The Meditations

The Meditations

The Meditations are a spiritual, conscious roots reggae vocal harmony group from Jamaica formed in late 1974, who have released several studio albums and were still performing in the 2000s and up to the present day.

History
The Meditations were formed in 1974, by Ansel Cridland (formerly from The Linkers) and Danny Clarke (formerly from Winston Jarrett's The Righteous Flames) and Winston Watson. After releasing singles credited to the individual members, they began recording as The Meditations in late 1976, shortly after which they released their biggest hit, "Woman Is Like a Shadow", which sold over 45,000 copies in its first month of release. They recorded in the mid-1970s for producers such as Dobby Dobson, Channel One Studios' Joseph Hoo Kim, and Lee "Scratch" Perry, their spiritually conscious and righteous Rastafarian style gaining comparisons with The Mighty Diamonds. Their first album, Message From The Meditations, was released in 1976, attracting attention amongst the conscious roots reggae sound system fraternity with rocker compositions like "Babylon Trap Them" and the Lee Perry Black Ark produced tune, "Rastaman Prayer", urging the listener to shun society's consumerism and hypocritical economic materialism. The Lee Perry produced track "There Must be a First Time" reflects on the concept and praxis of 'Do Unto Others' delineated in The Golden Rule of Luke 6:31 and Matthew 7:12, and to strive to 'Know thyself'. Robert Christgau called the album "a nice one" in Christgau's Record Guide (1981), highlighting the "island chauvinism" of songs like "Running from Jamaica", which "gets on those who emigrate to Canada, Britain, the States, and Africa". The Meditations sang backing vocals on a number of Bob Marley songs, including "Blackman Redemption", "Rastaman Live Up", and "Punky Reggae Party", a single released in 1977 in response to the surge of interest in revolutionary roots reggae and dub at the time amongst England's punk rock fraternity.The Meditations also provided backing for Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy Cliff and The Congos on their Heart of the Congos album, later re-released on Steve Barrow's Blood and Fire record label. In 1977 and 1978, they recorded a number of Discomix vocal and dubs for Lee "Scratch" Perry at the Black Ark Studio, including Nyabinghi rhythm-led "Houses of Parliament", "Life Is Not Easy", "No Peace" and "Much Smarter", all of which attracted significant attention from the roots reggae conscious rockers sound system fraternity in Jamaica and in England, where they were played by Jah Shaka and Lloyd Coxsone's sound. The Meditations also released singles on Bunny Lee's 'Third World' label, amongst them, "Turn Me Loose", which was twinned with a 'B' side from Johnny Clarke, who provided a rockers' flying cymbals cover version of Coxsone Dodd's Mad Lad's Studio One take of the "Ten To One" tune, a composition originally written and recorded by The Impressions, a gospel, R&B, doo-wop, and soul vocal trio. The Meditations also appeared at the One Love Peace Concert in April 1978, officially a commemoration of the 12th anniversary of Haile Selassie's state visit to Jamaica, but more famous for the handshake between Michael Manley and Edward Seaga when they joined Bob Marley on stage. By 1981, they were releasing Roots Radics and Scientist backed music on Roy Cousins' Tamoki-Wambesi label, a highpoint being the successful lovers rock infused "Stranger in Love" Discomix, backed by the more conscious "Unity", which maintained interest in their work amongst the serious roots reggae and dub audiences at home and abroad. The Meditations 1983 album, No More Friend, written and sung by Ansel, was produced by Linval Thompson and featured Errol Holt and Style Scott's band, The Roots Radics, and saw them adapting to the sparser, slower, early dancehall sound of the time. While Cridland was in Jamaica due to an injury, Clarke and Watson recorded 1988's For The Good of Man without him. Upon his return to the US in 1993, they were reunited for Return of The Meditations. All three members by this time were based in the US - Clarke in Phoenix, Arizona, Watson in Seattle, Washington, and Cridland in New York City. They have subsequently toured the United States and Europe. In 2015, they released the album Jah Always Find a Way, which featured Sly Dunbar (drums), Lloyd Parks (bass), Ansel Collins and Sidney Mills (keyboards), Dwight Pinkney and Willie Lindo (guitars), and Derrick Barnett (bass). As of 2011, the group's official lineup consists of Cridland, Laury Webb, and Daddy Lion Chandell. Winston Watson died in New York on March 28, 2019. Danny Clarke died on 27 July 2024.

