Toppa Top 10: Ten Classic Reggae Break-Up Tunes

Words by Jesse Serwer, DJ Gravy and Sherman Escoffery

Valentine’s Day is a time for love, but, for many of us, it’s also a time for noting the absence of love. With this in mind, we’re taking a different tack than usual this holiday, and presenting a two-fold set of Toppa Top 10s, under the theme of “Break Up to Make Up.” We’ll get to the making up later, but first we bring the pain! Here’s our picks for some (but not all) of reggae and dancehall’s greatest break-up songs.

10. Beres Hammond, “Over You”

Beres is pretty much king when it comes to reggae love songs but he can be stone cold when he wants to be. Such is the case with “Over You”: Let’s call it a day/Got news for you, I’m glad we’re through. Hip hip hooray. Ouch.

9. John Holt, “Only A Smile”

This reggae version of the Paragons’ rocksteady tune, with far more active drums and a rootsy bass line, is a classic rub up and dub tune that highlights the sound of Channel One Studio. John Holt sings about leaving a beautiful but disappointing lover, knowing that other men will do the same once they get to really know her.

8. Papa San and Lady G, “Legal Rights”

Large up the man Walshy Fire for reminding us of this supremely entertaining, soap opera-esque, battle-of-the-sexes duet starring the typically hilarious Papa San and Lady G as a broken-up couple arguing over their “legal rights.”

7. Alton Ellis, “Breaking Up”

Alton Ellis is just one of the best ever, and this is the ultimate breakup song. It’s Studio One at its best from the guy, who in my opinion, is the best rocksteady artist ever—can I get a witness?—DJ Gravy

6. Kashief Lindo, “No Can Do”

This was on one of the first dope reggae mixtapes I had back in the 90’s. It’s an empowering number for the fellas—yeah, I said it! “What you want me to do woman, sit and worry over you? No can do… ” Sweet yet pretty ‘G’ of my dude Kashief! While Mr. Lindo has a fairly sized catalog, it’s definitely all about this tune. It might even be ready for a deejay combination remake, hmmm…—DJ Gravy

5. Barrington Levy, “Too Experienced”

We coulda pulled any number of tracks from Barrington’s greatest hits for this list —even a song as triumphant sounding as “Here I Come” is about a connection gone awry. But anyone who’s ever struggled with a would-be significant other who still wants to have their cake and eat it, too, has to love the cool way Barrington breaks things down: “I’m too experienced to be taken for a stroll…….too experienced for someone to rock and roll, Im too experienced to be taken for a ride, and I know its not my foolish pride.” Amen to that! —Jesse Serwer

4. Dennis Brown, “Go Now”

A real grown up song from DB about letting go of a prodigal lover, and seeing if she returns.—Sherman Escoffery

3. Cocoa Tea, “I Lost My Sonia”

2.Wayne Wonder, “Saddest Day”

“Saddest Day” is truly remarkable for the way that poor Wayne Wonder makes you thoroughly feel the pain of the saddest day in his life within a song that simultaneously very much makes you want to dance, and brush up on your lover. For those people for whom early ’90s dancehall will always be the zenith, it doesn’t get any better than this. —Jesse Serwer

1. The Techniques, “You Don’t Care”

We started off our tribute to the recently departed Winston Riley with this one, and it’s been stuck on repeat—in our heads, and on our stereos—ever since. And why not. This song, by Riley’s rocksteady-era vocal group with Slim Smith and Pat Kelly the Techniques, is one of the most heartbreaking songs about coming to terms unrequited love that we know, and the circa-1967 riddim is still very much alive.—Jesse Serwer