# The Meditations

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Jamaican musical group

This article is about The Jamaican Reggae group. For the book by Marcus Aurelius commonly referred to as "(the) Meditations", see [Meditations](/source/Meditations).

For other uses, see [Meditation (disambiguation)](/source/Meditation_(disambiguation)).

The Meditations Origin Jamaica Genres Roots reggae, lovers rock, dancehall, dub Years active 1974 (1974)–present Members Ansel Cridland Laury Webb Daddy Lion Chandell Past members Danny Clarke Winston Watson Milton Henry

**The Meditations** are a spiritual, conscious [roots reggae](/source/Roots_reggae) [vocal harmony](/source/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](/source/Winston_Jarrett)'s [The Righteous Flames](/source/The_Righteous_Flames)) and Winston Watson.[1] 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.[2] They recorded in the mid-1970s for producers such as [Dobby Dobson](/source/Dobby_Dobson), [Channel One Studios](/source/Channel_One_Studios)' [Joseph Hoo Kim](/source/Joseph_Hoo_Kim), and [Lee "Scratch" Perry](/source/Lee_%22Scratch%22_Perry), their spiritually conscious and righteous [Rastafarian](/source/Rastafarian) style gaining comparisons with [The Mighty Diamonds](/source/The_Mighty_Diamonds).[1][3]

Their first album, *Message From The Meditations*, was released in 1976, attracting attention amongst the conscious [roots reggae](/source/Roots_reggae) sound system fraternity with rocker compositions like "[Babylon](/source/Babylon) Trap Them" and the Lee Perry Black Ark produced tune, "Rastaman Prayer", urging the listener to shun society's [consumerism](/source/Consumerism) and [hypocritical](/source/Hypocritical) [economic materialism](/source/Economic_materialism). The Lee Perry produced track "There Must be a First Time" reflects on the [concept](/source/Concept) and [praxis](/source/Praxis_(process)) of 'Do Unto Others' delineated in [The Golden Rule](/source/The_Golden_Rule) of [Luke 6](/source/Luke_6):31 and [Matthew 7:12](/source/Matthew_7%3A12), and to strive to '[Know thyself](/source/Know_thyself)'. [Robert Christgau](/source/Robert_Christgau) called the album "a nice one" in *[Christgau's Record Guide](/source/Christgau's_Record_Guide%3A_Rock_Albums_of_the_Seventies)* (1981), highlighting the "island chauvinism" of songs like "Running from Jamaica", which "gets on those who emigrate to Canada, Britain, the States, and *Africa*".[4]

The Meditations sang backing vocals on a number of [Bob Marley](/source/Bob_Marley) songs, including "Blackman Redemption", "Rastaman Live Up", and "[Punky Reggae Party](/source/Punky_Reggae_Party)", a single released in 1977 in response to the surge of interest in [revolutionary](/source/Revolution) [roots reggae](/source/Roots_reggae) and [dub](/source/Dub_music) at the time amongst England's [punk rock](/source/Punk_rock) fraternity.The Meditations also provided backing for [Gregory Isaacs](/source/Gregory_Isaacs), [Jimmy Cliff](/source/Jimmy_Cliff) and [The Congos](/source/The_Congos) on their *[Heart of the Congos](/source/Heart_of_the_Congos)* album, later re-released on [Steve Barrow](/source/Steve_Barrow)'s [Blood and Fire](/source/Blood_and_Fire_(record_label)) record label.[2][5]

In 1977 and 1978, they recorded a number of [Discomix](/source/Discomix) vocal and dubs for [Lee "Scratch" Perry](/source/Lee_%22Scratch%22_Perry) at the Black Ark Studio, including [Nyabinghi rhythm](/source/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](/source/Roots_reggae) conscious rockers sound system fraternity in Jamaica and in England, where they were played by [Jah Shaka](/source/Jah_Shaka) and [Lloyd Coxsone](/source/Lloyd_Coxsone)'s sound. The Meditations also released singles on [Bunny Lee](/source/Bunny_Lee)'s 'Third World' label, amongst them, "Turn Me Loose", which was twinned with a 'B' side from [Johnny Clarke](/source/Johnny_Clarke), who provided a rockers' flying cymbals cover version of [Coxsone Dodd](/source/Coxsone_Dodd)'s Mad Lad's Studio One take of the "Ten To One" tune, a composition originally written and recorded by [The Impressions](/source/The_Impressions), a [gospel](/source/Gospel_music), [R&B](/source/Rhythm_and_blues), [doo-wop](/source/Doo-wop), and [soul](/source/Soul_music) vocal trio.[6]

The Meditations also appeared at the [One Love Peace Concert](/source/One_Love_Peace_Concert) in April 1978, officially a commemoration of the 12th anniversary of [Haile Selassie](/source/Haile_Selassie)'s state visit to Jamaica, but more famous for the handshake between [Michael Manley](/source/Michael_Manley) and [Edward Seaga](/source/Edward_Seaga) when they joined [Bob Marley](/source/Bob_Marley) on stage.[7]

