Universal Music Enterprises today announced it will release REBIRTH, the new studio album from Jimmy Cliff, on Tuesday, July 17, 2012.
"I was inspired to re-visit my musical past and decided to go back to my roots on this record," said Cliff. "REBIRTH is a new chapter in my life and signifies a rebirth in my career and all I have left to accomplish."
REBIRTH once again pairs the reggae superstar with the award-winning producer and punk legend Tim Armstrong, who produced the thirteen-track album. Armstrong also produced Cliff’s Sacred Fire EP which was released late in 2011, and Rolling Stone magazine hailed the music as Cliff’s "best music in decades."
"Jimmy is one of my musical heroes and I’ve been responding to his music my entire life," said Armstrong. "I enjoy the creative spontaneity of collaborating with other people. I always want to try new things. It’s the type of creative energy I have."
Together they bring fire to both compelling Cliff originals and a couple of pointedly chosen covers. "World Upside Down" and "One More" show an artist as engaged with – and troubled by – the state of the world as much as he was when he made such landmark songs as "You Can Get It If You Really Want" and the title song of the movie The Harder They Come, both game-changers that will mark their 40th anniversary this year. A version of the Clash’s "The Guns of Brixton" taps into the popular uprisings for freedom in the Middle East, not to mention the recent London riots, which took place as sessions for the album were underway. Rancid’s affectionate portrait "Ruby Soho" brings the generations together, a full-circle journey of icon and acolytes.
The first single from REBIRTH will be the track "One More," which serves as a personal statement of purpose and a promise to both himself and the world affirming that he has much left to do. "’One More’ kind of speaks to that," says Cliff. "One more shot at the prize. One more shot at the goal. Straight from the soul and in control." "One More" will be released digitally on June 26th and is available for free download for one week.
JIMMY CLIFF TOUR DATES
JUNE
22 – Inglewood, CA – Hollywood Park
23 – Boonville, CA – Mendocino County Fairground
24 – Portland, OR – Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre
26 – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
27 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
29 – Milawaukee, WI – Summerfest
JULY
1 – Queens, NY – Roy Wilkens Park
2 – Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head
4 – Louisville, KY – Waterfront Independence Festival
6 – Sursee, Switzerland – Summer Sound Openair
7 – La Perrière (Normandy), France – Les Estivales de la Perrière
8 – Turku, Finland – Ruis-Rock Festival
12 – La Grande-Motte, France – Theatre de Verdure
14 – Guildford, UK – Guilfest
16 – Madrid, Spain – Veranos De La Villa
19 – Manosque, France – Festival Musiks à Manosque
22 – Pfaeffikon, Switzerland – Reeds Festival
27 – Malmesbury, UK – WOMAD Festival
28 – Dorset, UK – Camp Bestival
29 – Selestat, France – Lez’ Arts Sceniques
AUGUST
1 – Stockholm, Sweden – Grona Lund
3 – Gignac, France – Festival Ecaussyteme
4 – Crozon, France – Festival du Bout du Monde
6 – London, UK – Indigo 2
8 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
10 – Bildein, Austria – Picture On Festival
