Liberation (Bunny Wailer album) explained

Liberation
Type:	studio
Artist:	Bunny Wailer
Cover:	BunnyWailerLiberation.jpg
Released:	1989
Recorded:	1987–1989, Dynamic Sounds Recording Studios, Kingston, Jamaica
Genre:	Reggae
Label:	Shanachie
Producer:	Bunny Wailer
Prev Title:	Rootsman Skanking
Prev Year:	1987
Next Title:	Gumption
Next Year:	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

"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

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." The Gazette called the album "roots reggae par excellence."^[7]

Track listing

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

• Bunny Wailer - Percussion, Arranger, Director, Vocals, Producer, Cover Art Concept
• The Psalms - Background vocals
• Tony "Asher" Brissett - Keyboards
• Barry Barrington Bailey - Horn
• Headley Bennett - Horn
• Errol Carter - Bass
• Steven "Cat" Coore - Guitar
• Carlton "Santa" Davis - drums
• Sly Dunbar - Drums
• Bobby Ellis - Horn
• Harry T. Powell - Percussion
• Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont - Rhythm guitar
• Sugar Minott - Drums
• Johnny "Dizzy" Moore - Horn
• Sylvan Morris - Engineer
• Karl Pitterson - Mixing
• Dwight Pinkney - Guitar
• Robbie Shakespeare - Bass
• Earl "Chinna" Smith - Bass
• Keith Sterling - Keyboards
• Daniel "Danny Axeman" Thompson - Bass
• Neville Garrick - Graphic Design, Art Direction, Cover Art Concept
• Owen "Red Fox" Stewart - Keyboards

Notes and References

1. News: Milward . John . Wailer Will 'Soon Come' for Tour of States . The Philadelphia Inquirer . 23 Feb 1989 . D1.
2. News: Point . Michael . Reggae legend Bunny Wailer... . Austin American-Statesman . 10 Mar 1989 . F5.
3. News: Reilly . Terri F. . Hot Tickets . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . 14 Apr 1989 . F4.
4. Web site: Bunny Wailer . Recording Academy . 24 March 2023.
5. News: Morse . Steve . Wailer Returns to Roots and Rights . The Boston Globe . 20 Apr 1989 . Calendar . 8.
6. News: Harrington . Richard . The World at Your Ear . The Washington Post . 26 Apr 1989 . D7.
7. News: Feist . Daniel . Beating a track to the world sounds begins with research . The Gazette . 11 June 1989 . H6.