By 1981, they were releasing [Roots Radics](/source/Roots_Radics) and [Scientist](/source/Scientist_(musician)) backed music on [Roy Cousins](/source/Roy_Cousins)' Tamoki-Wambesi label, a highpoint being the successful [lovers rock](/source/Lovers_rock) infused "Stranger in Love" [Discomix](/source/Discomix), backed by the more conscious "Unity", which maintained interest in their work amongst the serious [roots reggae](/source/Roots_reggae) and [dub](/source/Dub_music) audiences at home and abroad. The Meditations 1983 album, *No More Friend*, written and sung by Ansel, was produced by [Linval Thompson](/source/Linval_Thompson) and featured [Errol Holt](/source/Errol_Holt) and [Style Scott](/source/Style_Scott)'s band, [The Roots Radics](/source/The_Roots_Radics), and saw them adapting to the sparser, slower, early [dancehall](/source/Dancehall) sound of the time.[5]

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*.[5] All three members by this time were based in the US - Clarke in [Phoenix, Arizona](/source/Phoenix%2C_Arizona), Watson in [Seattle, Washington](/source/Seattle%2C_Washington), and Cridland in [New York City](/source/New_York_City).[2]

They have subsequently toured the United States and Europe. In 2015, they released the album *Jah Always Find a Way*, which featured [Sly Dunbar](/source/Sly_Dunbar) (drums), [Lloyd Parks](/source/Lloyd_Parks) (bass), [Ansel Collins](/source/Ansel_Collins) and Sidney Mills (keyboards), [Dwight Pinkney](/source/Dwight_Pinkney) and Willie Lindo (guitars), and Derrick Barnett (bass).[8] As of 2011, the group's official lineup consists of Cridland, Laury Webb, and Daddy Lion Chandell.[8]

Winston Watson died in New York on March 28, 2019.[9][10]

Danny Clarke died on 27 July 2024.[11]

## Discography

### Albums

- *Message From The [Meditations](/source/Meditation)* (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](/source/Greensleeves_Records)

- *For The Good of Man* (1988) Greensleeves

- *Return of The Meditations* (1993) Sonic Sounds/[Heartbeat](/source/Heartbeat_Records)

- *Ghetto Knowledge* (1999) Easy Star

- *I Love Jah* (2002) [Wackies](/source/Wackies) (recorded 1982)

- *Stand In Love* (2004) Meditations Music (US)

- *Jah Always Find a Way* (2015) Meditations Music (US)

#### Compilations

- *Greatest Hits* (1984) [Shanachie](/source/Shanachie_Records) (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

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Larkin_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Larkin_1-1) Larkin, Colin (1998). *The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae*. Virgin Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7535-0242-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7535-0242-9).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Germa_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Germa_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Germa_2-2) Germa, Romain & Maslowski, Nicolas (2007) *Guidance* sleeve notes from the Makasound release

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Barrow_3-0)** Barrow, Steve; Dalton, Peter (1997). [*Reggae: The Rough Guide*](https://archive.org/details/reggaeroughguide00barro). Rough Guides. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85828-247-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85828-247-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CG_4-0)** [Christgau, Robert](/source/Robert_Christgau) (1981). ["Consumer Guide '70s: M"](https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=M&bk=70). *[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies](/source/Christgau's_Record_Guide%3A_Rock_Albums_of_the_Seventies)*. [Ticknor & Fields](/source/Ticknor_%26_Fields). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [089919026X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/089919026X). Retrieved 7 March 2019 – via Robertchristgau.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ESBio_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ESBio_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ESBio_5-2) ["Easy Star Records homepage"](http://www.easystar.com/meditations.html). *Easystar.com*. Retrieved 7 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["R&B trio, with two Chattanooga members, still in the public eye after 50 years"](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/life/entertainment/story/2012/dec/02/rb-trio-with-two-chattanooga-members-still/94000/). *Times Free Press*. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Thompson_7-0)** Thompson, Dave (2002). *Reggae & Caribbean Music*. Backbeat Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87930-655-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87930-655-6).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Campbell1601_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Campbell1601_8-1) Campbell, Howard (2016) "[More Meditations](http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/More-Meditations_49805)", *[Jamaica Observer](/source/Jamaica_Observer)*, 27 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["The Meditations' Winston Watson Dies"](https://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/arts-entertainment/the-meditations-winston-watson-dies). *Radiojamaicanewsonline.com*. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Farewell Tribute to Winston Watson of The Meditations"](https://easystar.com/farewell-tribute-to-winston-watson-of-the-meditations/). *Easystar.com*. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Danny Clarke (The Meditations) passed away"](https://www.reggae-vibes.com/news/2024/08/danny-clarke-the-meditations-passed-away/). *Reggae-vibes.com*. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.

## External links

- [The Meditations at Roots Archives](http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/22)

- [The Meditations at Rootsdub](http://rootsdub.free.fr/Meditations-disco.htm)

- [The Meditations](https://www.discogs.com/artist/The+Meditations) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND National United States Czech Republic Artists MusicBrainz Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Meditations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meditations) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meditations?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.