 The Meditations
formed - 1975
(Kingston, Jamaica)
Ansel Cridland - Danny Clarke - Winston Watson
The Meditations first formed as a group in the mid-seventies following the breakup of the Linkers. Led by Ansel Cridland, The Linkers had made a series of recordings in the late sixties, including the classic, "Nyah Man Story." About 1971, Danny Clarke and Winston Watson recorded several titles for Lee Perry's Upsetter label individually and as the duo, 'Flames.' Ansel and Danny first began working together informally about 1972, with Winston joining them soon after. Inspired by a love of the Impressions, the group began to develop a vocal blend that would bring them international respect.
The Meditations cut a number of important 45s for producers in Jamaica as early as 1974. However, a series of recordings for Federal Records in the mid-seventies led to the release of the group's first album, "Message From The Meditations," in 1976 and a second, "Wake Up," in 1977. Rightly regarded as classics today, these two albums established the Meditations as one of reggae finest vocal groups. These seminal recordings opened the door to live appearances in the US and Bermuda in 1977, and brought them to the attention of Bob Marley.
The Meditations began working full time as Marley's harmony trio, recording with producer Lee Perry. Together they recorded the classics "Rastaman Live Up," "Blackman Redemption" and "Punky Reggae Party." In April 1978, the Meditations opened the historic One Love Peace Concert for Marley, at the National Stadium in Kingston. They also released singles that year on Marley's Tuff Gong label and Perry's Black Art label in Jamaica. In 1979, they began to work on the album "Guidance," with the Wailers for Island Records. However, that agreement was never signed and today that album can be heard on "Reggae Crazy," (Nighthawk CD-317). 'Reggae Crazy' anthologizes fifteen Meditations titles from 1971- 1979, selected by Ansel Cridland for this CD.
Throughout the eighties, the Meditations continued to record and perform. They released the album "No More Friend" in 1983, on Greensleeves Records, and a Greatest Hits package in 1984 for Shanachie. In 1988, Heartbeat released "For The Good Of Man," an album of new recordings and in 1994 that label issued "Deeper Roots – The Best of The Meditations," collecting titles from the first two albums on CD.
Of all the groups that came out of the fertile seventies reggae-scene in Jamaica, the Meditations, perhaps more than any other group, set the standard for sheer vocal virtuosity. Each is an experienced lead singer having performed and recorded as soloists and in other groups, throughout the decades since the sixties. The group survived a breakup in the mid-eighties and went on to reunite in 1993, when they recorded "Return Of The Meditations."
-- Courtesy Nighthawk Records -- |
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