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Jimmy Cliff | |
|---|---|
 Cliff performing in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | James Chambers (1944-07-30)July 30, 1944 |
| Died | November 24, 2025(2025-11-24) (aged 81)[1] |
| Genres | Ska,rocksteady,reggae,soul |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, actor |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1962–2025 |
| Labels | [2] |
| Website | jimmycliff |
James Chambers,OM (30 July 1944 – 24 November 2025), known professionally asJimmy Cliff, was a Jamaicanska,rocksteady,reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and actor. At the time of his death, he was the only living reggae musician to hold theOrder of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences.
Cliff was best known among mainstream audiences for songs such as "Many Rivers to Cross", "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "The Harder They Come", "Reggae Night", and "Hakuna Matata", and hiscovers ofCat Stevens's "Wild World" andJohnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" from the filmCool Runnings. He starred in the filmThe Harder They Come, which helped popularize reggae around the world,[3] andClub Paradise. Cliff was one of five performers inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jimmy Cliff was born James Chambers on 30 July 1944 inSaint James,Colony of Jamaica.[4] He began writing songs while still at primary school in St. James, listening to a neighbour's sound system. When Chambers was 14, his father took him toKingston, where he would take up the stage name Jimmy Cliff.[5]
Cliff sought out many producers while still going to school, trying to get his songs recorded without success. He also entered talent contests. "One night I was walking past a record store and restaurant as they were closing, pushed myself in and convinced one of them,Leslie Kong, to go into the recording business, starting with me," he writes in his own website biography.[3] After two singles that failed to make much impression, his career took off when "Hurricane Hattie" became a hit while he was aged 17.[6] It was produced by Kong, with whom Cliff remained until Kong's death from a heart attack in 1971.[citation needed]
Cliff's later local hit singles included "King of Kings", "Dearest Beverley", "Miss Jamaica", and "Pride and Passion". In 1964, Cliff was chosen as one of Jamaica's representatives at theWorld's Fair in New York; and in the same year Cliff was featured in a program called "This isSka!" alongsidePrince Buster,Toots and the Maytals, andByron Lee and the Dragonaires.[7]
He soon signed toIsland Records and moved to the United Kingdom.[6] Island Records initially (and unsuccessfully) tried to sell Cliff to therock audience, but his career took off in the late 1960s.[8] His international debut album wasHard Road to Travel, released in 1967. It received excellent reviews and included "Waterfall" (composed byNirvana's Alex Spyropoulos andPatrick Campbell-Lyons), which became a hit in Brazil and won the International Song Festival.[6]
"Waterfall" was followed in 1969 by "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and "Vietnam" in 1970, both popular throughout most of the world.Bob Dylan called "Vietnam" the bestprotest song he had ever heard.[3] Also during this period, Cliff released acover ofCat Stevens' "Wild World" as a single, but it was not included on hisWonderful World, Beautiful People album.[citation needed]
In 1972, Cliff starred as Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin in the classic reggae film,The Harder They Come, directed byPerry Henzell.[9] As the film tells Martin's story, he is a young man without funds. Arriving in Kingston from the country, he tries to make it in the recording business, but without success. Eventually, he turns to a life of crime. Thesoundtrack album of the film was a huge success that sold well around the world, bringing reggae to an international audience for the first time. It remains one of the most internationally significant films to have come out of Jamaica since independence. The film made its debut at London'sGaumont cinema inNotting Hill on 1 September 1972.[10]
In 1976, Cliff sang on thefirst season ofSaturday Night Live, episode 12, hosted byDick Cavett. After a series of albums, Cliff took a break and traveled to Africa (the Nigeria-based Jamaican writerLindsay Barrett was instrumental in Cliff's first trip there),[11] and subsequently converted toIslam, taking the name of El Hadj Naïm Bachir.[12][13] In a 2021 interview, Cliff expressed a strong affinity with the religious and intellectual knowledge of ancient Egypt, scepticism of government handling of theCOVID-19 pandemic, and denied his earlier conversion to Islam, claiming it "didn't satisfy my soul".[14]
Cliff quickly returned to music, touring for several years before he recorded withKool & the Gang. In 1984, Cliff appeared at thePinkpop Festival inLandgraaf,Netherlands. DuringThe River Tour,Bruce Springsteen and theE Street Band added Cliff's previously little-known song "Trapped" to their live set; it achieved great prominence when included on 1985'sWe Are the World benefit album. The follow-up,Cliff Hanger (1985), won aGrammy Award forBest Reggae Album, though it was his last major success in the United States until 1993. Also in 1985, Cliff contributed to the song "Sun City", a protest song written and composed bySteven Van Zandt and recorded byArtists United Against Apartheid to convey opposition to theSouth African policy ofapartheid.[15]
Cliff then providedbacking vocals onThe Rolling Stones' 1986 albumDirty Work, and appeared in the comedyClub Paradise, co-starring withRobin Williams andPeter O'Toole,[16] and contributed several songs to the soundtrack, including "Seven Day Weekend", which he sang withElvis Costello. In 1988, his song "Shelter of Your Love" was featured in the 1988 filmCocktail.[citation needed]
