Stir It Up
Encyclopedia
"Stir It Up" is a song composed by Bob Marley
in 1967, written for his wife Rita, and first made popular by Johnny Nash
. Nash's recording hit the top 15 in both Britain and America in 1972.
When Bob Marley returned to Jamaica
from the United States
in 1967, The Wailers started their own label, ‘Wail'n Soul'm’ records, and released their first independent single "Freedom Time" backed with "Bend Down Low." "Nice Time," "Hypocrites," "Mellow Mood," "Thank You Lord," and "Stir It Up" are all recorded in the same year.
The label folded shortly after and Marley began writing for American singer Johnny Nash. On Nash's I Can See Clearly Now
album, he used members of The Wailers and recorded several Marley songs: "Stir It Up," the follow-up single, "Comma Comma," "Guava Jelly," and the Nash/Marley co-written ballad, "You Poured Sugar on Me." The track "(It Was) So Nice While It Lasted" received radio play.
"Stir It Up" was Bob Marley's first successful song outside Jamaica. Another song written by Bob Marley, "I Shot The Sheriff
", was made a hit by Eric Clapton
in 1974. Marley's first "own" international hit would be "No Woman No Cry," the live version from the Bob Marley and the Wailers Live!
album in 1975.
The Nash vinyl, 45 version of the song has appeared in CD format only once - TimeLife's "Sound of the Seventies: 1973 Take Two" CD. It includes several audio tracks that are not on the album version (e.g. the prominent vibraslap
percussion), and some recorded at different levels, brass and strings in particular, which give the song a more recognizable sound, as it was this version that received radio play during the time the song was a hit, and not the album version. This was the version to receive radio play until the CD version was released. Other mixes eventually made it to vinyl 45 pressings, but thus far the original 45 mix still has not been released in an official digital version, other than the TimeLife CD.
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
in 1967, written for his wife Rita, and first made popular by Johnny Nash
Johnny Nash
John Lester "Johnny" Nash, Jr. is an American pop singer-songwriter, best known in the US for his 1972 hit, "I Can See Clearly Now". He was also the first non-Jamaican to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica.-Life and career:...
. Nash's recording hit the top 15 in both Britain and America in 1972.
When Bob Marley returned to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1967, The Wailers started their own label, ‘Wail'n Soul'm’ records, and released their first independent single "Freedom Time" backed with "Bend Down Low." "Nice Time," "Hypocrites," "Mellow Mood," "Thank You Lord," and "Stir It Up" are all recorded in the same year.
The label folded shortly after and Marley began writing for American singer Johnny Nash. On Nash's I Can See Clearly Now
I Can See Clearly Now
-Certifications:-Charts:-Other covers:The song also appears in various other films, such as Grosse Pointe Blank, The Break-up, Thelma & Louise, Antz, Deep Blue Sea, Envy, Hitch, Shrek 2s Far Far Away Idol, Viktor Vogel – Commercial Man and Jennifer's Body, as well in a 2009 advertisement for Lipton...
album, he used members of The Wailers and recorded several Marley songs: "Stir It Up," the follow-up single, "Comma Comma," "Guava Jelly," and the Nash/Marley co-written ballad, "You Poured Sugar on Me." The track "(It Was) So Nice While It Lasted" received radio play.
"Stir It Up" was Bob Marley's first successful song outside Jamaica. Another song written by Bob Marley, "I Shot The Sheriff
I Shot the Sheriff
"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Bob Marley, told from the point of view of a man who admits to having killed the local sheriff, but claims to be falsely accused of having killed the deputy sheriff. He also claims to have acted in self defense when the sheriff tried to shoot him. The...
", was made a hit by Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
in 1974. Marley's first "own" international hit would be "No Woman No Cry," the live version from the Bob Marley and the Wailers Live!
Live! (Bob Marley and the Wailers album)
Live! is a Bob Marley & The Wailers live album, released on 5 December 1975. Live! was recorded 18 July and 19 July 1975 at the Lyceum Theatre in London. The performance remains one of Marley's most famous...
album in 1975.
