 'Breakout', Louisa Mark's album debut, is of a different level altogether. Add the crème-de-la-crème of British reggae (The In-Crowd, Dennis Bovell, Rico Rodriguez, Vin Gordon), a host of instant classic lovers rock tunes ('Keep It Like It Is', 'Moving Target'), a number of successful disco and soul covers (Michael Jackson's 'Even Though You're Gone', Peaches & Herb's 'Reunited' and 'He Used To Be My Man', a cover of The O'Jays 'Use Ta Be My Girl') and a unique voice and you have a true milestone in the lovers rock genre. As if all of that still wasn't enough, Soul Jazz Records extended the original track list with three bonus versions. Strangely enough Louisa Mark wasn't totally satisfied with this album herself, saying something about her perfectionist nature. Mark sadly passed away in 2009, so we'll have to make do with this beautiful musical testament.