IT’S A “REBIRTH” FOR THE LEGENDARY JIMMY CLIFF!

By Hasani Walters——

Reggae veteran Jimmy Cliff’s latest album, Rebirth, is spending its fifth week on the Billboard charts.

It has been standing firm at number one on the reggae album charts but is plummeting on the Billboard 200 charts. It’s now at 195 on that chart from last week’s 105 and its peak of 76.

Produced by American punk rock band Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, Rebirthpays a visit to the 1970s style of reggae.

There are smooth vocals, both from the crooner and his background singers, and the entire album is void of the use of auto-tuning technology.

The album starts off with the politically pointed World Upside Down, and goes on to Cliff telling stories through songs such as One More,Outsider, Guns of Brixton and Reggae Music.

Other Cliff albums, Jimmy Cliff and Sacred Fire have had their share of success, managing to top the Billboard reggae album charts.

colourful resume

His singles have a much more colourful Billboard résumé.

In early 1994, I Can See Clearly Now was number 18 on the Hot 100 chart where it spent 26 weeks and peaked at number seven on the pop charts, got to number 11 on the Radio Songs chart, 98 on the R&B/Hip-hop Songs chart and number 9 on the Adult Contemporary charts.

Hakuna Matata also reached number 26 on the Adult Contemporary charts.

January 1970 saw Wonderful World, Beautiful People going to number 25 on the Hot 100 charts, while Come Into My Lifes sat at number 89.

Breakout (Remix) and Peace had 1992 showings of 81 and 96 respectively on the R&B/Hip-hop Songs chart.

The Breakout album, on which the two songs above are included, peaked at 60 on the R&B/Hip-hop Albums chart and at 11 on the World Albums chart.

Despite its fall on the chart, the world seems to be in huge favour ofRebirth as can be seen by its numerous positive reviews from media worldwide. Many laud it as a good step for reggae.