![]() The Harder They Come was the first Jamaican-produced feature film shot in Jamaica with a full Jamaican cast and director. What follows here, is an exploration of the film’s music along with historical background on Jimmy Cliff and the album’s other artists, as well as the film’s producer, Perry Henzell.Ĭover of David Katz’s book, “Jimmy Cliff: An Unauthorized Biography,” 2011. ![]() The soundtrack’s selections are also loaded with Jamaican nuance and political meaning, as the lyrics, both directly and between the lines, refer frequently to oppression, inequality, and social injustice. One commentary on the film’s music in 2009 from the blog, DK Presents gave The Harder They Come its top rating, noting: “The soundtrack gathers legendary performances that not only enhance the action of the film, but on their own play out as nothing less than the greatest reggae album of all-time… Whether or not you’re familiar with the movie, this is an impeccable collection that remains the best possible introduction to the genre.” It left a lasting impact and its influence on the music scene continues today. ![]() The Harder They Come soon became a favorite dance album at parties across the U.S. The soundtrack became a breakthrough for reggae music in the U.S., introducing many listeners to the distinctive sound for the fist time. And from that point on, the film’s music also began to take off. About a year later, however, it became more popular with audiences in midnight showings. And in the U.S., too, at least with its initial release in February 1973, the film did not receive much notice. “ The Harder They Come is the most important movie ever to come out of the Caribbean,” says iTunes, “and its soundtrack helped put reggae, in all its variants, on the world map.” The effusive iTunes praise for the film may be a bit of a stretch, but the part about the music is right on the money.įirst released in the U.K in 1972, the film was slow to capture much attention. In 1972-73, The Harder They Come, a Jamaican film about a poor country boy who becomes a music star and then a criminal, arrived at the box office with a very upbeat and powerful soundtrack of Jamaican reggae music. Original album cover for Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come” soundtrack, July 1972, Island Records.
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