Credits & Appearances (15)

Production
Producer 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Guidance The Meditations Guidance TRDLP 101579 LP Tad's 1978 1979
Musicians
Backing Vocals 4
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Heart Of The Congos The Congos Heart Of The Congos LP 4049 LP Black Art 1977 1977
Super Eight George Faith Super Eight LP Black Art 1977 1977
Give Thankx Jimmy Cliff Give Thankx BSK 3240 LP Warner 1978 1978
Various Moods Baba Leslie Various Moods LP 101 LP Tribesman 1981 1981
Vocals 6
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Guidance The Meditations Guidance TRDLP 101579 LP Tad's 1978 1979
Message From The Meditations The Meditations Message From The Meditations MN 2365 LP Makossa International 1978 1978
Wake Up The Meditations Wake Up TWS 929 LP Third World 1978 1978
Greatest Hits The Meditations Greatest Hits GREL 69 LP Greensleeves 197X 1984
No More Friend The Meditations No More Friend GREL 52 LP Greensleeves 1983 1983
Three The Hard Way The Wailing Souls & The Meditations & Culture Three The Hard Way LP Sonic Sounds 198X

Also Appears On (26)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
New & Old Sounds Various Artists New & Old Sounds UA LA 808 LP United Artists 1964-76 1978
Tighten Up Various Artists Tighten Up BMGCAT 271DCD CD BMG 1969-79 2018
The Best Of Lee Scratch Perry Lee Scratch Perry The Best Of Lee Scratch Perry TJDCD 550 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2016
Trojan 35th Anniversary Box Set Various Artists Trojan 35th Anniversary Box Set TJETD 130 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2003
Build The Ark Various Artists Build The Ark PERRY 3 CD Trojan 1972-76 1990
Jamaica Funk Various Artists Jamaica Funk SJRCD 171 CD Soul Jazz 1972-76 2007
Produced And Directed By The Upsetter Various Artists Produced And Directed By The Upsetter PSCD 19 CD Pressure Sounds 1974-77 1998
Sipple Out Deh Lee Scratch Perry & Friends Sipple Out Deh SPECXX2042 CD Trojan 1974-78 2010
Atlantic 1 Various Artists Atlantic 1 DBCDD 127 CD Doctor Bird 1975 2023
Roots, Vibes & Vision Various Artists Roots, Vibes & Vision TWLP 1025 LP Tamoki Wambesi 1975-83
Arkology Various Artists Arkology CRNCD 6 CD Island 1976-79 1997
History Of Tamoki Wambesi Various Artists History Of Tamoki Wambesi TWDV 1002 LP Tamoki Wambesi 1979-84 1985
A History Of Jamaican Vocal Harmony Various Artists A History Of Jamaican Vocal Harmony MRMCD 11 CD Munich 197X 1996
Hit Bound : The Revolutionary Sound Of Channel One Various Artists Hit Bound : The Revolutionary Sound Of Channel One CDHB 43 CD Heartbeat 197X 1989
Ranking Miss P Presents Sweet Harmony Various Artists Ranking Miss P Presents Sweet Harmony TJDDD 101 CD Trojan 197X 2003
Rare Roots Reggae Various Artists Rare Roots Reggae 323692 CD Makasound 197X 2004
Scratch On The Wire Various Artists Scratch On The Wire ILPS 9583 LP Island 197X 1979
Special Request To All Dance Hall Fans Various Artists Special Request To All Dance Hall Fans CD Channel One 197X 2001
Channel One Story Various Artists Channel One Story VPCD 1678 CD VP 197X-8X 2004
Sunsplash Showcase Various Artists Sunsplash Showcase KVL 9007 LP Kingdom 1981 1981
Scientist Encounters Pac-Man Scientist Scientist Encounters Pac-Man GRE 2108 CD Greensleeves 1982 2016
Original Yardie Various Artists Original Yardie TWLP 1059 LP Tamoki Wambesi 198X
Reggae Sunsplash Showcase Various Artists Reggae Sunsplash Showcase CD Tamoki Wambesi 198X
Roy Cousins Presents Wambesi All Stars Various Artists Roy Cousins Presents Wambesi All Stars CDHB 35 CD Heartbeat 198X 1986
Wackies Sampler Vol 1 Various Artists Wackies Sampler Vol 1 WSCD 01 CD Wackies 198X 2002
Wambesi Showcase Various Artists Wambesi Showcase CDHB 3602 CD Heartbeat 198X 1995
9 albums
15 credits
14 labels
1977 - 2003