Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff was born James Chambers on 30 July 1944 in Saint James, Colony of Jamaica.{{cite web|last=Greene|first=Jo-Ann|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-cliff-mn0000295276/biography|title=Jimmy Cliff Biography|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=30 August 2020}} He began writing songs while still at primary school in St. James, listening to a neighbour's sound system. When Chambers was 14, his father took him to Kingston, where he would take up the stage name Jimmy Cliff.{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Dave |title=Reggae & Caribbean Music |year=2002 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=0-87930-655-6|page=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ARrDQKqFo7AC&q=jimmy+cliff+somerton|via=Google Books}}

Cliff sought out many producers while still going to school, trying to get his songs recorded without success. He also entered talent contests. "One night I was walking past a record store and restaurant as they were closing, pushed myself in and convinced one of them, Leslie Kong, to go into the recording business, starting with me," he writes in his own website biography. After two singles that failed to make much impression, his career took off when "Hurricane Hattie" became a hit while he was aged 17.{{cite web |first= Jo-Ann| last= Greene |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-cliff-mn0000295276/biography |title=Jimmy Cliff Biography |publisher=AllMusic|access-date= 2012-12-23 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914060404/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-cliff-mn0000295276/biography |archive-date=14 September 2013}} It was produced by Kong, with whom Cliff remained until Kong's death from a heart attack in 1971.{{cn|date=May 2022}}

Cliff's later local hit singles included "King of Kings", "Dearest Beverley", "Miss Jamaica", and "Pride and Passion". In 1964, Cliff was chosen as one of Jamaica's representatives at the World's Fair in New York; and in the same year Cliff was featured in a program called "This is Ska!" alongside Prince Buster, Toots and the Maytals, and Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.Jw31209. "This Is Ska! (2/4) 1964 Jimmy Cliff/Prince Buster/Toots & The Maytals and More..." YouTube. YouTube, 5 Feb. 2010. Web. <{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB2elK7PVFg |title=This is Ska! (2/4) 1964 Jimmy Cliff/Prince Buster/Toots & the Maytals and more... - YouTube |website=YouTube |date=5 February 2010 |access-date=2016-12-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501072504/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB2elK7PVFg |archive-date=1 May 2016}}> 2 December 2016.

He soon signed to Island Records and moved to the United Kingdom. Island Records initially (and unsuccessfully) tried to sell Cliff to the rock audience, but his career took off in the late 1960s.{{cite book |author1=Steve Barrow |author2=Peter Dalton |title=Reggae: The Rough Guide |year=1997 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=1-85828-247-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/reggaeroughguide00barro }} His international debut album was Hard Road to Travel, released in 1967. It received excellent reviews and included "Waterfall" (composed by Nirvana's Alex Spyropoulos and Patrick Campbell-Lyons), which became a hit in Brazil and won the International Song Festival.

"Waterfall" was followed in 1969 by "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and "Vietnam" in 1970, both popular throughout most of the world. Bob Dylan called "Vietnam" the best protest song he had ever heard. Also during this period, Cliff released a cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" as a single, but it was not included on his Wonderful World, Beautiful People album.{{cn|date=May 2022}}

In 1972, Cliff starred as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin in the classic reggae film, The Harder They Come, directed by Perry Henzell.{{cite web |url=https://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0070155/ |title=The Harder They Come (1972) |publisher=IMDb |access-date=2012-12-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222040855/http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0070155/ |archive-date=22 February 2012}} As the film tells Martin's story, he is a young man without funds. Arriving in Kingston from the country, he tries to make it in the recording business, but without success. Eventually, he turns to a life of crime. The soundtrack album of the film was a huge success that sold well around the world, bringing reggae to an international audience for the first time. It remains one of the most internationally significant films to have come out of Jamaica since independence. The film made its debut at London's Gaumont cinema in Notting Hill on 1 September 1972.{{cite book| first= John| last= Tobler| year= 1992| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years| edition= 1st| publisher= Reed International Books Ltd| location= London| page= 242| id= CN 5585}}

