Man in the Hills
Encyclopedia
Man in the Hills is a reggae album by Jamaica
n musician Burning Spear
(Winston Rodney), released in 1976 (see 1976 in music
) on Island Records
. Man in the Hills was follow-up to the seminal Marcus Garvey
; Man in the Hills is usually considered a worthy follow-up, though less innovative and incendiary. produced
by Jack Ruby
, Man in the Hills is a simple and unadorned album, with songs that reminisce about Spear's childhood in St. Anne's Bay, Jamaica.
"Door Peep" was originally recorded in 1969 at Studio One after Spear ran into Bob Marley
(also from St. Anne's Bay); Spear later quotes Marley "And Bob was going to his farm. The man was moving with a donkey and some buckets and a fork, and cutlass
and plants. We just reason man-to-man and I-man say wherein I would like to get involved in the music business. And Bob say, 'All right, just check Studio One.' " The single was released but fared poorly on the Jamaican charts.
After Marcus Garvey, Spear's fame had grown considerably, and he was a star in Jamaica and cult sensation in the United Kingdom
. Man in the Hills was a much quieter and more restrained album than its predecessor, and was more astoral and dreamlike than militant and radical (though songs like "Is It Good" and "No More War" continue to address social issues).
"Man in the Hills", the titular album opener evokes the superiority of rural living over urban. In Jamaican history, the roots of radical protest, a national identity and the Rastafari movement
, grew from communities formed by escaped slaves in the hills and (after emancipation in 1838) the so-called "Free Villages
".
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n musician Burning Spear
Burning Spear
Winston Rodney, OD , also known as Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer and musician. Burning Spear is known for his Rastafari movement messages.-History:...
(Winston Rodney), released in 1976 (see 1976 in music
1976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....
) on Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. Man in the Hills was follow-up to the seminal Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey (album)
Marcus Garvey is the third album by the reggae singer Burning Spear, released in 1975 on Island Records, ILPS 9377. The album is named after the Jamaican National Hero Marcus Garvey...
; Man in the Hills is usually considered a worthy follow-up, though less innovative and incendiary. produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Jack Ruby
Jack Ruby (record producer)
Lawrence Lindo , better known as Jack Ruby, was a Jamaican record producer and sound system operator, best known for his 1970s productions of artists such as Burning Spear....
, Man in the Hills is a simple and unadorned album, with songs that reminisce about Spear's childhood in St. Anne's Bay, Jamaica.
"Door Peep" was originally recorded in 1969 at Studio One after Spear ran into Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
(also from St. Anne's Bay); Spear later quotes Marley "And Bob was going to his farm. The man was moving with a donkey and some buckets and a fork, and cutlass
Cutlass
A cutlass is a short, broad sabre or slashing sword, with a straight or slightly curved blade sharpened on the cutting edge, and a hilt often featuring a solid cupped or basket shaped guard...
and plants. We just reason man-to-man and I-man say wherein I would like to get involved in the music business. And Bob say, 'All right, just check Studio One.' " The single was released but fared poorly on the Jamaican charts.
After Marcus Garvey, Spear's fame had grown considerably, and he was a star in Jamaica and cult sensation in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Man in the Hills was a much quieter and more restrained album than its predecessor, and was more astoral and dreamlike than militant and radical (though songs like "Is It Good" and "No More War" continue to address social issues).
"Man in the Hills", the titular album opener evokes the superiority of rural living over urban. In Jamaican history, the roots of radical protest, a national identity and the Rastafari movement
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
, grew from communities formed by escaped slaves in the hills and (after emancipation in 1838) the so-called "Free Villages
Free Villages
Free Villages is the term used for Caribbean settlements, particularly in Jamaica, founded in the 1830s and 1840s independent of the control of plantation owners and other major estates.-Pioneering the concept:...
".
Track listing
- "Man in the Hills" (Rodney) – 4:00
- "It's Good" (Fullwood/Rodney) – 2:45
- "No More War" (Rodney) – 3:19
- "Black Soul" (Rodney) – 3:25
- "Lion" (Rodney) – 3:14
- "People Get Ready" (Rodney) – 3:22
- "Children" (Rodney) – 3:44
- "Mother" (Rodney) – 3:37
- "Door Peep" (Rodney) – 2:40
- "Groovy" (Rodney) – 3:53
Credits
- Recorded at Randy's Recording Studio, North Parade; and Harry J Studio, Roosevelt Avenue, Kingston, Jamaica
- Original album design and illustration: Neville GarrickNeville GarrickNeville Garrick is a Jamaican-born Los Angeles-based graphic artist, photographer, filmmaker, and writer.He is best known for creating the art work for many Bob Marley album covers. He has also worked with Burning Spear, Steel Pulse and many others...
Musicians
- Winston Rodney – lead vocals and percussion
- Delroy Hines – harmany vocals
- Rupert Willington – harmany vocals
- Robbie Shakespeare – bass
- Aston "Family Man" BarrettAston BarrettAston Barrett , often called "Family Man" or "Fams" for short, is a Jamaican bass player and Rastafarian.-Biography:...
– bass - Leroy "Horsemouth" WallaceLeroy WallaceLeroy "Horsemouth" Wallace is a Jamaican drummer who worked for several years at Studio One, and has worked with numerous reggae artists including The Gladiators, Inner Circle, Prince Far I, Sound Dimension, Gregory Isaacs, Burning Spear, Ijahman Levi and Pierpoljak. He starred as himself in the...
– drums - Bernard "Touter" Harvey – keyboards
- Earl "Wire" LindoEarl LindoEarl "Wire" Lindo, b. 7 January 1953 is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is a member of The Wailers and has collaborated with numerous reggae artists including Burning Spear.-Biography:...
– keyboards - Tyrone "Organ D" DownieTyrone DownieTyrone Downie is a Jamaican keyboardist/pianist who is most known for his involvement as a member of Bob Marley and The Wailers. He studied at Kingston College and joined the wailers in the mid-1970s, making his recording début with the band on Rastaman Vibration, having previously been a member of...
– keyboards - Earl "Chinna" Smith – lead and rhythm guitar
- Tony ChinValentine ChinAlbert Valentine "Tony" Chin is a Jamaican guitarist, who has collaborated with many reggae artists including Burning Spear and Johnny Clarke. Chin is an original member of The Soul Syndicate, a backing band on countless reggae tracks, which evolved from The Rhythm Raiders. They recorded for Keith...
– rhythm guitar - Bobby EllisBobby EllisBobby Ellis born 2 July 1932, is a Jamaican trumpet player. He has worked with many reggae artists including Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, and The Revolutionaries.-Biography:...
– trumpet - Richard "Dirty Harry" Hall – tenor saxophone
- Herman MarquisHerman MarquisHerman Marquis is a Jamaican saxophone musician who has played with many reggae artists including Burning Spear. He recorded for Arthur "Duke" Reid in the 1960s and was a member of The Revolutionaries and The Upsetters in the 1970s...
– alto saxophone - Vincent "Trommie" Gordon – trombone