After reading about singer-songwriter Jimmy Cliff's passing yesterday, I thought back to my college radio days and how often I turned to Cliff's music when I wanted to program a reggae segue on KCOU. In my view, these are seven of his best tracks:
- I Want To Know (Who isn't curious about the origins of the universe?)
- Many Rivers To Cross (I've always liked how optimistically Cliff sings this. When you approach a challenge this way, you're probably more likely to conquer it.)
- Money Won't Save You (Fair warning about not being too materialistic.)
- Sitting In Limbo (Good lyrics acknowledge the uncertainty that comes with major transitions in one's life. Thea Gilmore's cover of this struck a chord with me in late 2005, when I was on the cusp of moving to a new residence but didn't know where it would be yet.)
- Waterfall (An appealing, almost bubblegum track not far removed from Gary Puckett & The Union Gap's sensibilities. To me, it's Cliff's catchiest tune and the one I've listened to most in recent years.)
- Wonderful World, Beautiful People (Idealistic lyrics about a striving for a harmonious world, undercut with a dose of reality.)
- You Can Get It If You Really Want (One of Cliff's best-known recordings, for good reason; it's a sunny, singable tribute to what one can achieve through hard work and perseverance. I played this multiple times on KCOU, and it always improved my mood.)