In 1976, Cliff sang on the first season of Saturday Night Live, episode 12, hosted by Dick Cavett. After a series of albums, Cliff took a break and traveled to Africa (the Nigeria-based Jamaican writer Lindsay Barrett was instrumental in Cliff's first trip there),{{cite web |url=http://www.thecaribzone.com/entertainment.php |title=Jimmy Cliff planning sequel to The Harder They Come |work=The Caribzone |publisher=thecaribzone.com |date=2009-11-24 |access-date=2014-04-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502001942/http://www.thecaribzone.com/entertainment.php |archive-date=2 May 2014}} and subsequently converted to Islam, taking the name of El Hadj Naïm Bachir.{{cite web |url=http://www.lastfm.fr/music/Jimmy+Cliff |title=Jimmy Cliff – Découvrez de la musique, des vidéos, des concerts, des stats, & des photos sur Last.fm |publisher=lastfm.fr |access-date=2012-08-13 |language=fr |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120913194645/http://www.lastfm.fr/music/Jimmy+Cliff |archive-date=13 September 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.purepeople.com/people/jimmy-cliff_p1302#biography |title=Jimmy Cliff - Toute l'actu ! |website= PurePeople.com |access-date=2012-08-13 |language=fr |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121020000946/http://www.purepeople.com/people/jimmy-cliff_p1302#biography |archive-date=20 October 2012}} In a 2021 interview, Cliff expressed a strong affinity with the religious and intellectual knowledge of ancient Egypt, scepticism of government handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and denied his earlier conversion to Islam, claiming it "didn't satisfy my soul."{{Cite news |last=L. |first=S. |date=June 11, 2021 |title=Trip to Egypt helped Jimmy Cliff to see clearly |url=https://jamaica-star.com/article/entertainment/20210611/trip-egypt-helped-jimmy-cliff-see-clearly |work=The Star}}

Cliff quickly returned to music, touring for several years before he recorded with Kool & the Gang. In 1984, Cliff appeared at the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf, Netherlands. During The River Tour, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band added Cliff's previously little-known song "Trapped" to their live set; it achieved great prominence when included on 1985's We Are the World benefit album. The follow-up, Cliff Hanger (1985), won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, though it was his last major success in the United States until 1993. Also in 1985, Cliff contributed to the song "Sun City", a protest song written and composed by Steven Van Zandt and recorded by Artists United Against Apartheid to convey opposition to the South African policy of apartheid.{{cite book| first= John| last= Tobler| year= 1992| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years| edition= 1st| publisher= Reed International Books Ltd| location= London| page= 409| id= CN 5585}}

Cliff then provided backing vocals on The Rolling Stones' 1986 album Dirty Work, and appeared in the comedy Club Paradise, co-starring with Robin Williams and Peter O'Toole,{{cite web |url=https://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0090856/ |title=Club Paradise (1986) |publisher=IMDb |access-date=2012-12-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222040937/http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0090856/ |archive-date=22 February 2012}} and contributed several songs to the soundtrack, including "Seven Day Weekend", which he sang with Elvis Costello. In 1988, his song "Shelter of Your Love" was featured in the 1988 film Cocktail.{{cn|date=May 2022}}

