Throw Down Your Arms

Throw Down Your Arms
Studio album by Sinéad O'Connor
Released 4 October 2005
Recorded 2004 at Tuff Gong Studios and Anchor Studios in Kingston, Jamaica
Genre Reggae
Length CD 1: 47:27
CD 2: 48:09
Label Chocolate and Vanilla
Producer Sly and Robbie
Professional reviews

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Sinéad O'Connor chronology
Collaborations
(2005)		 Throw Down Your Arms
(2005)		 Theology
(2007)

Throw Down Your Arms is a 2005 album by Sinéad O'Connor and shows influence from Jamaican roots reggae and the Rastafari tradition. Throw Down Your Arms is a collection of classic roots reggae songs performed by O'Connor and produced by Sly and Robbie.

The Japanese version of the CD also includes "Move Out of Babylon", "Abendigo", and "Jah Can Count on I".

The CD was released forty-two years after the speech of Haile Selassie to the United Nations (4 October 1963) on the day of the annual solar eclipse which is the start of the new year according to the Jewish tradition (Rosh Hashanah).

The album sleeve was designed by evidentlydesign.com.

The album sold over 250,000 copies worldwide, with 10% of the profits being donated to support Rastafari elders in Jamaica.

The original songs were recorded by the following Jamaican reggae artists: "Marcus Say Jah No Dead" (Burning Spear in 1978), "Marcus Garvey" (Burning Spear in 1975), "Door Peep" (Burning Spear in 1976), "He Prayed" (Burning Spear in 1973), "Y Mas Gan" (The Abyssinians in 1969), "Curly Locks" (Junior Byles in 1974), "Vampire" (Devon Irons in 1976), "Prophet Has Arise" (Israel Vibration in 1978), "Downpressor Man" (Peter Tosh in 1977*), "Throw Down Your Arms" (Burning Spear in 1977), "Untold Stories" (Buju Banton in 1995), "War" (Bob Marley & The Wailers in 1976), "Move Out Of Babylon" (Johnny Clarke in 1974), "Abendigo" (The Abyssinians in 1969)," Jah Can Count On I" (Little Roy in 1975). *Note: Sinéad O'Connor cover of "Downpressor Man" is closer to Peter Tosh recording made in 1977. But the song was previously recorded three other times by Peter Tosh with The Wailers: "Sinner Man" (1966, produced by Coxsone Dodd), "Downpresser" (1971, produced by Lee Perry) and "Oppressor Man" (1972, produced by Peter Tosh). The cover of "Marcu Say Jah No Dead" is closer to Burning Spear's acapella version featured on the Rockers soundtrack. A few other reggae covers were done by Sinéad O'Connor when she was touring to promote the album, such as "Rivers Of Babylon" (by The Melodians), "None A Jah Jah Children No Cry" (by Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus), "Keep Cool Babylon" (by Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus), "Stepping Razor" and "Creation" (by Peter Tosh).

Contents

Track listing

CD 1 (Original versions)
1. Jah Nuh Dead 3.20
2. Marcus Garvey 3.28
3. Door Peep 3.22
4. He Prayed 3.27
5. Y Mas Gan 3.49
6. Curly Locks 4.22
7. Vampire 4.02
8. Prophet Has Arise 4.26
9. Downpressor Man 5.08
10. Throw Down Your Arms 4.02
11. Untold Stories 3.40
12. War 4.04
CD 2 (Dub versions)
1. Micah 4:1-5 about the Kingdom come and "swords into plowshares"

with last line reading: "All the peoples walk each in the name of their Gods."

 0.57
2. Jah Nuh Dead 3.12
3. Marcus Garvey 3.29
4. Door Peep 3.19
5. He Prayed 3.28
6. Y Mas Gan 3.51
7. Curly Locks 4.17
8. Vampire 4.01
9. Prophet Has Arise 4.24
10. Downpressor Man 5.07
11. Throw Down Your Arms 4.12
12. Untold Stories 3.42
13. War 4.04

Personnel

Charts

Country Date Position Certification
Republic of Ireland 6 October 2005 17 [2] Gold [3]
Billboard Independent Albums 2005 36 [4]  
Billboard Reggae Albums 2005 4 [4]  
French Album Charts 2005 26 [1]  
Polish Album Charts 2005 24  

References

  1. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Sinéad O'Connor". Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=Sin%E9ad+O%27Connor. 
  2. ^ ChartTrack.co.uk Irish album charts week 40, 2005 Accessed: 2 November 2006
  3. ^ IrishCharts.ie Gold certifications Accessed: 2 November 2006
  4. ^ a b Billboard.com Sinead O'Connor album chart history Accessed: 3 December 2006
Sinéad O'Connor
Studio albums
The Lion and the Cobra (1987) • I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990) • Am I Not Your Girl? (1992) • Universal Mother (1994) • Gospel Oak EP (1997) • Faith and Courage (2000) • Sean-Nós Nua (2002) • Throw Down Your Arms (2005) • Theology (2007) • How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? (2012)
Compilations
Video albums
Singles
"Troy" (1987) • "Mandinka" (1987) • "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" (1988) • "Jerusalem" (1988) • "Jump in the River" (1988) • "Nothing Compares 2 U" (1990) • "The Emperor's New Clothes" (1990) • "Three Babies" (1990) • "I Am Stretched on Your Grave" (1990)• "My Special Child" (1991) • "Silent Night" (1991) • "Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home" (1992) • "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" (1992) • "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart" (1994) • "Thank You for Hearing Me" (1994) • "Fire on Babylon" (1994) • "Famine"/"All Apologies" (1995) • "This Is to Mother You" (1997) • "This Is a Rebel Song" (1997) • "Chiquitita" (1998) • "No Man's Woman" (2000) • "Jealous" (2000) • "Troy (The Phoenix From the Flame)" (2002) • "My Lagan Love" (2002) • "A Hundred Thousand Angels" (2003) • "Marcus Garvey" (2005) • "Throw Down Your Arms" (2005) • "I Don't Know How to Love Him" (2007) • "Something Beautiful" (2007) • "We People (Who Are Darker Than Blue)" (2008) • "How About I Be Me" (2011)
Guest singles
"Heroine" (1986) • "Blood of Eden" (1992) • "Don't Give Up" (1993) • "Haunted" (1995) • "Empire" (1996) • "Guide Me God" (2002) • "Tears from the Moon" (2002) • "1000 Mirrors" (2003) • "Special Cases" (2003) • "Illegal Attacks" (2007) • "It's Only Life" (2010)
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