Simmer Down

1963 single by The Wailers

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"Simmer Down"

A sample of the single.

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"Simmer Down" is the first single released by the Wailers, accompanied by the ska supergroup the Skatalites and produced by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in 1963. It was the number one hit in Jamaica in February 1964.[citation needed]

The song was directed to the "rude boys" of the ghettos of Jamaica at the time, sending them a message to cool down or "simmer down" with all the violence and crime going on in Kingston. The subject matter of "Simmer Down" made the Wailers stand out amongst their contemporaries. The ska sound of the single is a marked contrast to the slower reggae that the Wailers would later become internationally known for. The Wailers at this time contained Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite, Cherry Smith, and Beverley Kelso. It was Bob Marley's first hit and his career as a songwriter and performer took off from there.

In spite of "Simmer Down"'s success, Peter Tosh, one of the three original Wailers, said in an interview that he hated it.[1]

Later, the song was covered by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones for their EP Ska-Core, the Devil, and More, by Neville Staple for his album Ska Au Go Go, as well as by the Specials for their cover album Today's Specials.[citation needed]

## See also

[edit]

* List of best-selling singles by country

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Caribbean Nights: A BBC documentary. Polygram Video, 1991

* v
* t
* e

Bob Marley and the Wailers

* Bob Marley
* Peter Tosh
* Bunny Wailer

* Other vocalists: Junior Braithwaite
* Cherry Smith
* Beverley Kelso
* Constantine "Vision" Walker
* Rita Marley
* Marcia Griffiths
* Judy Mowatt

* Musicians: Aston "Family Man" Barrett
* Carlton Barrett
* Earl Lindo
* Tyrone Downie
* Alvin "Seeco" Patterson
* Al Anderson
* Earl "Chinna" Smith
* Donald Kinsey
* Junior Marvin

Studio albums|

* The Wailing Wailers (1965)
* Soul Rebels (1970)
* Soul Revolution Part II (1971)
* The Best of the Wailers (1971)
* Catch a Fire (1973)
* Burnin' (1973)
* Natty Dread (1974)
* Rastaman Vibration (1976)
* Exodus (1977)
* Kaya (1978)
* Survival (1979)
* Uprising (1980)
* Confrontation (1983)

Compilations|

* African Herbsman (1973)
* Rasta Revolution (1974)
* Legend (1984)
* Bob, Peter, Bunny & Rita (1985)
* Rebel Music (1986)
* Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On (1995)
* 21 Winners: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers (1997)
* One Love: The Very Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers (2001)
* Gold (2005)

Live albums|

* Live! (1975)
* Babylon by Bus (1978)
* Talkin' Blues (1991)
* Live at the Roxy (2003)
* Live Forever (2011)
* Easy Skanking in Boston '78 (2015)

Remix albums|

* Chances Are (1981)
* Chant Down Babylon (1999)
* B Is for Bob (2009)

Box sets|

* Songs of Freedom (1992)
* The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972 (1997–2002)

Singles|

* "Judge Not"
* "Simmer Down"
* "Guava Jelly"
* "Stir It Up"
* "Get Up, Stand Up"
* "I Shot the Sheriff"
* "No Woman, No Cry (Live '75)"
* "Jah Live"
* "Exodus"
* "Waiting in Vain"
* "Jamming"/"Punky Reggae Party"
* "Is This Love"
* "Satisfy My Soul"
* "So Much Trouble in the World"
* "Could You Be Loved"
* "Redemption Song"
* "Three Little Birds"
* "Forever Loving Jah"
* "Buffalo Soldier"
* "One Love/People Get Ready"
* "Iron Lion Zion"
* "Sun Is Shining"
* "Turn Your Lights Down Low"
* "Slogans"
* "Is This Love"

Other songs|

* "Rude Boy"
* "Mr Brown"
* "Small Axe"
* "No Woman, No Cry"
* "Turn Your Lights Down Low"
* "Natural Mystic"
* "Sun Is Shining"
* "One Drop"
* "War"
* "Hammer"

Performances|

* Smile Jamaica Concert (1976)
* Exodus Tour (1977)
* One Love Peace Concert (1978)
* Uprising Tour (1980)

Associated acts|

* The Skatalites
* The Upsetters
* Word, Sound and Power
* The Wailers Band
* The Original Wailers

Related people|

* Chris Blackwell
* Errol Brown
* Allan Cole
* Coxsone Dodd
* Vincent Ford
* Neville Garrick
* Joe Higgs
* Lee Jaffe
* Arthur Jenkins
* King Sporty
* Leslie Kong
* Johnny Nash
* Jimmy Norman
* Lee "Scratch" Perry
* Mortimer Planno
* Karl Pitterson
* Alex Sadkin

Related articles|

* Discography
* Band members
* Outline of Bob Marley
* 1976 assassination attempt
* Marley Natural
* Upsetter Records
* Tuff Gong
* Bob Marley Museum
* Statue of Bob Marley
* Tribute to the Legend: Bob Marley
* Marley
* soundtrack
* Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley's 50th Anniversary
* Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley
* One Love: The Bob Marley Musical
* Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical
* Bob Marley: One Love
* soundtrack

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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