Cliff appeared in the film Marked for Death in 1990, performing "John Crow" with the Jimmy Cliff Band.{{cite web |url=https://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0100114/fullcredits#cast |title=Marked for Death (1990) - Full Cast & Crew |publisher=IMDb |access-date=2012-12-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222041109/http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0100114/fullcredits#cast |archive-date=22 February 2012}} His recording of "You Can Get It If You Really Want" was used as a campaign anthem by the Sandinista National Liberation Front in the 1990 election in Nicaragua.{{cite news|last1=Dugan|first1=Emily|title='I always support the lower classes': Jimmy Cliff's response to his adoption by Cameron|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/i-always-support-the-lower-classes-jimmy-cliffs-response-to-his-adoption-by-cameron-396101.html|access-date=24 August 2015|work=The Independent|date=6 October 2007 |url-status= live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925170929/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/i-always-support-the-lower-classes-jimmy-cliffs-response-to-his-adoption-by-cameron-396101.html|archive-date=25 September 2015}} In 1991, he performed at the second Rock in Rio festival in Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He continued to sell well in Jamaica and, to a lesser extent, the UK, returning to the mainstream pop charts in the U.S. and elsewhere (#1 in France) with a version of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" on the Cool Runnings film soundtrack in 1993. In 1995, Cliff released the single "Hakuna Matata", a collaboration with Lebo M, a song from the soundtrack of the film The Lion King. In 1997, Cliff was a guest star in an episode of the Cartoon Network talk show Space Ghost Coast to Coast.{{cn|date=May 2022}}

File:Jimmy Cliff Picture-On-Festival Bildein 2012-08-10.JPG, Austria, 2012]]

In 2001, Cliff became an inaugural member of the Independent Music Awards' judging panel to support independent artists.{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2002.asp |title=Independent Music Awards - 1st Annual Judges |publisher=independentmusicawards.com |access-date=2012-12-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130329150729/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2002.asp |archive-date= 29 March 2013 }} In 2002, Cliff released the album Fantastic Plastic People in Europe, after first providing free downloads using p2p software. This album featured collaborations with Joe Strummer, Annie Lennox, and Sting as well as new songs that were very reminiscent of Cliff's original hits. In 2004, Cliff completely reworked the songs, dropping the traditional reggae in favour of an electronic sound, for inclusion in Black Magic. The album also included a recording of "Over the Border" with Joe Strummer. Cliff performed at the closing ceremony to the 2002 Commonwealth Games and in 2003, his song "You Can Get It If You Really Want" was included in the soundtrack to the film, Something's Gotta Give. He also appeared in July 2003 at the Paléo Festival in Nyon, Switzerland. The Jamaican government under P. J. Patterson honoured Cliff on 20 October 2003, by awarding him The Order of Merit, the nation's fourth-highest honour, in recognition of his contributions to the film and music of Jamaica. Cliff and Mervyn Morris are the only currently living figures from the arts to hold this distinction and Cliff is the only living musician to do so.{{cn|date=May 2022}}

In 2007, Cliff performed at the opening ceremony at cricket's World Cup. In the spring and summer of 2010, Cliff embarked on an extensive tour of the U.S. and Canada. In 2007, "You Can Get It If You Really Want" was adopted by the British Conservative Party during their annual conference. He was quoted in The Independent as saying, "One of my band mates called me this morning to tell me the news. I can't stop them using the song, but I'm not a supporter of politics. I have heard of Cameron, but I'm not a supporter. I don't support any politician. I just believe in right or wrong."{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/i-always-support-the-lower-classes-jimmy-cliffs-response-to-his-adoption-by-cameron-396101.html|title='I always support the lower classes': Jimmy Cliff's response to his|website=Independent.co.uk |date=6 October 2007}}

In September 2009, he was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, following a campaign on his behalf by the American Charles Earle.{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090927/ent/ent7.html |title=Jimmy Cliff Still a Musical Rebel |publisher=Jamaica-gleaner.com |access-date= 2012-08-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614075940/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090927/ent/ent7.html |archive-date=14 June 2012 }} Cliff reacted to the news by saying, "This is good for Cliff, good for Jamaican music and good for my country." On 15 December 2009, he was officially announced as an inductee and was inducted on 15 March 2010 by Wyclef Jean.{{cite news |url= https://rockhall.com/inductees/ceremonies/2010/ |title=2010 Induction Ceremony |newspaper=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |publisher=rockhall.com |access-date=24 April 2014|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226082137/http://rockhall.com/inductees/ceremonies/2010/ |archive-date=26 February 2014}}

