In the wake of his 2006 album Love Is My Religion, which earned his fourth Grammy Award, Ziggy Marley shares his musical love with families - his own and the extended human family. Marley's third solo release, Family Time, is produced with old friend Don Was and will be released this May on Marley's independent Tuff Gong Worldwide label.
An easygoing journey of original tunes and a few covers, the album offers a full collection of family-oriented songs for those already familiar with Marley's beloved work in the genre, and may serve to introduce today's youngest generation to reggae. Highly listenable many times around, a quality that parents will appreciate, Family Time resonates with themes of love, responsibility, unity, freedom and fun (not to mention generosity - proceeds from the sale of Family Time will benefit Chepstowe Basic School in Port Antonio, Jamaica).
"I know how important music can be in a child's growth and development, and in a parent's connection with their children," explains Marley, whose own brood recently grew to five. "This record represents my daily family life and is inspired by my three-year-old daughter Judah and baby Gideon. It was a joy to make and opened up new avenues in my creativity."
For the album's recording sessions, Marley invited like-minded collaborators ("friends" rather than "guests") to join him in crafting its familial sound. Kids will love the gentle grooves; grownups are sure to be impressed by the musicians making them. Collaborators include current Who bassist Pino Palladino, Grammy-winning keyboardist James Poyser (Erykah Badu, Common, Al Green), percussionist Rock Deadrick (Ben Harper, Tracy Chapman), longtime touring guitarist Takeshi Akimoto, and legendary reggae drummer Santa Davis.
It was a serendipitous phone call about Davis that brought Paul Simon to the project, lending his instantly recognizable voice to the sweet advice of "Even If You Fall, Get Up." The Woody Guthrie standard "This Train" offers a warm-hearted duet with Willie Nelson, who brought along his ace harmonica player/sidekick Mickey Raphael to accompany him. The notion of kids as superheroes defending the Earth echoes through "Future Man, Future Lady," with Marley joined by Noggin network star Laurie Berkner.
Another children's performer, Elizabeth Mitchell, gives an angelic lift to "Wings of an Eagle," based on the classic "Wings of a Dove," while Hawaiian singers Jack Johnson and Paula Fuga help sympathize with the young ones on "Cry Cry Cry," a child's call for freedom. Ziggy Marley plays covert travel agent on "Take Me to Jamaica," imagining a journey through his homeland along with Jamaican '60s icon Toots Hibbert. Actress/author Jamie Lee Curtis also contributes to the album, narrating two short stories, one of her own and one penned by Ziggy ("Helping Hands").
Of course, Family Time derives much of its authenticity from the voices of children, including Marley's. On the title track, three-year-old Judah helps her father implore listeners, young and old, to "lift up your hearts with a smile...it's time to be free." And on the tuba-bouncing tune "I Love You, Too," the importance of that simple phrase finds meaning in the family circle of Ziggy, mother Rita and sister Cedella. The album also includes the traditional Caribbean song "Hold 'Em Joe" (the first song that Ziggy sang in front of people as a child), "Ziggy Says" (a version of "Simon Says" which kicks into double-beat midway) and "ABCs" (with gentle leg-slapping and funny mouth sounds accompanying "A is for Africa, B is for Brother...").
Generations of listeners have long embraced Ziggy Marley's work for children, beginning with Marley and the Melody Makers' rendition of "Give A Little Love," the percolating, sing-along track on the 1991 Disney compilation For Our Children, an all-star benefit disc that arguably launched a revival of high-quality, kids-oriented music. Marley has also contributed to several acclaimed children's programs: the theme-song voice for the popular PBS series "Arthur" and a tune for the Dora The Explorer's World Adventure CD. Most memorable may be his voice in the role of Bernie, the Rasta jellyfish, in the animated Shark Tale, where he also sang his father Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" with his brother Stephen and dance hall star Sean Paul.
