We All Are One: The Best of Jimmy Cliff

by Jimmy Cliff

Overview

Although this is subtitled "The Best of Jimmy Cliff," it's really a label-specific best-of, not a true survey of the best material Cliff's done in his lengthy career. That's because no less than two-thirds of the 15 selections are taken from the singer's 1980 Columbia albums. A few of his most famous earlier recordings (the 1969 hit "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and two songs from the soundtrack to The Harder They Come) were licensed, and there are also cuts he contributed to other soundtracks ("Third World People," done for Club Paradise, and "I Can See Clearly Now" from Cool Runnings). But basically, it's the best of Cliff's Columbia years, not a balanced survey of a career that began back in the early '60s. That wouldn't be such a problem, but -- as most Cliff and reggae fans would agree -- his later recordings, such as his Columbia albums, certainly are not up to his prime earlier output. Most of it is mundane crossover reggae/R&B/pop. Cliff sings consistently well, but the production is often too slick in a dated 1980s fashion. The reggae isn't always buried by any means; cuts like "Treat the Youths Right" and "Roots Woman" are reasonable upbeat Cliff originals, and "Peace Officer" has the sort of political concerns common to much reggae music. On the other hand, something like "Reggae Night" is a forgettable attempt to reach into the R&B dance market. Most of the disc is better than that, but its overall bland character is set all the more in relief when periodically interrupted by those older licensed tracks. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	06/11/2002
Label:	Bmg / Sony Music / Sony Music Entertainment
UPC:	0886976958329
Rank:	30689

Tracks

1. You Can Get It If You Really Want
2. Roots Woman
3. We All Are One
4. Wonderful World, Beautiful People
5. I Can See Clearly Now
6. Treat the Youths Right
7. Hitting With Music
8. Third World People
9. Special
10. Reggae Night
11. Roots Radical
12. Sitting in Limbo
13. Peace Officer
14. Hanging Fire
15. Now and Forever

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jimmy Cliff   Primary Artist,Vocals
Ron Wood   Guest Artist
Kool & the Gang   Guest Artist
Jaco Pastorius   Guest Artist,Bass
Robbie Shakespeare   Guest Artist,Bass,Guitar
Sly Dunbar   Guest Artist,Hi Hat,Simmons Drums
Meekaaeel Muhammad   Vocals (Background)
Michael Ray   Trumpet
Mallory Williams   Keyboards
Ancel "Double Barrel" Collins   Piano,Keyboards,Prophet Synthesizer,Vocals (Background),Organ
Fernando Luis   Guitar
Mark Attalla   Guitar
Wilburn "Squiddley" Cole   Drums
Kendal Stubbs   Bass
Earl "Chinna" Smith   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Barbara Jones   Vocals (Background)
Uziah "Sticky" Thompson   Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Gary Henry   Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Glen Brownie   Bass
Lloyd "Gitsy" Willis   Guitar (Rhythm)
Bertram "Ranchie" McLean   Bass,Guitar (Rhythm)
Christopher Meredith   Bass
Harold Butler   Keyboards
Mikey "Boo" Richards   Drums
Manuel Herrara   Keyboards
Kim Palumu   Guitar
Phil Ramocon   Ob Xa,Piano
Alvina del Bettis   Vocals (Background)
Rick Iantosca   Guitar,Keyboards
Alex Williams   Keyboards
Cliff Adams   Trombone
Curtis "Fitz" Williams   Saxophone
Greg Fitz   Vocals (Background)
Cynthia Huggins   Vocals (Background)
Sidney Wolfe   Percussion,Nyabinghi Drums
Randy Weber   Synthesizer
Tony Ruption Williams   Drums
Carroll "Bowie" McLaughlin   Keyboards
Robert "Kool" Bell   Guitar,Keyboards,Synthesizer Bass

Technical Credits

Johnny Nash   Composer
Joseph M. Palmaccio   Mastering
Jerry Rappaport   Compilation Producer
Jimmy Cliff   Composer,Producer
Amir Bayyan   Composer
Guilly Bright   Composer,Producer
Steve Goldman   Producer
Kendal Stubbs   Drum Programming
Chris Kimsey   Producer
La Toya Jackson   Composer
Jim Bonnefond   Producer
Elena Oumano   Liner Notes
H. Harris   Composer
Darren Salmieri   A&R
Kool & the Gang   Overdubs
Leslie Kong   Producer
Paul Henton   Producer
Patti Matheny   A&R
Sante d'Orazio   Photography
Howard Fritzson   Art Direction
Raymond Harris   Composer
Rick Iantosca   Producer
Risa Zaitschek Noah   Design
Robert "Kool" Bell   Overdubs,Producer,Drum Programming
John Jackson   Project Director