File:Jimmy Cliff Raggamuffin Music Festival 2011 (5414933359).jpg]]

Cliff appeared in the 2011 documentary Reggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals which was featured on BBC and described as "The untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica"."Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul". BBC Four (documentary). Directed by George Scott. UK. 2011. 59 min. Retrieved 15 December 2016. <{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ymljb |title=BBC Four - Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul |access-date=2017-05-02 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160520172432/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ymljb |archive-date=20 May 2016}}>{{cite web| author= Toots & The Maytals| title= Toots & The Maytals - Reggae Got Soul - Documentary Trailer| via= YouTube| date= 15 August 2013| access-date=15 December 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfiNMBhnd8w |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170511184707/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfiNMBhnd8w |archive-date=11 May 2017}}>

In 2011, Cliff worked with producer Tim Armstrong, lead singer of American punk band Rancid, on the EP The Sacred Fire{{cite web |url=http://video.pbs.org/video/2168524258/ |title=Video: Reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff |website= PBS.org |access-date=24 April 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130415141546/http://video.pbs.org/video/2168524258/ |archive-date=15 April 2013}} and the full-length album Rebirth.{{cite web |url= http://www.punknews.org/article/43901/jimmy-cliff-working-on-new-album-with-tim-armstrong|title=Jimmy Cliff working on new album with Tim Armstrong|date=12 August 2011 |publisher=Punknews.org|access-date=13 August 2012| url-status= live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131217010209/http://www.punknews.org/article/43901/jimmy-cliff-working-on-new-album-with-tim-armstrong|archive-date=17 December 2013}} Rebirth won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.{{cite web |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Jimmy-Cliff-s-Rebirth-nominated-for-Reggae-Grammy-album |title=Jimmy Cliff's Rebirth nominated for Reggae Grammy album |work=The Jamaica Observer | via= jamaicaobserver.com |date=6 December 2012|access-date=8 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121208015223/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Jimmy-Cliff-s-Rebirth-nominated-for-Reggae-Grammy-album |archive-date=8 December 2012}} The album was listed at #12 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 50 albums of 2012, saying "There's ska, rock steady, roots reggae, a revelatory cover of The Clash's "Guns of Brixton" delivered in Cliff's trademark soulful tenor, grittier but still lovely more than 40 years after his debut."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/jimmy-cliff-rebirth-19691231 |title=50 Best Albums of 2012: Jimmy Cliff, 'Rebirth' |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=23 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105113131/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/jimmy-cliff-rebirth-19691231 |archive-date=5 January 2013}}

In December 2012, Cliff was named Artist of the Year by digital newspaper the Caribbean Journal, citing his work on Rebirth.{{cite web |url= http://www.caribjournal.com/2012/12/31/jimmy-cliff-caribbean-journals-artist-of-the-year-for-2012|title=Jimmy Cliff: Caribbean Journal's Artist of the Year for 2012| website= caribjournal.com|access-date=31 December 2012| url-status= live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130103111655/http://www.caribjournal.com/2012/12/31/jimmy-cliff-caribbean-journals-artist-of-the-year-for-2012/|archive-date=3 January 2013|date=31 December 2012}}

