Liberation is an album by the Jamaican musician Bunny Wailer, released in 1989 through Shanachie Records.[1][2] Wailer supported the album with a North American tour.[3] It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Reggae Recording" category.[4]
| Liberation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Recorded | 1987–1989, Dynamic Sounds Recording Studios, Kingston, Jamaica | |||
| Genre | Reggae | |||
| Label | Shanachie | |||
| Producer | Bunny Wailer | |||
| Bunny Wailer chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
edit"Botha the Mosquito" is about South African president P. W. Botha.[5] Wailer included a reproduction of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the album notes.[6]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| Robert Christgau | B[8] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [9] |
The Los Angeles Times wrote: "Wailer seems snake-bitten here—the better melodies deliver lyrics that aren't particularly fresh, and the stronger themes are coupled with lackluster hooks that don't cut through the production problems."[9] The Gazette called the album "roots reggae par excellence."[10]
Track listing
editAll tracks written by Neville "Bunny" Livingston.
- "Rise and Shine"
- "Liberation"
- "Botha the Mosquito"
- "Want to Come Home"
- "Ready When You Ready"
- "Didn't You Know"
- "Dash Wey the Vial"
- "Bald Head Jesus"
- "Food"
- "Serious Thing"
Personnel
edit- Bunny Wailer - Percussion, Arranger, Director, Vocals, Producer, Cover Art Concept
- The Psalms - Background vocals
- Tony "Asher" Brissett - Keyboards
- Barry Barrington Bailey - Horn
- Headley Bennett - Horn
- Errol Carter - Bass
- Steven "Cat" Coore - Guitar
- Carlton "Santa" Davis - drums
- Sly Dunbar - Drums
- Bobby Ellis - Horn
- Harry T. Powell - Percussion
- Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont - Rhythm guitar
- Sugar Minott - Drums
- Johnny "Dizzy" Moore - Horn
- Sylvan Morris - Engineer
- Karl Pitterson - Mixing
- Dwight Pinkney - Guitar
- Robbie Shakespeare - Bass
- Earl "Chinna" Smith - Bass
- Keith Sterling - Keyboards
- Daniel "Danny Axeman" Thompson - Bass
- Neville Garrick - Graphic Design, Art Direction, Cover Art Concept
- Owen "Red Fox" Stewart - Keyboards
References
edit- ^ Milward, John (23 Feb 1989). "Wailer Will 'Soon Come' for Tour of States". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D1.
- ^ Point, Michael (10 Mar 1989). "Reggae legend Bunny Wailer...". Austin American-Statesman. p. F5.
- ^ Reilly, Terri F. (14 Apr 1989). "Hot Tickets". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. F4.
- ^ "Bunny Wailer". Recording Academy. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Morse, Steve (20 Apr 1989). "Wailer Returns to Roots and Rights". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 8.
- ^ Harrington, Richard (26 Apr 1989). "The World at Your Ear". The Washington Post. p. D7.
- ^ Anderson, Rick. "Review: Liberation". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Reviews: Liberation". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ a b Snowden, Don (26 Feb 1989). "Record Rack". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 70.
- ^ Feist, Daniel (11 June 1989). "Beating a track to the world sounds begins with research". The Gazette. p. H6.