Comment: When I posted this up originally, I had a comment but today I noticed it had completely disappeared.
God knows how and why; I’m completely befuddled so here I start again.

On a hot day in South London, Madness, the legendary ska band had done it again and chose, this time, the best acts to open before them.

Being that there was quite a few hard acts to follow (legend Horace Andy and Ziggy Marley) veteran Jimmy Cliff could have slipped on his age old laurels. But it’s his timeless songs and ageless energetic movements that got the crowd dancing and singing at the top of their lungs that made this show a joyful event.

Whenever Reggae is discussed, it’s always been about Bob Marley.
Because…we are constantly reminded, Reggae is ONLY Bob Marley.
Go into a Reggae shop or stall and the t-shirts are either JUST Bob Marley or Haile Sellasie; no one else.
But for a short time before; there was Jimmy Cliff.
A soulful singer, he has been making albums since 1967 that mixed Ska, Reggae and soulful covers of other artists’ songs. (THIS superior version of the Cat Steven’s song.) but it was the 1972 film, “The Harder They Come” that brought him international fame. It also broke Reggae and introduced it to the rest of the world.
Although he is more known for his pop commercial songs, he did it all early (‘Vietnam’ was an early protest song, for example) and has nearly been forgotten after Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Ragga and Reggaeton ursurped him.
He has so many upbeat songs and is a joy to witness in concert and here,playing before Madness, reminds us; who was first, and in many ways; still the best.

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