Spotlight on women behind musical hits

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Turn Your Lights Down Low, the Bob Marley ballad reportedly inspired by his affair with beauty queen Cindy Breakspeare, is among 50 ditties examined in a new book, The Girl in the Song: The Real Stories Behind 50 Classic Pop Songs.

British newspaper, The Independent, reported that the book will be released this month but did not state what company will distribute it.

It looks at the women who moved some of the biggest stars to write songs that became pop staples. They include The Police's Every Breath You Take which was written by Sting after his divorce from Frances Tumelty; Miss You, written by Rolling Stone's Mick Jagger for American model Jerry Hall and Uptown Girl, inspired by Billy Joel's affairs with models Christie Brinkley and Elle McPherson.

Songs by two Beatles made the cut: John Lennon's Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, done by the 'Fab Four' and Something which was written by George Harrison when he went solo.

The Independent interviewed several of the women behind the songs, including Tumelty, Hall and Pattie Boyd, who inspired Harrison to pen Something which turned out be one of his biggest hits.

Marley reportedly wrote Turn Your Lights Down Low while living in London in 1977. Breakspeare won the Miss World title in that city the previous year and was involved in a much-publicised affair with the married reggae superstar.

Turn Your Lights Down Low appeared on Marley's Exodus album which contained two other ballads, Waiting in Vain and Three Little Birds. Breakspeare later covered the song, so too hip hop star Lauryn Hill.

Jamaican classics

Here are some classic Jamaican songs inspired by women with whom artistes were in relationships: Girl I've Got a Date, I'm Just a Guy and I'm Still in Love With You (Alton Ellis): "I had a woman (Pearl) who was driving mi mad. People sey I shoulda married har 'cause she inspire mi fi write all dem hit songs," Ellis said in a 2007 Gleaner interview.

Sean Paul and Sasha later covered I'm Still in Love With You.

Come Back Darling (Johnny Osbourne): "Was about my little girlfriend when I was young. She moved to another area, so I sit down with my guitar and the words just came up. I migrated to Canada the same month. I did the album but I never see that girl again," Osbourne told American writer David Katz.

Come Back Darling was later covered by UB40.