Marley has been repeatedly drawn to family-friendly projects as a musician, humanitarian and even an actor. He is an active supporter of Little Kids Rock, which brings musical instruments and music lessons to children in public schools, and he founded U.R.G.E. (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), a non-profit organization that benefits a wide range of charitable children's causes in Jamaica and other developing nations.
Marley hopes to share the messages of Family Time with children and families the world over. He's already thinking about how to present this work live, the visuals as well as music. "I want this to be a complete thing," Marley says. Expect concerts, perhaps children's books, more recordings and even an animated series coming to fruition. His ambitious, multimedia approach reflects the multilayered ideas of Family Time. "Usually my songs mean more than one thing. Family Time is my family, your family, the world's family."
| Song Title | Buy |
|---|---|
Family Time (4:20)
Family Time
with Judah Marley
Lift up your hearts with a smile
Hi how you doing, hi how you been
( Chorus )
Now the world gets busy
( Chorus )
Now we get together
( Chorus ) Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Hi how you doing, hi how you been
( Chorus ) ( Repeat )
It's family time, it's family time,
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I Love You Too (3:33)
I Love You Too
with Rita Marley & Cedella Marley
I love you too, I love you too
When you smile I'll smile along
( Chorus )
Like the fish loves the sea
( Chorus )
Like the grass loves to be green
( Chorus )
From the first time that I saw you
I love you too, I love you too
When the sun come out we play
I love you too, I love you too
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Cry, Cry, Cry (4:43)
Cry, Cry, Cry
with Jack Johnson & Paula Fuga
Hey... I'm gonna cry, cry, cry. Set the children free
Mommy loves to work and daddy loves to play
I'm gonna cry, cry, cry. Set the children free
Wake you up at 5 am
( Chorus )
Well now....I'm gonna miss you now Mr. Far Away
( Chorus )
Practice makes perfect and that I agree
( Chorus )
Mama's telling me what to eat today
I'm gonna cry, cry, cry. Set the children free
Free up their hearts, free up their minds
Set the children free
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Take Me to Jamaica (3:21)
Take Me to Jamaica
with Toots Hibbert
Now the sun is in my eyes
Where we can live in the country
Where the three little birds they sing
Where we can meet with good people
Hummingbirds humming by (ooh ooh)
Where we can live in the country
Now the sun is in my eyes
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Ziggy Says (3:55)
Ziggy SaysWords & Music By Ziggy Marley
Ziggy says lift up your hands
Ziggy says stand real tall
Ziggy says look to the left
Ziggy says sing like a bird
Ziggy says close your eyes
Imagine you can fly
Ziggy says lift your hands
Ziggy says wiggle your waist
Ziggy says stand real tall
Ziggy says look to the left
Ziggy says sing like a bird
Ziggy says close your eyes
Imagine you can fly
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This Train (3:38)
This Train
with Willie Nelson
This train is bound to glory, this train
Choo choo choo, choo choo choo
When I was just a kid
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train has left the station, this train
Choo choo choo, choo choo choo
When I was a kid
( Chorus )
This train is bound for glory, this train
Choo choo choo, choo choo, choo
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Wings of an Eagle (4:17)
Wings of an Eagle
with Elizabeth Mitchell
If I had the wings of an eagle
(Repeat )
Oh, since I have no wings
Hey, since I have no wings
If I had the wings of an eagle
Oh, since I have no wings
Hey, since I have no wings
If I had the wings of an eagle
|
|
ABC (4:01)
ABCWords & Music By Ziggy Marley
Bend down low,
A is for Africa
Bend down low
I is for Incredible
( Chorus )
S is for my Sister
