Mr. Loverman

"Mr. Loverman"
Single by Shabba Ranks
from the album Rough and Ready Volume 1
Released	1992
Format	CD single CD maxi 7" single 12" maxi
Recorded	1992
Genre	Reggae fusion, Dancehall, Smooth R&B
Length	3:36
Label	Epic
Writer(s)	Shabba Ranks, Mikey Bennett, Hopeton Lindo
Producer	Clifton Dillon Mikey Bennett
Shabba Ranks singles chronology
"Love Punaany Bad" (1992) "Mr. Loverman" (1993) "Slow And Sexy" (1992)
Shabba Ranks chronology "I Was a King" (1993) "Mr. Loverman" (1993) "Housecall" (1993)

"Mr. Loverman" is the signature song of Jamaican ragga artist Shabba Ranks. The song was written by Hopeton Lindo, Rexton Gordon and Michael Bennett.^[1][2] It was released in 1992 and 1993 as a single.

Origin of song

The song first appeared as "Champion Lover" by Deborahe Glasgow. Ranks then versioned "Champion Lover" under the new title "Mr. Loverman" with Deborahe Glasgow the featured female lead. This version appeared on his Rappin' With the Ladies album in 1988. Glasgow's illness and subsequent early death led to the song being re-recorded for release as a single this time with Chevelle Franklyn as the featured singer.

The version featuring Chevelle Franklyn was originally released in 1992 when it charted in a modest position on the UK Singles Chart but after being re-released in 1993, when dancehall music was starting to enjoy mainstream popularity, the track rose to number three in the UK charts and remains his biggest hit single to date.

It is not his most popular single with his old fans, who think he polished his sound too much to appeal to a pop audience, but this track does feature the first time he used his trademark cry "Shabba!"

Track listings

CD maxi

1. "Mr. Loverman" (radio mix) — 3:36
2. "Mr. Loverman" (D.M. ragga hop mix) — 6:05
3. "Mr. Loverman" (twin city crew mix) — 4:05
4. "Mr. Loverman" (raggamental mix) — 4:24
5. "Ca'an Dunn" — 5:23
6. "The Jam" (back to the bridge) — 4:30

CD maxi - Remixes

1. "Mr Loverman" (D.M. ragga hop mix) — 6:05
2. "Mr Loverman" (radio mix) — 3:36
3. "Mr Loverman" (twin city crew mix) — 4:05
4. "Mr Loverman" (new world mix) — 4:22
5. "Mr Loverman" (raggamental mix) — 4:24

7" single

1. "Mr. Loverman" (radio mix) — 3:36
2. "Mr. Loverman" (twin city crew mix) — 4:05

12" maxi

1. "Mr. Loverman" (D.M. ragga hop mix) — 6:05
2. "Mr. Loverman" (twin city crew mix) — 4:05
3. "Mr. Loverman" (new world mix) — 4:22
4. "Mr. Loverman" (raggamental mix) — 4:24

Charts

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart[3]	22
German Singles Chart[4]	17
Swedish Singles Chart[3]	31
UK Singles Chart[5]	23
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6]	40
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[6]	2
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[6]	2
Chart (1993)	Peak position
French SNEP Singles Chart[3]	19
Irish Singles Chart[7]	8
UK Singles Chart[8]	3
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrents	3

In popular culture

The song was used briefly in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It was also featured in the soundtrack of 1992's motion-picture, Deep Cover. The song was parodied in an episode of In Living Color entitled "Mr.Ugly Man". The song used in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace

References

1. ^ Answers.com
2. ^ AllMusic Guide
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Mr. Loverman", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved April 4, 2008)
4. ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved April 4, 2008)
5. ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved April 4, 2008)
6. ^ ^{a b c} Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved August 31, 2008)
7. ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved April 4, 2008)
8. ^ UK Singles Chart (1993 release) Chartstats.com (Retrieved August 31, 2008)