“I can see clearly now” is a Johnny Nash song from 1972. It was written in a reggae style and heavily covered by other artists.
It’s a great, simple reggae song. People probably remember the Jimmy Cliff version from the film “Cool Runnings” but this original is special.
Reggae first came to my attention in the 1970’s with The Clash’s “White Man in Hammersmith Palais”, still one of my all time favourite songs. This led me onto Taper Zukie, Culture, Burning Spear, Mikey Dredd and others. Some of the greatest music ever made.
However, this all has nothing to do with the gist of this blog apart from seeing clearly now means, I have clarity.
The Clarity
It arrived the other day – The Clarity.
The Clarity is a track by Sleep, released as a single-sided, 12 inch single in 2014, it came 19 years after “Dopesmoker”. Originally, a free download, it was later released on 12” vinyl. This is what I hold in my hand, Southern Lord‘s 2017 vinyl release.
I can see clearly now but not so sure after the dope-fuelled masterpiece of “The Clarity”. It’s 10 minutes of Sleep I will savour.
Just thinking back though, both Stoner culture and Reggae enjoy one thing in common…
Note: No herbal cigarettes were harmed in the making of this blog (I don’t smoke).
[…] bought the vinyl single (12″, black see here) which is a single track on one side with an etching on the other. As discussed in Vinyl, I’m […]