In August 2022, Cliff released the album Refugees.{{cite web |url= https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/stories/2022/8/62f36c2c4/reggae-legend-jimmy-cliff-releases-new-album-titled-refugees.html|title=Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff releases new album titled 'Refugees'

| website= unhcr.org|access-date=13 August 2022}}

Cliff was briefly a member of the Rastafari movement before converting to Islam from Christianity.{{cite journal|last1=Collins|first1=D. M.|title=JIMMY CLIFF: BOOM! SMASH! IT WENT SMASH!|journal=L.A. Record|date=9 April 2012|url=http://larecord.com/interviews/2012/04/09/jimmy-cliff-boom-smash-it-went-smash|access-date=23 April 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329180635/http://larecord.com/interviews/2012/04/09/jimmy-cliff-boom-smash-it-went-smash|archive-date=29 March 2015}} He now{{when?|date=March 2025}} describes himself as having a "universal outlook on life", and does not align himself with any particular movement or religion,{{cite web |url=http://reggaenews.co.uk/interviews/jimmy_cliff.asp |title=Interviews - Jimmy Cliff |publisher=Reggae News |access-date=2013-04-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509095240/http://www.reggaenews.co.uk/interviews/jimmy_cliff.asp |archive-date=9 May 2013}} saying, "now I believe in science". He is married and has a daughter, Lilty Cliff, and a son, Aken Cliff.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jul/21/jimmy-cliff-family-values |title=Jimmy Cliff: My family values |work=The Guardian |author=Nick McGrath |date=2012-07-21 |access-date=2014-04-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222055126/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jul/21/jimmy-cliff-family-values |archive-date=22 February 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-jimmy-cliff-64-reggae-artist-7976572.html |title=My Secret Life: Jimmy Cliff, 64, reggae artist |work=The Independent|author=Holly Williams |date=2012-07-28 |access-date=2014-04-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502004149/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-jimmy-cliff-64-reggae-artist-7976572.html |archive-date=2 May 2014}} He is also the father of the actress/singer Nabiyah Be.{{Cite news|url=http://jamaicans.com/jimmy-cliff-daughter-black-panther/|title=Jimmy Cliff's daughter, Nabiyah Be, Stars in Black Panther movie |date=2018-02-17|work=Jamaicans.com|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en-US}}

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| rowspan="1"|1968

| align="left"|Jimmy Cliff in Brazil{{Ref label|B|B|}}

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| rowspan="1"|1969

| align="left"|Jimmy Cliff{{Ref label|C|C|}}

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| rowspan="3"|1971

| align="left"|Wild World

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| align="left"|Goodbye Yesterday{{Ref label|D|D|}}

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| align="left"|Another Cycle

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| rowspan="1"|1972

| align="left"|The Harder They Come

| — || — || — || 5 || — || — || 140 || —

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| rowspan="2"|1973

| align="left"|Unlimited{{Ref label|E|E|}}

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| align="left"|Struggling Man{{Ref label|F|F|}}

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| rowspan="1"|1974

| align="left"|Music Maker{{Ref label|G|G|}}

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| rowspan="2"|1975

| align="left"|Brave Warrior

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| align="left"|Follow My Mind

| — || — || — || — || — || — || 195 || —

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| rowspan="1"|1978

| align="left"|Give Thankx

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| rowspan="1"|1980

| align="left"|I Am the Living

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| rowspan="1"|1981

| align="left"|Give the People What They Want

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| rowspan="1"|1982

| align="left"|Special

| — || 29 || — || — || — || — || 186 || —

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| rowspan="1"|1983

| align="left"|The Power and the Glory

| 17 || 29 || 25 || — || — || — || — || —

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• FRA: Gold{{cite certification|region=France|type=album|source=infodisc|artist=Jimmy Cliff}}

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| rowspan="1"|1985

| align="left"|Cliff Hanger

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| rowspan="1"|1986

| align="left"|Club Paradise

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| rowspan="2"|1987

| align="left"|Hanging Fire

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| align="left"|Shout for Freedom

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| rowspan="2"|1989

| align="left"|Images

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| align="left"|Save Our Planet Earth

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| rowspan="1"|1992

| align="left"|Breakout{{Ref label|H|H|}}

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| rowspan="1"|1996

| align="left"|Higher & Higher{{Ref label|I|I|}}

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• FRA: Gold

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| rowspan="1"|1998

| align="left"|Journey of a Lifetime

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| rowspan="1"|1999

| align="left"|Humanitarian

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| rowspan="2"|2002

| align="left"|Fantastic Plastic People

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| align="left"|We All Are One: The Best of Jimmy Cliff

