The Harder They Come (soundtrack)

Infobox Album |
Name = The Harder They Come
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = Jimmy Cliff


Released = July 7, 1972
Recorded = 1967–1972
Genre = Reggae
Length = 39:55
Label = Island Records
Producer = Jimmy Cliff, Derrick Harriott, Leslie Kong, Byron Lee, Guilly Bright
Reviews =*Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gq60tr4lkl3x link]
*Robert Christgau (A) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=4987&name=Jimmy+Cliff+et+al. link]

"The Harder They Come" is a soundtrack to the film of the same name. Released in 1972, it was compiled by reggae singer Jimmy Cliff, who starred in the film and performed some of the songs. The album peaked on "Billboard"'s North America Pop Albums chart at #140.

The album also appears of greatest albums lists from Time (magazine) and Blender (magazine) and was named the 97th best album of the 1970s by Pitchfork Media. [http://acclaimedmusic.net/]

The soundtrack album played a major part in popularizing reggae in the United States, and the title song was a popular single. In 2004, "The Harder They Come" was ranked #341 on "Rolling Stone"'s "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". The song has been covered by many artists, such as: Jerry Garcia, Keith Richards, Johnny Thunders and Wayne Kramer's short-lived band Gang War, Willie Nelson, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, the Waco Brothers, Madness, Rancid, Joe Jackson, and Dubnium. The song is the entrance music for heavyweight boxer Samuel Peter.

Other songs on the soundtrack include: "You Can Get It if You Really Want", "Sitting Here in Limbo" and "Many Rivers to Cross", all by Jimmy Cliff. "Many Rivers to Cross" was later covered by UB40. The original version of the reggae classic "Johnny Too Bad" by the Slickers is also in the soundtrack. Toots and the Maytals contributed "Sweet and Dandy" and "Pressure Drop" (later covered by The Clash).

Track listing

#"You Can Get It If You Really Want" (Jimmy Cliff) – 2:40
#"Draw Your Brakes" (Scotty) – 2:57
#"Rivers of Babylon" (The Melodians) – 4:16
#"Many Rivers to Cross" Jimmy Cliff – 3:02
#"Sweet and Dandy" (The Maytals) – 3:01
#"The Harder They Come" (Jimmy Cliff) – 3:41
#"Johnny Too Bad" (The Slickers) – 3:04
#"007 (Shanty Town)" (Desmond Dekker) – 2:43
#"Pressure Drop" (The Maytals) – 3:44
#"Sitting in Limbo" (Jimmy Cliff) – 4:57
#"You Can Get It If You Really Want" (Jimmy Cliff) – 2:43
#"The Harder They Come" (Jimmy Cliff) – 3:07

Personnel

*Jimmy Cliff - Producer, Performer
*Desmond Dekker - Performer
*Toots & the Maytals - Performer
*The Melodians - Performers
*Byron Lee - Producer
*Scotty - Performer
*The Maytals - Performer
*John Bryant - Cover illustration
*Gully Bright - Producer
*Winston Grennan - Drums
*Leslie Kong - Producer
*Perry Henzell - Producer
*Vartan - Reissue Art Director
*Erick Labson - Mastering
*Derrick Harriott - Producer