Cliff appeared in the filmMarked for Death in 1990, performing "John Crow" with the Jimmy Cliff Band.[17] His recording of "You Can Get It If You Really Want" was used as acampaign anthem by theSandinista National Liberation Front in the 1990 election inNicaragua.[18] In 1991, he performed at the secondRock in Rio festival inEstádio do Maracanã inRio de Janeiro, Brazil. He continued to sell well in Jamaica and, to a lesser extent, the UK, returning to the mainstream pop charts in the U.S. and elsewhere (#1 inFrance) with a version ofJohnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" on theCool Runnings film soundtrack in 1993. In 1995, Cliff released the single "Hakuna Matata", a collaboration withLebo M, a song from the soundtrack of the filmThe Lion King. In 1997, Cliff was a guest star in an episode of theCartoon Network talk showSpace Ghost Coast to Coast.[citation needed]
In 2001, Cliff became an inaugural member of the Independent Music Awards' judging panel to support independent artists.[19] In 2002, Cliff released the albumFantastic Plastic People in Europe, after first providing free downloads usingp2p software. This album featured collaborations withJoe Strummer,Annie Lennox, andSting as well as new songs that were very reminiscent of Cliff's original hits. In 2004, Cliff completely reworked the songs, dropping the traditional reggae in favour of anelectronic sound, for inclusion inBlack Magic. The album also included a recording of "Over the Border" withJoe Strummer. Cliff performed at the closing ceremony to the2002 Commonwealth Games and in 2003, his song "You Can Get It If You Really Want" was included in the soundtrack to the film,Something's Gotta Give. He also appeared in July 2003 at thePaléo Festival inNyon,Switzerland. The Jamaican government underP. J. Patterson honoured Cliff on 20 October 2003, by awarding himThe Order of Merit, the nation's fourth-highest honour, in recognition of his contributions to the film and music of Jamaica.
In 2007, Cliff performed at the opening ceremony at cricket'sWorld Cup. In the spring and summer of 2010, Cliff embarked on an extensive tour of the U.S. and Canada. In 2007, "You Can Get It If You Really Want" was adopted by the BritishConservative Party during their annual conference.[18] He was quoted inThe Independent as saying, "One of my band mates called me this morning to tell me the news. I can't stop them using the song, but I'm not a supporter of politics. I have heard of Cameron, but I'm not a supporter. I don't support any politician. I just believe in right or wrong."[20]
In September 2009, he was nominated for induction into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame, following a campaign on his behalf by the American Charles Earle.[21] Cliff reacted to the news by saying, "This is good for Cliff, good for Jamaican music and good for my country." On 15 December 2009, he was officially announced as an inductee and was inducted on 15 March 2010 byWyclef Jean.[22]
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Cliff appeared in the 2011 documentaryReggae Got Soul: The Story of Toots and the Maytals which was featured onBBC and described as "The untold story of one of the most influential artists ever to come out of Jamaica".[23][24]
In 2011, Cliff worked with producerTim Armstrong, lead singer of American punk bandRancid, on the EPThe Sacred Fire[25] and the full-length albumRebirth.[26]Rebirth won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.[27] The album was listed at #12 onRolling Stone's list of the top 50 albums of 2012, saying "There's ska, rock steady, roots reggae, a revelatory cover ofThe Clash's "Guns of Brixton" delivered in Cliff's trademark soulful tenor, grittier but still lovely more than 40 years after his debut."[28]
In December 2012, Cliff was named Artist of the Year by digital newspaper the Caribbean Journal, citing his work onRebirth.[29]
In August 2022, Cliff released the albumRefugees.[30]
Cliff was briefly a member of theRastafari movement before converting toIslam fromChristianity.[31] In a 2013 interview, he described himself as having a "universal outlook on life", and does not align himself with any particular movement or religion,[31][32] saying, "now I believe in science".[31] He was married and had a daughter, Lilty Cliff, and a son, Aken Cliff. On the morning of 24 November 2025, Cliff’s wife posted on his Facebook page that he had died of a seizure followed by pneumonia. He was 81 years old.[33][34] He is also the father of the actress/singerNabiyah Be.[35]
| Year | Title | Peak positions | Certification | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [36] | NLD [37] | NZ [38] | SWE [39] | SWI [40] | UK [41] | US [42] | US Reggae [42] | |||
| 1967 | Hard Road to Travel[A] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1968 | Jimmy Cliff in Brazil[B] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1969 | Jimmy Cliff[C] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1971 | Wild World | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Goodbye Yesterday[D] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Another Cycle | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972 | The Harder They Come | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 140 | — | |
| 1973 | Unlimited[E] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Struggling Man[F] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974 | Music Maker[G] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1975 | Brave Warrior | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Follow My Mind | — | — | — | — | — | — | 195 | — | ||
| 1978 | Give Thankx | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1980 | I Am the Living | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1981 | Give the People What They Want | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1982 | Special | — | 29 | — | — | — | — | 186 | — | |
| 1983 | The Power and the Glory | 17 | 29 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — |
|
| 1985 | Cliff Hanger | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1986 | Club Paradise | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1987 | Hanging Fire | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Shout for Freedom | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989 | Images | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Save Our Planet Earth | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992 | Breakout[H] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1996 | Higher & Higher[I] | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
