Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers’ third album Conscious Party released under the Virgin Record label was certified platinum by the RIAA 31 years ago. The group consisted of the children of reggae superstar, Bob Marley and Rita Marley, which includes lead singer Ziggy Marley with Sharon Marley, Cedella Marley, and Stephen Marley.
Their definitive reggae album Conscious Party was released in 1988 and spawned the hits “Tumblin’ Down” and “Tomorrow People”. It won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1989.
In 2009, the single “Tomorrow People” was voted erroneously the “85th Greatest One-Hit Wonder of the 80s” by VH1.
Formed in 1979 in Brooklyn, New York, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name the Melody Makers.
They are one of only 5 Jamaican reggae acts with the platinum achievement to their names and their father Bob Marley is the only reggae act with a diamond certification for the album: Legend The Best Of Bob Marley And The Wailers.
Conscious Party placed the band in the small group of platinum album achievers which also include Peter Tosh- whose Legalize It was certified April 15, 1999, Sean Paul – Dutty Rock certified platinum first on March 31, 2003, then 2x Multi-Platinum on September 8, 2003.
Shaggy’s Boombastic, also released by Virgin Records, was certified platinum November 4, 1996 and his groundbreaking album Hot Shot was last certified 6x Multi-Platinum on June 9, 2001 for selling 6 Million units. It was 5x Multi-Platinum as for March 1, 2001, 4x Multi-Platinum | February 22, 2001, 3x Multi-Platinum | January 30, 2001, 2x Multi-Platinum | January 9, 2001, and was first certified Platinum | January 9, 2001
The list of people who contributed to Conscious Party include:
- Lenny Pickett – clarinet, piccolo, saxophone, contrabass
- Gary Pozner – keyboards
- Melaku Retta – keyboards
- Keith Richards – lead guitar on “Lee and Molly”
- Chris Romanelli
- Glenn Rosenstein – engineer
- Mark Roule – tambourine
- Asrat Aemro Selassie – percussion, bongos, conga, tambourine, background vocals, vibraslap, cabassa, wood block
- Earl “Chinna” Smith – guitar
- Raphael W’Mariam – drums, timbales
- Franklyn “Bubbler” Waul – keyboards
- Laura Weymouth – background vocals
- Tina Weymouth – background vocals, producer
The album peaked at No. 23 on the US Billboard 200 and 26 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. It has been certified gold in Canada for selling 50,000 units.
