When the film The Harder They Come dropped in 1973, the whole reggae scene was primarily a Jamaico-British thing and didn't really pick up here in the states until a few years later...During my freshman year at university (and a decade or so before the world wide web was introduced) I got turned on to the the film, starring reggae singer Jimmy Cliff, whereupon I discovered that "*Mango's Soundtrack for it was available*":http://www.thestore24.com/Music/Album.aspx?p_id=P+++++2874&a_id=R+++103471&search=the%20harder%20they%20come&sec=all%20music&prodid=ISL586158.2&si=rhino and I've had a copy of it in my collection every since...The Harder They Come is a well-mixed coast-to-coast listen that avails the audience a sonic glimpse into the sound of reggae and ska while it was in its embryonic stage; it holds top-notch track submissions from a wide array of talents like Cliff ("You Can Get It If You Really Want","Many Rivers to Cross", "Sitting in Limbo" and "The Harder They Come"), Toots & the Maytals ("Sweet and Dandy" and "Pressure Drop"), "Shanty Town" by Desmond Dekker, "Johnny Too Bad" by the Slickers and one of my favorite dub cuts of all time "Draw Your Brakes" ( by the Scotty)--found in every configuration available, if you're down with the vintage Caribbean tunage (a heavy influence on bands like The Clash) then THTC is a no-brainer as it's chock-full of prime cuts...you can get a feel for the movie I checked back in my dorm room in the clip below, it's Jimmy Cliff's (pre-MTV era) video for the title track:
ivylander says
Thanks for the reminder. Yes, this was a great one - soundtrack and movie. Perry Henzell, the director, just died in Jamaica a couple of months ago. I know I should wean myself off this music pedant thing, but I thought "Draw Your Brakes" was by Scotty (who remains one of the truly underappreciated toasters).
Truth says
Yup...this ones a classic. Though sadly not containing my favorite all-times Toots & the Maytals song "54-46 Was my Number".
Also - have you ever heard Toots' cover of "Take Me Home Country Roads"
CrashPryor says
that's word Ivy...yeah Truth, I saw Toots belt out both of those classics live back when my little outfit did a stint opening for the Maytals..."Funky Kingston"...nice it up...
Truth says
Yeah...Ive seen toots play "54-46" live and ive seen some DJ's drop it into their mix at clubs. Whenever and wherever, it always brings the house down. LUUUUUV IT.
"Give it to me...ONE TIME"
Mike the Knife says
Was actually singing "007 (Shanty Town)" to myself last weekend after looking at photos from a friend's James Bond-themed New Year's Eve house party. Man, I love that song - and anything by Toots, and everything else on the album. A wonder, maybe even the quintessential reggae album - although Wailers fans might balk at such a statement.
When the film The Harder They Come dropped in 1973, the whole reggae scene was primarily a Jamaico-British thing and didn't really pick up here in the states until a few years later...During my freshman year at university (and a decade or so before the world wide web was introduced) I got turned on to the the film, starring reggae singer Jimmy Cliff, whereupon I discovered that "*Mango's Soundtrack for it was available*":http://www.thestore24.com/Music/Album.aspx?p_id=P+++++2874&a_id=R+++103471&search=the%20harder%20they%20come&sec=all%20music&prodid=ISL586158.2&si=rhino and I've had a copy of it in my collection every since...The Harder They Come is a well-mixed coast-to-coast listen that avails the audience a sonic glimpse into the sound of reggae and ska while it was in its embryonic stage; it holds top-notch track submissions from a wide array of talents like Cliff ("You Can Get It If You Really Want","Many Rivers to Cross", "Sitting in Limbo" and "The Harder They Come"), Toots & the Maytals ("Sweet and Dandy" and "Pressure Drop"), "Shanty Town" by Desmond Dekker, "Johnny Too Bad" by the Slickers and one of my favorite dub cuts of all time "Draw Your Brakes" ( by the Scotty)--found in every configuration available, if you're down with the vintage Caribbean tunage (a heavy influence on bands like The Clash) then THTC is a no-brainer as it's chock-full of prime cuts...you can get a feel for the movie I checked back in my dorm room in the clip below, it's Jimmy Cliff's (pre-MTV era) video for the title track:
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