November 14, 1972
The best-known hit by Houston-born singer-songwriter Johnny Nash was in the middle of a 4-week bright, sunshiny stay at the top of America’s most influential weekly music chart, the Billboard Hot 100.
The million-selling I Can See Clearly Now became Nash’s signature song and the biggest hit of his recording career, which began in the late 50’s.
[Note] Nash’s early modest chart successes included a 1957 single titled A Very Special Love (#23) and another as part of a tandem on the 1958 single The Teen Commandments (#29) with young Canadian singing idol Paul Anka and country music star George Hamilton IV (a bazaar combination indeed!)
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In 1967 Nash moved to Kingston, Jamaica and became one of the first non-native born singers to write and record reggae right in that music’s mecca.
Additionally, in an effort to bring this genre of music to American mainstream audiences – to whom it was still relatively unknown – Nash formed his own record label, JAD in 1967 and soon signed fledgling Jamaican reggae bands like Bob Marley & The Wailers (which included Peter Tosh) and Byron Lee’s Dragonaires to the label. Unfortunately, none of the productions were successful.
But the following year, Nash himself wrote and recorded the Top 5 U.S. hit Hold Me Tight (see below).
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But by the early seventies, with the success of songs such as Simon & Garfunkel‘s Cecilia and Paul Simon‘s Mother And Child Reunion, reggae music (also known as steadybeat) was gaining familiarity and acceptance in the U.S. – as was Bob Marley himself, who would ultimately become wildly successful with it.
Nash would record four songs written by Marley for his 1972 album, also titled I Can See Clearly Now, including the follow-up single Stir It Up (see below).
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[Note] Some audio song files may not play on smartphones, tablets or connected devices. A laptop, desktop PC or Mac may be required for optimal enjoyment.
To mark the apex of Johnny Nash’s success, because I’m sure many enjoy reggae music – and it’s the weekend! – I’m presenting four of his best singles, beginning with the featured title from the top of the heap on this date in ’72.
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I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
Johnny Nash
[1972]
JAD Records was defunct by 1971, but Nash was soon signed to the Epic label, a subsidiary of giant Columbia Records.
The song was recorded in London with some members of the instrumental group Average White Band (Pick Up The Pieces, Cut The Cake).
https://youtu.be/7V5lhuAnncs
[Note] A cover version of ICSCN by veteran reggae star Jimmy Cliff went to #18 on Billboard in 1994 after being heard in the 1993 movie about the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team called Cool Runnings, starring John Candy.
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EXTRA STUFF!
HOLD ME TIGHT
Johnny Nash
[1968]
In 1967, Johnny Nash went to Jamaica to absorb the reggae music atmosphere and he ended up writing and recording his first ‘steadybeat’ hit there – Hold Me Tight.
‘Hold Me Tight’ was a major hit, climbing to #5 on the Hot 100 in November, 1968.
https://youtu.be/qN5Azvii_9I
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YOU GOT SOUL
Johnny Nash
[1968]
Not nearly as successful as HMT, its follow-up release, You Got Soul (also written by Nash) struggled to finish at #58 in January, 1969.
https://youtu.be/ubSrEJ08yu8
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STIR IT UP
Johnny Nash
[1973]
The follow-up to ‘I Can See Clearly Now – and Nash’s last significant single – Stir It Up peaked at #12 on April 21, 1973.
It also was the only Nash record written by Bob Marley to chart on the Hot 100.
https://youtu.be/X6i-wDwfbAY
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Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits, Inc.
Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat