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| 2004

| align="left"|Black Magic

| 139 || — || — || — || — || — || — || 11

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| 2011

| align="left"|Sacred Fire EP

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| 2012

| align="left"|Rebirth

| — || — || — || — || 71 || 83 || 76 || 1

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| 2022

| align="left"|Refugees

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|}

{{refbegin}}

Notes

• A. {{note|A}} Hard Road to Travel was released as Can't Get Enough of It in Jamaica in 1968 with minor changes in track listing.
• B. {{note|B}} Jimmy Cliff in Brazil consisted of new recordings as well as songs from Hard Road to Travel and Can't Get Enough of It.
• C. {{note|C}} Jimmy Cliff was released as Wonderful World, Beautiful People in the US in 1970.
• D. {{note|D}} Goodbye Yesterday was released as Two Worlds in Jamaica with minor changes in track listing.
• E. {{note|E}} Unlimited was re-released as The King of Reggae in 1976.
• F. {{note|F}} Struggling Man consisted of new recordings as well as songs from Wild World.
• G. {{note|G}} Music Maker was released as House of Exile in some territories.
• H. {{note|H}} Breakout was re-released as Samba Reggae in some territories in 1999 with minor changes in track listing.
• I. {{note|I}} Higher & Higher consists of new recordings as well as previously released material.

{{refend}}

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• FRA: Platinum

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| rowspan="3"|1997

| align="left"|Super Hits

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| align="left"|Jimmy Cliff

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| align="left"|100% Pure Reggae

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| rowspan="3"|1999

| align="left"|Ultimate Collection

| — || — || — || — || 8

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| align="left"|Millenium Collection

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| align="left"|Wonderful World Beautiful People

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| rowspan="6"|2000

| align="left"|Simply the Best

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| align="left"|Super Best

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| align="left"|Wanted

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| align="left"|The Messenger: The Very Best of Reggae's Original Soul Star

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| align="left"|Wonderful World

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| align="left"|Live and in the Studio

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| rowspan="1"|2001

| align="left"|Les Indispensables de Jimmy Cliff

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|

|-

| rowspan="1"|2002

| align="left"|We All Are One: The Best of Jimmy Cliff

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| rowspan="3"|2003

| align="left"|Many Rivers to Cross: The Best of Jimmy Cliff

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|Anthology

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|Island Reggae Classics

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| rowspan="5"|2004

| align="left"|20th Century Masters

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|Reggae Night

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|This Is Crucial Reggae

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|The EMI Years 1973–1975

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|Timeless Hits

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| rowspan="1"|2005

| align="left"|The Harder They Come: The Definitive Collection

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| rowspan="4"|2006

| align="left"|The Essential Jimmy Cliff

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|The Very Best of Jimmy Cliff & Peter Tosh{{Ref label|J|J|}}

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|The Harder They Come: The Early Years 1962–1972

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|Better Days Are Coming: The A&M Years 1969–1971

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| rowspan="2"|2008

| align="left"|King of Kings: The Very Best of Jimmy Cliff

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|Reggae Legends

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| rowspan="1"|2010

| align="left"|Harder Road to Travel: The Collection

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| rowspan="3"|2013

| align="left"|Jimmy Cliff

| — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

| align="left"|The KCRW Session

| — || — || — || — || 4

|

|-

| align="left"|Icon

| — || — || — || — || 15

|

|-

|}

{{refbegin}}

;Notes

• J. {{note|J}} Best of Jimmy Cliff and The Very Best of Jimmy Cliff & Peter Tosh charted in French Compilations Chart, at number 1 and 5 respectively.

{{refend}}

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{{Jimmy Cliff}}

{{2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cliff, Jimmy}}

Category:1944 births

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