| 1998 | Journey of a Lifetime | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1999 | Humanitarian | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2002 | Fantastic Plastic People | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| We All Are One: The Best of Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | — | 57 | — | — | — | ||
| 2004 | Black Magic | 139 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | |
| 2011 | Sacred Fire EP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
| 2012 | Rebirth | — | — | — | — | 71 | 83 | 76 | 1 | |
| 2022 | Refugees | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Notes
| Year | Title | Peak positions | Certification | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL (Wa) [44] | FRA [36] | GER [45] | SWE [39] | US Reggae [42] | |||
| 1975 | The Best of Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Pop Chronik | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1976 | In Concert: The Best of Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | 21 | — | |
| 1978 | Many Rivers to Cross | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1979 | Oh Jamaica | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1981 | Collection | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1982 | Reggae Nights: The Best of Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1984 | Many Rivers to Cross | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1985 | Reggae Greats | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1987 | Fundamental Reggay | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1993 | The Best Of | — | 7 | — | — | — |
|
| 1994 | Live | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Many Rivers to Cross | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Gold Collection | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Reggae Classics: The Very Best of Jimmy Cliff | 47 | — | 57 | — | — | ||
| 1995 | Definitive Collection | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Reggae Man | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Vol. 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996 | Best of Jimmy Cliff[J] | — | — | — | — | — |
|
| 1997 | Super Hits | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 100% Pure Reggae | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999 | Ultimate Collection | — | — | — | — | 8 | |
| Millenium Collection | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Wonderful World Beautiful People | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000 | Simply the Best | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Super Best | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Wanted | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| The Messenger: The Very Best of Reggae's Original Soul Star | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Wonderful World | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Live and in the Studio | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001 | Les Indispensables de Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2002 | We All Are One: The Best of Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2003 | Many Rivers to Cross: The Best of Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Anthology | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Island Reggae Classics | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004 | 20th Century Masters | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Reggae Night | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| This Is Crucial Reggae | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| The EMI Years 1973–1975 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Timeless Hits | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005 | The Harder They Come: The Definitive Collection | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2006 | The Essential Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | — | — | |
| The Very Best of Jimmy Cliff & Peter Tosh[J] | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| The Harder They Come: The Early Years 1962–1972 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Better Days Are Coming: The A&M Years 1969–1971 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008 | King of Kings: The Very Best of Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Reggae Legends | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010 | Harder Road to Travel: The Collection | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2013 | Jimmy Cliff | — | — | — | — | — | |
| The KCRW Session | — | — | — | — | 4 | ||
| Icon | — | — | — | — | 15 | ||
| Year | Title | Peak positions | Album | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [46][47] | AUT [48] | BEL (Vl) [49] | BEL (Wa) [44] | FRA [50][51] | GER [45] | IRE [52] | ITA | NLD [37] | NZ [38] | SWI [40] | UK [41] | US [42] | |||
| 1962 | "Hurricane Hatty" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | single only |
| "Miss Jamaica" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Since Lately" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1963 | "King of Kings" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "My Lucky Day" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "The Man" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1966 | "Pride and Passion" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hard Road to Travel |
| 1967 | "Give and Take" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "I Got a Feeling" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "That's the Way Life Goes" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Jimmy Cliff | |
| 1968 | "Vietnam" | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | 26 | — | — | 46 | — | |
| 1969 | "Waterfall" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | single only |
| "Many Rivers to Cross" | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Jimmy Cliff | |
| "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" | 30 | — | 13 | — | — | — | 17 | — | 12 | — | — | 6 | 25 | ||
| "Come into My Life" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | 89 | ||
| 1970 | "Sufferin' in the Land" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Where Did It Go" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | single only | |
