Jimmy Cliff Unveils Tim Armstrong-Produced EP 'Sacred Fire'

BY Alex HudsonPublished Oct 28, 2011

Back in the summer, reggae fans were met with the news that Jamaican legend Jimmy Cliff was working with ska lover Tim Armstrong of Rancid. Now, we have the details of an EP entitled Sacred Fire that will be dropping next month via Collective Sounds.

The Armstrong-produced record will include the covers "Ruby Soho" by Rancid, "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" by Bob Dylan, and two versions of the Clash's "The Guns of Brixton." There are also two Cliff originals, which a press release says reflect "Cliff's work as a lifelong activist and purveyor of social justice -- addressing issues such as war, economical instability, and political hypocrisy."

There will be a special coloured vinyl version of the EP released on November 25 for Record Store Day's U.S.-based Black Friday festivities. One of the two Cliff originals, "World Upside Down," will be exclusive to this version.

Digital and CD versions of the EP (minus "World Upside Down") will be widely released on November 29.

Of the collaboration with Armstrong, Cliff said in a statement, "Tim has such a great foothold in the tradition [of reggae]. He woke me up to a lot of the things I had forgotten."

The Rancid singer added. "Jimmy is one of my musical heroes and I've been responding to his music my entire life."

This EP will lead up to a full-length to be released in early 2012. Listen to Cliff's take on "The Guns of Brixton" below and get "Ship Is Sailing" over at Cliff's official website.

Thanks to Consequence of Sound for the tip.

Sacred Fire:

1. "The Guns of Brixton" (The Clash cover)
2. "World Upside Down" (RSD exclusive)
3. "Ruby Soho" (Rancid cover)
4. "Ship Is Sailing"
5. "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" (Bob Dylan cover)
6. "The Guns of Brixton (Version)" (The Clash cover)

Guns Of Brixton by Jimmy Cliff

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