1980-11-24 Third World (and Jimmy Cliff)

Triangle Theatre

Bob Marley fell ill in 1980 but reggae music was about to reach its apex, with a lot of great music coming out. High on the list of the greatest reggae artists of all time stand both of these bands. Both were huge influences on me, and on so much of the other music around then.

Although only Third World is on the stub, Jimmy Cliff performed after Third World at this show. I believe this was the only time I saw Third World in their original form, and they blew me away that night. I drove a bunch of friends up from Ithaca and we sat close up in the balcony, comfortable seats with a perfect sight line to everything happening on stage.

I appreciate seeing great multi-instrument keyboard players, and taking in Michael "Ibo" Cooper's performance with Third World that night left me with my jaw wide open. According to wikipedia he currently teaches full-time as head of the Caribbean, Latin American and jazz department (Popular Music Studies) at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica.

The stage set was changed during the intermission to include a center riser on which Cliff moved about during the performance. Jimmy Cliff gave a classic performance highlighting his earlier material.

1982-09-25 Peter Tosh / Jimmy Cliff

Felt Forum

I had great seats for this show, sitting down front to the left in the first section. The band started the introduction to "Pick Myself Up," the opening number, and Tosh strutted out in a funky outfit with a walking stick, instantly mesmerizing the crowd. Tosh had enormous stage presence - not just merely because of his tall, lanky body. He was always so cool - too cool for his shirt - and his sunglasses.

Jimmy Cliff performed tunes from the "Special" album at this show. All of these reggae albums and shows in this era have come to be known as classics, and this show featured two of the greatest reggae artists of all time. That Jimmy Cliff album is one of my favorite reggae records, all of the songs are worth many great listens, as are the alternate and dub versions.