Liberation (Bunny Wailer album)

Liberation
Studio album by
Released1989
Recorded1987–1989, Dynamic Sounds Recording Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
GenreReggae
LabelShanachie
ProducerBunny Wailer
Bunny Wailer chronology
Rootsman Skanking
(1987)
Liberation
(1989)
Gumption
(1990)

Liberation is an album by the Jamaican musician Bunny Wailer, released in 1989 through Shanachie Records.[1][2] Wailer supported the album with a North American tour.[3] It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Reggae Recording" category.[4]

Production

[edit]

"Botha the Mosquito" is about South African president P. W. Botha.[5] Wailer included a reproduction of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the album notes.[6]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Robert ChristgauB[8]
Los Angeles Times[9]

The Los Angeles Times wrote: "Wailer seems snake-bitten here—the better melodies deliver lyrics that aren't particularly fresh, and the stronger themes are coupled with lackluster hooks that don't cut through the production problems."[9] The Gazette called the album "roots reggae par excellence."[10]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks written by Neville "Bunny" Livingston.

  1. "Rise and Shine"
  2. "Liberation"
  3. "Botha the Mosquito"
  4. "Want to Come Home"
  5. "Ready When You Ready"
  6. "Didn't You Know"
  7. "Dash Wey the Vial"
  8. "Bald Head Jesus"
  9. "Food"
  10. "Serious Thing"

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Milward, John (23 Feb 1989). "Wailer Will 'Soon Come' for Tour of States". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D1.
  2. ^ Point, Michael (10 Mar 1989). "Reggae legend Bunny Wailer...". Austin American-Statesman. p. F5.
  3. ^ Reilly, Terri F. (14 Apr 1989). "Hot Tickets". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. F4.
  4. ^ "Bunny Wailer". Recording Academy. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  5. ^ Morse, Steve (20 Apr 1989). "Wailer Returns to Roots and Rights". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 8.
  6. ^ Harrington, Richard (26 Apr 1989). "The World at Your Ear". The Washington Post. p. D7.
  7. ^ Anderson, Rick. "Review: Liberation". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  8. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Reviews: Liberation". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  9. ^ a b Snowden, Don (26 Feb 1989). "Record Rack". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 70.
  10. ^ Feist, Daniel (11 June 1989). "Beating a track to the world sounds begins with research". The Gazette. p. H6.