Gotta admit that my first exposure to Jimmy Cliff's music was by proxy: British Invasion greats the Animals covered Cliff's classic "Many Rivers To Cross" on their 1977 reunion album Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted. The album was a big favorite for me that summer of '77, as I prepared to enter college in the fall. I don't think I had even an unconscious notion connecting the idea of "many rivers to cross" with my own transition from high school senior to soon-to-be-matriculatin' college freshman. For whatever reason, "Many Rivers To Cross" and the Animals' cover of Bashful Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" were my go-to tracks on Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted. Like Johnny Nash vicariously introducing me to Bob Marley via an AM Top 40 hit cover of "Stir It Up" in 1972, the Animals' version of "Many Rivers To Cross" was my on-ramp to Jimmy Cliff.
I can't say I ever listened to a ton of Jimmy Cliff at any point. Dana played Cliff's 1962 ska single "Miss Jamaica" on our TIRnRR precursor We're Your Friends For Now in 1992, and I eventually scored a CD copy of the soundtrack of The Harder They Come. We've occasionally played a few tracks from that album on the show, but our reggae programming tends to defer to Toots and the Maytals.
But I respect Jimmy Cliff. If it seems pro forma for us to play Cliff as the music world mourns his passing, it is no less sincere. You can get it if you really want. The harder they come. Sitting in limbo. Miss Jamaica. And, by proxy, the Animals with "Many Rivers To Cross."
We'll cross those rivers as we meet 'em. Godspeed, Jimmy Cliff. This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on another Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream, and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO.
You can read all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO). You can follow Carl's daily blog at Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do).
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.
Carl's latest book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get Carl's previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.
The many fine This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio compilation albums are still available, each full of that rockin' pop sound you crave. A portion of all sales benefit our perpetually cash-strapped community radio project:
TIRnRR # 1313: 11/30/2025
TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold
BLONDIE: Hanging On The Telephone (Chrysalis, The Platinum Collection)
BOB DYLAN: I Want You [Take 4, Alternate Take] (Columbia, The Bootleg Series Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965-1966)
JIMMY CLIFF: Sitting In Limbo (Island, VA: The Harder They Come OST)
THE ENGLISH BEAT: Mirror In The Bathroom (Shout Factory, Keep The Beat: The Very Best Of The English Beat)
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THE ANIMALS: Many Rivers To Cross (Jet, Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted)
CHUBBY CHECKER: The Fly (Cameo Parkway, Dancin' Party: The Chubby Checker Collection [1960-1966])
THE RAMONES: I'm Affected (Rhino, End Of The Century)
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THE BUSBOYS: Me And The Band (BEO Entertainment, In My Heart)
DELBERT McCLINTON: "B" Movie Boxcar Blues (Mercury, Second Wind)
DWIGHT TWILLEY: No Place Like Home (Big Oak, The Best Of Dwight Twilley: The Tulsa Years 1999-2016)
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JIMMY SILVA AND THE EMPTY SET FEATURING KIM WONDERLY: Train Crossing (ESD, JIMMY SILVA AND THE GOATS: Heidi)
THE FASTBACKS: Just Say (Sub Pop, VA: Hype! The Motion Picture Soundtrack)
JIMMY CLIFF: You Can Get It If You Really Want (Island, VA: The Harder They Come OST)
IGGY POP: Real Wild Child (Virgin, A Million In Prizes)
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THE PLEASERS: You Don't Know (Lost Moment, Thamesbeat)
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JIMMY CLIFF: Miss Jamaica (Music Club, VA: This Is Ska!)
KIRSTY MacCOLL: He's On The Beach (IRS, Galore: The Best Of Kirsty MacColl)
THE KINKS: The Village Green Preservation Society (Universal, The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society)
KLAATU: True Life Hero (Klaatunes, 3:47 e.s.t.)
PRINCE AND THE REVOLUTION: I Would Die 4 U (Warner Brothers, The Hits/The B-Sides)
TONES ON TAIL: Go! (EMI, VA: Living In Oblivion: The 80's Greatest Hits, Vol. 4)
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The Greatest Record Ever Made!
THE OHMS: License To Kill (unreleased)
MOON MARTIN: Dangerous (Capitol, Escape From Domination)
MIKE BROWNING: Paisley Haze (single) THE MONKEES: Birth Of An Accidental Hipster (Rhino, Good Times!)
THE UNDERTONES: Teenage Kicks (Sire, The Undertones)
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THE CASTAWAYS: Liar, Liar (Rhino, VA: Nuggets)
SCOTTY GRAND, JACOB YOFFEE And ROAHN HYLTON: All I Know (The Wonder Years Theme) (single)
THE JUJUS: You Treat Me Bad (Speaks Louder Than Words) (Strawberry, VA: Pushin' Too Hard [American Garage Punk 1964-67])
THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Tomorrow's Just A Day Away (7T's, Elevator)
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THE SLAPBACKS: Make Something Happen (Kool Kat Music, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4)
THE PIXIES: Here Comes Your Man (4AD, Pixies)
PERILOUS: Glass Of Something (single) THE PRETENDERS: Stop Your Sobbing (Sire, The Singles)
JIMMY CLIFF: The Harder They Come (Island, VA: The Harder They Come OST)
THE BEATLES: Revolution 1 (Apple, The Beatles)
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MICKY DOLENZ: You Are My One (7a, Dolenz Sings Nesmith)
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