Bend down low
Doo doo doo da doo doo
|
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Hold Em Joe (3:36)
Hold Him Joe
Hold him Joe, hold him Joe,
We on a journey he don't walk straight
Donkey want water, hold him Joe
Some people say that my donkey's bad
Donkey want water, hold him Joe
(Whistling)
Hold him Joe, hold him Joe,
Everybody want water, hold him Joe
The donkey want water, hold him Joe
You maka mek we hold him, hold him Joe
Hold him and we hold him,
|
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Walk Tall (3:16)
Walk Tall
with Paul Simon
Walk tall, walk tall
Walk tall, walk tall
Life is a lesson that we must learn
( Chorus )
Everyone creeps before they walk
( Chorus )
Don't you worry 'bout how it looks
( Chorus )
Nothing is ever gonna keep me down
( Chorus ) Jook it
Even if you fall get up
Walk tall, walk tall
|
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Future Man, Future Lady (3:16)
Future Man, Future Lady
with Paul Simon
Future man knows what to do
Future lady's confident
Bright in the yellow sun, there's energy for everyone
Future man is taking steps he ain't got no time to rest
The wind makes the windmill turn
(Whistling)
Future man knows what to do
Bright in the yellow sun, there's energy for everyone
The wind makes the windmill turn
(Whistling) |
|
My Helping Hands (3:16)
My Helping HandsWritten by Ziggy Marley These are my hands My hands are used for many things I brush my teeth with my hands I hug with my hands I even paint with my hands But what I really love to do most of all with my hands is help I help my dad to make breakfast with my hands I help my mom to unpack her bags when she comes from the store with my hands I help to change my baby brother with my hands I help to put away my toys with my hands I love to do many things with my hands but most of all I love to help with my hands my helping hands |
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| Is There Really a Human Race (2:31) |
See live versions of This Train, Family Time, I Love You Too and Wings of an Eagle.
Click here to see live tracks.
Drums:
Santa Davis
Additional Drums:
Drums: Fabian Cooke ( only on "Future Man, Future Lady)
Bass:
Pino Palladino
Key Boards:
James Poysner
Jaime Muhoberac
Daniel Mandelman
Guitars:
Takeshi Akimoto & Ziggy Marley (on whole album)
Additional Guitars:
Daniel Littleton (on "Cry Cry Cry" & "Wings Of An Eagle")
Willie Nelson (on "This Train")
Paul Simon (on "Walk Tall")
Percussion:
Rock Deadrick
Back ground vocals:
Hillard "Sweet Pea" Atkinson
Harry Bowens
Maia Sharp
Michelle Lewis
Harmonica:
Mickey Raphael (on "This Train")
Produced by:
Don Was & Ziggy Marley
Executive Producer: Orly Marley
Recorded and Mixed:
Henson Recoding Studio, CA
Recording Engineer:
Marc "Maka" Moreau
Mixed by:
Krish Sharma
Mastering:
Bob Ludwig at Sterling Sounds, NYC
Produced by Don Was & Ziggy Marley
Executive Producer Orly Marley
© 2009 Tuff Gong Worldwide
All songs published by Ishti Music (ASCAP)
Except:
"Cry, Cry, Cry"
Published by Ishti Music (ASCAP),
Sleep Through The Static Music (ASCAP)
"Hold 'Em Joe" by Harry Thomas
Published by Clara Music Publishing Corp. (ASCAP)
Administered by Next Decade Entertainment, Inc.
Used by permission, all rights reserved.
"Is There Really A Human Race?"
Text Copyright © 2006 by Jamie Lee Curtis
Used with the permission of Harper Collins Publishers
"My Helping Hands"
Text Copyright © 2009 by Ziggy Marley
Jack Johnson appears courtesy of Brushfire Records
Laurie Berkner appears courtesy of Two Tomatoes Records, LLC
Paul Simon appears courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
Paula Fuga appears courtesy of Pakipika Productions
Illustration & design by Wonder Knack
Illustration of the Marley Family by Overton Loyd
Additional photography by Marley Family, Johnnie Black, Lee Jaffe,
Wonder Knack, Dove Rudman, Babak Delafraz, HH Cooper
www.ziggymarley.com
www.tuffgongworldwide.com
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