Wikipedia

The Power and the Glory (Jimmy Cliff album)

The Power and the Glory is an album by the Jamaican musician Jimmy Cliff, released in 1983.[1][2] "Reggae Night" was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Reggae Recording".[3]

The Power and the Glory
Studio album by
Jimmy Cliff
Released1983
Genre
Length40:58
LabelColumbia
Jimmy Cliff chronology
Special
(1982) 		The Power and the Glory
(1983) 		Many Rivers to Cross
(1984)

Production

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Cliff, who wrote seven of the album's songs, was backed by his band, Oneness.[4][5] Earl "Chinna" Smith played guitar on the album.[6] Kool & the Gang contributed to some of the tracks.[7] "Piece of the Pie" incorporates lyrics from Bob Marley's "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)"; it and "American Dream" are protest songs.[8][9] "Reggae Night" was cowritten by La Toya Jackson.[10]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Albuquerque TribuneB+[6]
AllMusic     [8]
Calgary HeraldB[11]
Robert ChristgauC+[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [13]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide     [14]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [15]

The Globe and Mail wrote that "the creamy production values and Cliff's lovely tenor voice aren't quite enough to keep the attention from wandering away here from the banalities of the lyrics and arrangements."[16] Robert Christgau noted that Cliff never takes "full advantage of his gifts, exemplified by the gracefully sung and adequately conceived international pop-reggae protest on side two."[12] The Buffalo News praised the "light reggae rhythms mixed with familiar R&B melodies."[17] The Calgary Herald concluded that "Cliff is at his hypnotic best."[11] The Gazette opined that "Cliff is in perfect control of his sensitive, high-pitched vocals."[18]

AllMusic stated: "No longer dealing in rough-around-the-edges songs of struggle and salvation riding on a tooting organ and insistent off-beat rhythm, Cliff began to sound more like the hybrid reggae/pop of Third World, Steel Pulse, and other groups whose careers he helped make possible."[8]

Track listing

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The Power and the Glory track listing
No.TitleLength
1."We All Are One"4:31
2."Sunshine in the Music"4:50
3."Reggae Night"5:20
4."Piece of the Pie"4:50
5."American Dream"4:22
6."Roots Woman"4:17
7."Love Solution"3:58
8."Power and the Glory"5:11
9."Journey"3:39
Total length:40:58

Charts

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Chart performance for The Power and the Glory
Chart (1984) Peak
position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[19] 29
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[20] 25

References

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  1. ^ Kanzler, George (17 December 1983). "Non-Formula Songs That Hit Big". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 17.
  2. ^ "Jimmy Cliff Biography by Fred Thomas". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Jimmy Cliff". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  4. ^ Missett, Bill (22 January 1984). "Records". Pharos-Tribune. Logansport. p. 19.
  5. ^ Ferguson, Derek (26 November 1983). "Pop Life". The StarPhoenix. p. E14.
  6. ^ a b Parsons, Russ (17 February 1984). "Edge of the Cliff". The Albuquerque Tribune. p. F6.
  7. ^ Erskine, Evelyn (16 December 1983). "Music". Ottawa Citizen. p. 67.
  8. ^ a b c "The Power and the Glory Review by AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  9. ^ Hazelwood, Darrell T. (4 December 1983). "Pop Briefs". Leisure. Daily News. New York. p. 15.
  10. ^ Thompson, Dave (2002). Reggae & Caribbean Music. Backbeat Books. p. 78.
  11. ^ a b Muretich, James (3 December 1983). "Jimmy Cliff The Power and the Glory". Calgary Herald. p. F3.
  12. ^ a b "Jimmy Cliff". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
  14. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 146.
  15. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 141.
  16. ^ "Musical puzzle makes for fuzzy picture". The Globe and Mail. 29 December 1983. p. E5.
  17. ^ Allen, Carl (2 December 1983). "Teena Marie Joins Richie, Cliff, in R&B Galaxie". Gusto. The Buffalo News. p. 37.
  18. ^ Steckles, Garry (22 December 1983). "Upbeat Reggae is Classic Cliff". The Gazette. p. D3.
  19. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jimmy Cliff – The Power and the Glory" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "Charts.nz – Jimmy Cliff – The Power and the Glory". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
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