Released 30 years ago
Chant Down Babylon: The Island Anthology
Burning Spear · 1996
149 min · 35 tracks · dub music
A vibrant fusion of roots reggae and dub, steeped in historical consciousness and spiritual fervor.
Top tracks — play these first
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Marcus Garvey Start here — This track remains a defining statement within reggae music, encapsulating the spirit of Marcus Garvey's teachings on empowerment and identity.
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Slavery Days — A poignant reflection on the legacy of slavery, this song illustrates Burning Spear's commitment to addressing social injustices through powerful lyrics and emotive delivery.
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No More War — With its urgent call for peace, this track resonates deeply within the context of global conflicts and exemplifies Burning Spear's advocacy for unity and harmony among people.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- cultural pride and resistance themes
- headphone detail hunting for messaging
- for reflective afternoon listening
- engaging live performances enhance experience
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, immediate gratification
- dislike lengthy, cohesive albums
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This anthology helped popularize Burning Spear's music internationally in the mid-90s.
- Career context
- By the time 'Chant Down Babylon: The Island Anthology' was released in 1996, Burning Spear had already established themselves as a cornerstone of roots reggae since the early 1970s. This compilation album showcases selections from their extensive catalog, coinciding with a period of recognition that followed their earlier works like 'Marcus Garvey' and 'Social Living'. The anthology serves as both a retrospective and an introduction to newcomers, encapsulating the essence of Burning Spear's powerful message.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Peter Tosh· Black Uhuru· Culture
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Marcus Garvey Start here 3:25
- 2 Slavery Days 3:32
- 3 I & I Survive 3:52
- 4 Old Marcus Garvey 4:01
- 5 Tradition 3:30
- 6 The Invasion (A.K.A. Black Wa-Da-Da) 5:34
- 7 Door Peep 2:40
- 8 No More War 3:21
- 9 Black Soul 3:27
- 10 Man in the Hills 4:01
- 11 Cultivation 4:09
- 12 The Sun 3:45
- 13 It’s a Long Way Around 3:10
- 14 Throw Down Your Arms 4:08
- 15 Dry & Heavy 3:32
- 16 Black Disciples 4:29
- 17 The Lion (live) 6:07
- 18 Jordan River (live) 4:53
- 19 Jah No Dead 2:09
Disc 2
- 1 Marcus Children Suffer 4:39
- 2 Social Living 7:46
- 3 Marcus Say Jah No Dead 3:53
- 4 Nyah Keith 4:04
- 5 Civilize Reggae 5:48
- 6 Mek We Dweet 4:20
- 7 My Roots 4:23
- 8 Recall Some Great Men 4:12
- 9 Great Men’s Dub 4:14
- 10 One People 4:12
- 11 African Woman 4:18
- 12 Jah Kingdom 4:01
- 13 Praise Him 4:06
- 14 Should I 4:15
- 15 Estimated Prophet 6:52
- 16 Thank You 4:24
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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