The Harder They Come (soundtrack)

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The Harder They Come

Soundtrack by Jimmy Cliff
Released	July 7, 1972
Recorded	1967–1972
Genre	Reggae
Length	39:55
Label	Island Records
Producer	Jimmy Cliff, Derrick Harriott, Leslie Kong, Byron Lee, Guilly Bright
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (A) link

The soundtrack to the film The Harder They Come was released in 1972. It was compiled by reggae singer Jimmy Cliff, who starred in the film and performed some of the songs. The album peaked on Billboard's North America Pop Albums chart at #140. In 2003, the album was ranked number 119 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The soundtrack album played a major part in popularizing reggae in the United States, and the title song was a popular single. In 2004, "The Harder They Come" was ranked #341 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". The song has been covered by many artists, such as: Jerry Garcia, Keith Richards, Johnny Thunders and Wayne Kramer's short-lived band Gang War, Willie Nelson, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, the Waco Brothers, Madness, Rancid and Dubnium. The song is the entrance music for heavyweight boxer Samuel Peter.

Other songs on the soundtrack include: "You Can Get It if You Really Want", "Sitting Here in Limbo" and "Many Rivers to Cross", all by Jimmy Cliff. "Many Rivers to Cross" was later covered by UB40. The original version of the reggae classic "Johnny Too Bad" by the Slickers is also in the soundtrack. Toots and the Maytals contributed "Sweet and Dandy" and "Pressure Drop" (later covered by The Clash).