| "Wild World" | 31 | 20 | 7 | — | 51 | — | 11 | 17 | 3 | — | 2 | 8 | — | Wild World | |
| "You Can Get It If You Really Want" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | single only | |
| "Synthetic World" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Goodbye Yesterday | |
| 1971 | "Goodbye Yesterday" | — | — | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Those Good Good Old Days" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Struggling Man | |
| "Sitting in Limbo" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Another Cycle | |
| 1972 | "The Harder They Come" | — | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Harder They Come |
| "Struggling Man" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Struggling Man | |
| 1973 | "Let's Seize the Time" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "On My Life" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Unlimited | |
| "Fundamental Reggay" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Oh Jamaica" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974 | "Music Maker" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Music Maker |
| "Look What You Done to My Life, Devil Woman" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Money Won't Save You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Don't Let It Die" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Brave Warrior | |
| 1975 | "Every Tub" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "If I Follow My Mind" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Follow My Mind | |
| 1976 | "Look at the Mountains" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Dear Mother" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977 | "Material World" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Give the People What They Want |
| "Deal with Life" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | single only | |
| 1978 | "Treat the Youths Right" | — | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | Special |
| "Bongo Man" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Give Thankx | |
| "Stand Up and Fight Back" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | "Love I Need" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1980 | "All the Strength We Got" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | I Am the Living |
| "Another Summer" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "I Am the Living" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981 | "Son of Man" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Give the People What They Want |
| "Shelter of Your Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "My Philosophy" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982 | "Rub-A-Dub Partner" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Special |
| "Love Is All" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Special" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Roots Radical" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Peace Officer" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Love Heights" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983 | "Reggae Night" | 55 | — | 5 | — | 2 | 35 | — | 8 | 6 | 1 | — | 91 | — | The Power and the Glory |
| "We All Are One" | — | — | 24 | — | 15 | — | — | — | 33 | 48 | — | 93 | — | ||
| "Sunshine in the Music" | — | — | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984 | "Reggae Movement" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | single only |
| "Black Bess" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "De Youths Dem a Bawl" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985 | "Hot Shot" | — | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | Cliff Hanger |
| "American Sweet" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Reggae Street" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986 | "Seven-Day Weekend"(withElvis Costello) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Club Paradise |
| "Club Paradise" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "Roots Girl (Step Aside)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | single only |
| "Rebel in Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Images | |
| "Hanging Fire" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hanging Fire | |
| "Reggae Down Babylon" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Soar Like an Eagle" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988 | "Love Me Love Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1989 | "Pressure on Botha"(withJosey Wales) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Images |
| "Trapped" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Dance Reggae Dance" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Save Our Planet Earth | |
| "Save Our Planet Earth" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992 | "Breakout" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | Breakout |
| "I'm a Winner" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Peace" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993 | "Samba Reggae" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "I Can See Clearly Now" | 17 | — | 32 | — | 1 | 52 | — | — | 39 | 1 | — | 23 | 18 | Cool Runnings: Music from the Motion Picture | |
| 1994 | "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | 31 | — | — | 117 | Higher & Higher |
| 1995 | "Hakuna Matata"(withLebo M) | — | — | 46 | 6 | 7 | 77 | — | — | 10 | — | 32 | — | 105 | Rhythm of the Pride Lands |
| "Melody Tempo Harmony"(withBernard Lavilliers) | — | — | — | 22 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | single only | |
| 1999 | "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Humanitarian |
| 2002 | "Fantastic Plastic People" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Fantastic Plastic People |
| 2004 | "Jamaica Time"(withDavid A. Stewart) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Black Magic |
| 2011 | "Guns of Brixton" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sacred Fire EP |
| 2012 | "One More" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Rebirth |
| 2013 | "C'mon Get Happy" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | single only |
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