8. June “J.C.” Lodge, “Someone Loves You Honey” (1980)
Another fine example of how American tunes can get ultimately overshadowed by prominent reggae covers is a little more identifiable this time around. In 1978 Charley Pride, the first African-American artist to achieve legendary status in country music, had a No. 1 hit with “Someone Loves You Honey.” And so when June C. Lodge, a UK-born Jamaican, was just starting her career in music, she was asked by the Joe Gibbs team to record that particular song, at a particular time when Joe Gibbs was branching out into American territory.
The timing could not be more perfect. After it was recorded in 1980, it was released in Jamaica on the Belmont subsidiary of Joe Gibbs music, and a few months later, in 1981, on a US release as a disco mix with the deejay cut by singer George Nooks. This ultimately became one of the best selling reggae 12-inch records in America. Aside from making an attempt to mirror the success of “Someone Loves You Honey” for Joe Gibbs with a cover of Leo Sayers’ “More Than I Can Say” which was a minor hit J.C. Lodge went on to become even more successful as a singer, although the extent of the success would not be seen until 1988 when she recorded her next biggest hit, “Telephone Love,” with Augustus “Gussie” Clarke.
