100% Pure Reggae - Jimmy Cliff

Advantages: some classic reggae tracks including Rivers of babylon
Disadvantages: 2 tracks are repeated

...of a Kingston shantytown low-life gangster (played by Jimmy Cliff) and his Robin Hood style journey from disaster to tragedy in the Jamaican slums. It was, and is, a brilliantly engaging film to which the Brazilian film 'City of God' owes not a little of its style and atmosphere. The soundtrack, as well as complimenting the atmosphere of the film, in its compilation nicely represents that form of pre-Marley reggae known as Rock-Steady. Together with Ska, Rock-Steady came directly from Calypso and retained some of its 'jauntiness' while still being able to be sometimes dark and mournful. Half the tracks on the CD are performed by Jimmy Cliff himself, as is the first: *1-You Can Get It If You Really Want* Well known track that hit the mainstream charts. Up tempo reggae. *2-Draw Your Brakes* Sung by 'Scotty', a popular Jamaican DJ... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Big hit singles
Disadvantages: A few average tracks

...long between singles and then grab a huge hit yet again. The song is so different from his other material. It's pure pop. The backing singer makes this track though I have to say. She really does. The song sounds more like something Michael Jackson would sing and it's brilliant. The chorus is almost like an American army chant. The third track is "Crocodile Shoes" which was a hit in 1995. It had a funny video to go with it, complete with pantomime horse. It's a great country track which came from the BBC programme of the same name. The next track is "Cowboy Dreams" which came from the second and final series of "Crococile Shoes". "Love's a silver bullet than can blow your world apart". It certainly is. "Big River" is a particular favourite of mine as Jimmy's nostalgia for the local rivers and industries of years gone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good playing, some okay stuff
Disadvantages: Not Jackson's style

...Joe Jackson started to cop for some criticism after his second album. Because he was feeling increasingly at odds with the rock world, he turned to reggae, releasing a cover version of Jimmy Cliff’s The Harder They Come in 1980, and playing keyboards for reggae band The Rasses on three tracks of their Natural Wild album. His own band's next album, Beat Crazy, released in October 1980, also reflected his interest in reggae; highly rhythmic and percussive, it took critics off guard and, perhaps not surprisingly, was not as successful as the previous offerings. The album reflected Jackson’s uneasiness with conventional pop music and his disillusionment with rock - his liner notes read: “... we knew it was destined to failure ... why did we try?” It was an odd album and an odd time in Jackson’s career. It was instantly forgettable... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic