Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Soundtrack "The Harder They Come"
Company: Mango
Catalog: MLPS-9202
Year: 1973
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: gatefold sleeve
Available: 3
GEMM catalog ID: 4180
Price: $9.00
Cost: $1.00
Okay, technically this isn't a Jimmy Cliff solo effort since there are performance by five other outfits. Still, Cliff starred in the movie and handled most of the songs so in spirit we consider it to be a Cliff album. Sue us if you want ....
Geez, I remember seeing this film as a teenager in a small Washington, D.C.art house theatre. To be honest, the film didn't make all that much of an impression on me (the theatre screen wasn't much bigger than one of today's plasma screens), but the soundtrack did. I remember trying to find a copy in my local suburban mall without success. That's probably the case for thousands of young white American teenagers for whom "The Harder They Come" served as their introduction to the charms of reggae. Cliff's five performances (the title track and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" are actually repeated twice) are uniformly good, but to be honest, with the exception of the classic "Many Rivers To Cross", they pale compared to some of the other artists. Just my opinion, but the real highlights here are The Slickers' " Johnny Too Bad" and The Maytal's "Pressure Drop". Regardless, if you're going to own a reggae album, this is one to consider for the honor. (The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.)
"Soundtrack The Harder They Come" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Jimmy Cliff - You Can Get It If You Really Want (Jimmy
Cliff) - 2:40
2.) Scotty - Draw Your Breaks - 2:57
3.) The Melodians - Rivers of Babylon - 4:16
4.) Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers To Cross (Jimmy Cliff) - 3:02
5.) The Maytals - Sweet and Dandy - 3:01
6.) Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff) - 3:41
(side
2)
1.) The Slickers - Johnny Too Bad - 3:04
2.) Desmond Dekker - 007 (Shanty Town) - 2:43
3.) The Maytals - Pressure Drop - 3:44
4.) Sitting In Limbo (Bright - Plummer - Jimmy Cliff) - 4:57
5.) Jimmy Cliff - You Can Get It If You Really Want (Jimmy Cliff) - 2:43
6.) Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff) - 3:07