The Nash vinyl, 45 version of the song has appeared in CD format only once - TimeLife's "Sound of the Seventies: 1973 Take Two" CD. It includes several audio tracks that are not on the album version (e.g. the prominent vibraslap
Vibraslap
A vibraslap is a percussion instrument consisting of a piece of stiff wire connecting a wood ball to a hollow box of wood with metal “teeth” inside. The percussionist holds the metal wire in one hand and strikes the ball...
percussion), and some recorded at different levels, brass and strings in particular, which give the song a more recognizable sound, as it was this version that received radio play during the time the song was a hit, and not the album version. This was the version to receive radio play until the CD version was released. Other mixes eventually made it to vinyl 45 pressings, but thus far the original 45 mix still has not been released in an official digital version, other than the TimeLife CD.
Cover versions
- In 1991, the song was covered by Dread ZeppelinDread ZeppelinDread Zeppelin is an American band best known for performing the songs of Led Zeppelin in a reggae style as sung by a 300 pound Vegas Elvis impersonator. Over the years they would also perform songs originally by Elvis Presley, Bob Marley and The Yardbirds. The group toured extensively around the...
on their second album 5,000,0005,000,0005,000,000 is Dread Zeppelin's second full-length album. Recorded in early fall 1990, it was conceived and recorded during a three-week break from touring to support the surprisingly successful Un-Led-Ed. Produced by Jah Paul Jo and Rasta Li-Mon, the album once again featured their patented...
. - In 1993, the song was covered by The Black SorrowsThe Black SorrowsThe Black Sorrows are an Australian band founded by Joe Camilleri, the group's only constant member. Founded in 1983, The Black Sorrows are still active today, and are best remembered for their top 40 Australian hits of the late 1980s and early 1990s, including "Hold On To Me", "Chained To The...
. - In 1993, the song was covered by HaddawayHaddawayNestor Alexander Haddaway , better known by his stage name Haddaway, is a Trinidadian-German singer. He is most famous for his worldwide 1993 hit, "What Is Love".- Early life :...
on his debut album HaddawayHaddaway (album)Haddaway is the debut from pop/eurodance/house artist Haddaway, which includes his hit singles "What Is Love" and "Life". It was released in 1993 on Arista Records...
. - In 2009, The FratellisThe FratellisThe Fratellis were an indie rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. The band consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Jon Fratelli , bass guitarist Barry Fratelli , and drummer and backing vocalist Mince Fratelli .The band released 2 albums during their career, Costello Music in 2006 and Here We Stand in...
covered the song for the compilation Island 50: 50 Years of Island Records. - In 2009, the song was used by K'naanK'naanK'naan , born Keinan Abdi Warsame in 1978, is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most...
and J. Period in their mixtape "The Messengers", which tributed Bob Marley. The version is called Fatima/Stir it up
Live cover performances
- The song was covered by The Jerry Garcia Band during several live performances, usually as a long jam with no lyrics.
- O.A.R.O.A.R.O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
has covered the song, almost always following the song "Night Shift." - Slightly StoopidSlightly StoopidSlightly Stoopid is an American band based in Ocean Beach, San Diego, California, who describe their music as "a fusion of acoustic rock and blues with reggae, hip-hop, and punk". As a band, they have released eight albums with their sixth studio album, entitled Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat...
has made a cover of "Stir It Up" and they often play it during live performances. - The String Cheese Incident played the song a number of times throughout their 14-year career.
- Widespread PanicWidespread PanicWidespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
has covered the song in numerous live performances over the years. - Gilberto GilGilberto GilGilberto Passos Gil Moreira , better known as Gilberto Gil or , is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter, known for both his musical innovation and political commitment...
covered "Stir It Up" during many live performances in the 1990s, in a mixture of English and Portuguese. One such performance was captured on the Grammy award-winning album Quanta Live. - Dave Matthews BandDave Matthews BandDave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
has teased or partially played "Stir It Up" at least 9 times live, as recently as 2009.