Jimmy Cliff has decided to return to his roots with the new album, Rebirth, available on July 17 from Universal.
Jimmy Cliff Rebirth
“I was inspired to re-visit my musical past and decided to go back to my roots on this record,” said Cliff. ” Rebirth is a new chapter in my life and signifies a rebirth in my career and all I have left to accomplish.”
Rebirth once again pairs the reggae superstar with the award-winning producer and punk legend Tim Armstrong, who produced the thirteen-track album. Armstrong also produced Cliff’s Sacred Fire EP which was released late in 2011, and Rolling Stone magazine hailed the music as Cliff’s “best music in decades.”
“Jimmy is one of my musical heroes and I’ve been responding to his music my entire life,” said Armstrong. “I enjoy the creative spontaneity of collaborating with other people. I always want to try new things. It’s the type of creative energy I have.”
Together they bring fire to both compelling Cliff originals and a couple of pointedly chosen covers. World Upside Down and One More show an artist as engaged with, and troubled by, the state of the world as much as he was when he made such landmark songs as You Can Get It If You Really Want and the title song of the movie The Harder They Come, both game-changers that will mark their 40th anniversary this year. A version of the Clash’s The Guns of Brixton taps into the popular uprisings for freedom in the Middle East, not to mention the recent London riots, which took place as sessions for the album were underway. Rancid’s affectionate portrait Ruby Soho brings the generations together, a full-circle journey of icon and acolytes.
The first single from Rebirth will be the track One More, which serves as a personal statement of purpose and a promise to both himself and the world affirming that he has much left to do. “One More kind of speaks to that,” says Cliff. “One more shot at the prize. One more shot at the goal. Straight from the soul and in control.” One More will be released digitally on June 26th and is available for free download for one week at pages.umusic-mail.com/ume/jimmycliff.
Track List:
World Upside Down
One More
Cry No More
Children’s Bread
Bang
Guns Of Brixton
Reggae Music
Outsider
Rebel Rebel
Ruby Soho
Blessed Love
Ship Is Sailing
One More (Alternate Version)
Tour Dates:
06/19 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
06/21 – Las Vegas, NV – Hard Rock Hotel (Pool Stage)
06/22 – Inglewood, CA – Hollywood Park
06/23 – Boonville, CA – Mendocino County Fairground
06/24 – Portland, OR – Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre
06/26 – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
06/27 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
06/29 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
07/01 – Queens, NY – Roy Wilkens Park
07/02 – Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head
07/04 – Louisville, KY – Waterfront Independence Festival
07/06 – Sursee, Switzerland – Summer Sound Openair
07/07 – La Perrière (Normandy), France – Les Estivales de la Perrière
07/08 – Turku, Finland – Ruis-Rock Festival
07/12 – La Grande-Motte, France – Theatre de Verdure
07/14 – Guildford, UK – Guilfest
07/16 – Madrid, Spain – Veranos De La Villa
07/19 – Manosque, France – Festival Musiks à Manosque
07/22 – Pfaeffikon, Switzerland – Reeds Festival
07/27 – Malmesbury, UK – WOMAD Festival
07/28 – Dorset, UK – Camp Bestival
07/29 – Selestat, France – Lez’ Arts Sceniques
08/01 – Stockholm, Sweden – Grona Lund
08/03 – Gignac, France – Festival Ecaussyteme
08/04 – Crozon, France – Festival du Bout du Monde
08/06 – London, UK – Indigo 2
08/08 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
08/10 – Bildein, Austria – Picture On Festival
