In 1972, Jimmy Cliff starred in and created the soundtrack for The Harder They Come, a film about the journey of a struggling reggae singer. The soundtrack is said to have “brought reggae to the world,” featuring songs like: “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and “Many Rivers to Cross.” Now, in honor of Cliff’s 80th birthday, Walshy Fire of Major Lazer has remixed a selection of songs from The Harder They Come soundtrack.
The remixes will be released as the digital album Jimmy Cliff & Walshy Fire – The Harder They Come: The Remixes. It’s set to feature four remixed tracks: “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” “Many Rivers to Cross,” “The Harder They Come,” and “Sitting In Limbo.”
The original album charted on the Billboard 200 when it was released in North America. In 2021, the soundtrack was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry. While mostly comprised of songs by Cliff, the record also features tracks from Jamaican artists the Melodians, the Slickers, and DJ Scotty, alongside early reggae stars Desmond Dekker and Toots and the Maytals.
The Harder They Come was the first all-Jamaican feature film. In 2022, Cliff released the The Harder They Come 50th Anniversary Edition vinyl. The package boasted the liner notes from the 40th Anniversary Edition in addition to brand new words courtesy of Jimmy and revered reggae historian Dana Smart.
Jimmy Cliff is the only living reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences. In 1985 he won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for his recored Cliff Hanger. In 2009 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Wyclef Jean.
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