The Meditations

{{Short description|Jamaican musical group}} {{about|The Jamaican Reggae group|the book by Marcus Aurelius commonly referred to as "(the) Meditations"|Meditations}} {{other uses|Meditation (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Use British English|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Meditations | image = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Jamaica | genre = [[Roots reggae]], [[lovers rock]], [[dancehall]], [[Dub music|dub]] | years_active = {{start date|1974}}–present | label = | associated_acts = | website =  | current_members = *Ansel Cridland *Laury Webb *Daddy Lion Chandell | past_members = *Danny Clarke *Winston Watson *Milton Henry | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}

'''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.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae |year= 1998 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-7535-0242-9 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Germa">Germa, Romain & Maslowski, Nicolas (2007) ''Guidance'' sleeve notes from the Makasound release</ref> 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]].<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="Barrow">{{cite book |last=Barrow |first=Steve |author2=Dalton, Peter |title=Reggae: The Rough Guide |year=1997 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=1-85828-247-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/reggaeroughguide00barro }}</ref>

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 (process)|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: Rock Albums of the Seventies|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''".<ref name="CG">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: M|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=M&bk=70|access-date=March 7, 2019|via=Robertchristgau.com}}</ref>

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 [[revolution]]ary [[roots reggae]] and [[dub music|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)|Blood and Fire]] record label.<ref name="Germa" /><ref name="ESBio">{{cite web|url=http://www.easystar.com/meditations.html|title=Easy Star Records homepage|website=Easystar.com|access-date=October 7, 2025}}</ref>

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 music|gospel]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[doo-wop]], and [[soul music|soul]] vocal trio.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/life/entertainment/story/2012/dec/02/rb-trio-with-two-chattanooga-members-still/94000/|title=R&B trio, with two Chattanooga members, still in the public eye after 50 years|newspaper=Times Free Press|date=2012-12-02|access-date=2015-11-26}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Thompson">{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Dave |title=Reggae & Caribbean Music |year= 2002 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=0-87930-655-6 }}</ref>

By 1981, they were releasing [[Roots Radics]] and [[Scientist (musician)|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 music|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.<ref name="ESBio" />

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''.<ref name="ESBio" /> 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]].<ref name="Germa" />

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).<ref name="Campbell1601">Campbell, Howard (2016) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/More-Meditations_49805 More Meditations]", ''[[Jamaica Observer]]'', 27 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016</ref> As of 2011, the group's official lineup consists of Cridland, Laury Webb, and Daddy Lion Chandell.<ref name="Campbell1601" />

Winston Watson died in New York on March 28, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 28, 2019 |title=The Meditations' Winston Watson Dies |url=https://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/arts-entertainment/the-meditations-winston-watson-dies |access-date=April 10, 2025 |website=Radiojamaicanewsonline.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-02 |title=Farewell Tribute to Winston Watson of The Meditations |url=https://easystar.com/farewell-tribute-to-winston-watson-of-the-meditations/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Easystar.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

Danny Clarke died on 27 July 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Danny Clarke (The Meditations) passed away |url=https://www.reggae-vibes.com/news/2024/08/danny-clarke-the-meditations-passed-away/ |access-date=3 August 2024 |website=Reggae-vibes.com |date=1 August 2024}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== *''Message From The [[Meditation]]s'' (1977) Wild Flower (JA) / United Artists (UK & US) *''Wake Up'' (1978) Third World (UK) / Double-D (US/JA) *''Guidance'' (1979) Tad's/Guidance *''No More Friend'' (1983) Thompson Sound/[[Greensleeves Records|Greensleeves]] *''For The Good of Man'' (1988) Greensleeves *''Return of The Meditations'' (1993) Sonic Sounds/[[Heartbeat Records|Heartbeat]] *''Ghetto Knowledge'' (1999) Easy Star *''I Love Jah'' (2002) [[Wackies]] (recorded 1982) *''Stand In Love'' (2004) Meditations Music (US) *''Jah Always Find a Way'' (2015) Meditations Music (US)

====Compilations==== *''Greatest Hits'' (1984) [[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]] (US) / Greensleeves (UK) *''Deeper Roots: The Best of The Meditations'' (1994) Heartbeat *''Reggae Crazy: Anthology 1971-1979'' (1997) Nighthawk

====Collaborations==== *''10 Ft Ganja Plant -album: ''Bass Chalice'' -song: To Each'' (2005) ROIR

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/22 The Meditations at Roots Archives] *[http://rootsdub.free.fr/Meditations-disco.htm The Meditations at Rootsdub] * {{discogs artist|The Meditations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meditations, The}} [[Category:Jamaican reggae musical groups]] [[Category:Easy Star Records artists]] [[Category:Greensleeves Records artists]] [[Category:Heartbeat Records artists]]