Gumption is an album by the Jamaican musician Bunny Wailer.[1][2] It was released in 1990 via Shanachie Records.[3] The album peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's World Albums chart.[4] Gumption was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Reggae Album".[5]

Gumption
Studio album by
Released1990
GenreReggae, dancehall
LabelShanachie
ProducerBunny Wailer
Bunny Wailer chronology
Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley
(1990)
Gumption
(1990)
Just Be Nice
(1993)

Production

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Wailer wanted to incorporate a dance hall element into the album's sound.[6] "Warrior" is a cover of the Johnny Osbourne song.[7] "Peiaka 'Bus Dem Shut'" was written by the Wailers in the 1960s.[8] "Dog War" and "Never Grow Old" were written by Toots Hibbert.[9] "Reggae Burden" refers to Bunny's position as the last Wailer, as well as his role as a promoter of reggae.[10]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [7]
Chicago Tribune    [11]
Robert Christgau [12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [13]
Los Angeles Daily News    [14]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide     [15]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [16]

The Gazette deemed the album "a tribute to the diversity of Jamaican reggae styles, from ska and rock steady, to lover's rock, roots and dancehall... It's a richly melodic, uplifting set from start to finish, spearheaded by the bold and caring vocals of a reggae veteran."[17] The Chicago Tribune concluded that, "while not as aggressively 'dancey' as some material now in the marketplace, parts of Gumption are indeed given a 'synthetic' shading by electronic drum beats—although that's generally balanced by a more 'human,' emotional feeling stemming from ebullient melodies and Wailer's warm vocals."[11] The Los Angeles Daily News noted that "the majority of tracks here are lackluster and say nothing new rhythmically."[14]

AllMusic wrote that "Wailer uses simplicity to great advantage... His consistency is a thing to admire."[7]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Sounds Clash" 
2."Peiaka 'Bus Dem Shut'" 
3."Dog War" 
4."See and Blind" 
5."Warrior" 
6."Never Grow Old" 
7."Gumption" 
8."Wheel Yo Belly" 
9."Don Man" 
10."Reggae Burden" 

References

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  1. ^ Oulette, Dan (Mar 1991). "Gumption by Bunny Wailer". DownBeat. Vol. 58, no. 3. p. 34.
  2. ^ Thompson, Dave (2002). Reggae & Caribbean Music. Backbeat Books. p. 297.
  3. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (19 Dec 1990). "World Beat". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 40.
  4. ^ "Bunny Wailer". Billboard. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Bunny Wailer". Recording Academy. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. ^ Potter, Mitch (24 Aug 1990). "Bunny Wailer, Reggae Survivor". Toronto Star. p. E3.
  7. ^ a b c "Gumption Review by Alex Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  8. ^ Doumerc, Eric. "Tribute: The Last Surviving Wailing Wailer". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Rick (January 13, 1991). "Pop Recordings". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 16.
  10. ^ Pick, Steve (February 15, 1991). "A New Reminder of Marley's Genius". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4F.
  11. ^ a b Popson, Tom (11 Jan 1991). "'Gumption', Bunny Wailer". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. Q.
  12. ^ "Bunny Wailer". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 466.
  14. ^ a b Shuster, Fred (December 7, 1990). "World Beat". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L49.
  15. ^ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 802.
  16. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 743.
  17. ^ Feist, Daniel (20 Dec 1990). "Wailer's Gumption picks up where Liberation left off". The Gazette. p. D13.