The Harder They Come |
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Released: July 7, 1972 Recorded: 1967-72 Peak: 140 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: reggae |
Tracks:Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts.
Total Running Time: 39:55 |
Rating: 4.625 out of 5.00 (average of 23 ratings)
Quotable:The soundtrack that “gave much of the world its first taste of reggae music.” – author Tom MoonAwards:(Click on award to learn more).
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About the Album:When filmmaker Perry Henzell heard the “1969 hymn to perseverance, Many Rivers to Cross” by Jamaican singer/songwriter Jimmy Cliff, he thought it was “the perfect anthem for his tale about the class and socioeconomic struggles of a rurgal roustabout in the city of Kingston.” TM Henzel asked Cliff to contribute other songs for the film and ended up casting him as the lead as “Ivanhoe Martin, would-be reggae singer turned renegade.” TLWhile the movie “was a mixed bag” TL “its soundtrack served as most Americans’ first introduction to reggae;” TL in fact, it “gave much of the world its first taste of reggae music.” TM “It is a collection of consistently excellent early reggae songs by artists who went on to thrive with reggae’s increased popularity and others for whom this is the most well-known vehicle.” AM Cliff also contributed You Can Get It if You Really Want It, “which echoes the vocal intensity of early Stax-Volt.” TM It is “built on the effortless push-pull of reggae rhythm, while embracing the upbeat exuberance of American soul music.” TM “Many Rivers” and Sitting in Limbo “are solemn, hymnlike expressions of faith. And though the lyrics are simple, they are powerfully inspirational.” TM Of course, Cliff also wrote and performed the title cut. “Interestingly, the better production values of his songs actually seems to detract from them when compared to the rougher, but less sanitized, mixes of the other tracks. All the songs on this collection are excellent, but some truly stand out. Toots & the Maytals deliver two high-energy songs with Sweet and Dandy and Pressure Drop (covered by the Clash among others).” AM “Desmond Dekker & The Aces showed off reggae’s roots in ‘50s R&B on (007) Shanty Town” TL and “Scotty develops a mellow, loping groove on Stop That Train (not the same as the Wailers‘ song by the same name).” AM “Just as good are the contributions from mostly forgotten acts like The Melodians and The Slickers, whose Johnny Too Bad is a parable of the film – only far better.” TL On the latter, “the Slickers prove…that you don’t have to spout profanity or graphic violence to convey danger.” AM “The Harder They Come was only a modest success, but it opened the door for the arrival of Bob Marley, global superstar, a few years later.” TL It “is strongly recommended both for the casual listener interested in getting a sense of reggae music and the more serious enthusiast. Collections don’t come much better than this.” AM Notes:A 2003 reissue added another 18 songs. |
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First posted 8/11/2008; last updated 6/27/2025. |
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