Oxalis

by | Mar 12, 2018 | Oxalis

How Can We Help?
You are here:
< Back
For the Patti LaBelle song, see Stir It Up (Patti LaBelle song). For the album by The Imperials, see Stir It Up (album).

"Stir It Up" is a song composed by Bob Marley in 1967 and first recorded by the group Bob Marley and the Wailers that year and issued as a single. It was later covered by American singer Johnny Nash on his 1972 album I Can See Clearly Now. The following year, Marley and the Wailers re-recorded the song for their album Catch a Fire.

The band performed "Stir It Up" on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1973 during their first trip to the UK, singing live over a Chris Blackwell overdubbed backing track.[4]

"Stir It Up" was the first Marley-written song to be successful outside Jamaica. Another tune written by Bob Marley, "I Shot The Sheriff", was covered by Eric Clapton on the album 461 Ocean Boulevard, July 1974. Marley's first international hit recorded by him, "No Woman, No Cry", was released on the Bob Marley and the Wailers album Live!, December 1975.

Certifications (Bob Marley & The Wailers version)

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[5] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Chart history (Johnny Nash cover)

The Black Sorrows' version

In September 1993, Australian band The Black Sorrows released a version of the song. It became a hit, peaking at number 58 in Australia, number 20 in New Zealand (where it is the band's highest charting single), and number nine in Iceland. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994, Joe Camilleri was nominated for Producer of the Year for his work on this song, losing out to Tony Cohen.

Track listing

CD single (Columbia 660 105-2)

  1. "Stir It Up" – 3:34
  2. "Ain't Love the Strangest Thing" (acoustic) – 4:10
  3. "Come On, Come On" (acoustic) – 2:50

Charts

Chart (1993–1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 58
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[14] 9
Germany (Official German Charts)[15] 53
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 20

Haddaway version

In 1994, Trinidadian-German Eurodance artist Haddaway released his version of "Stir It Up" as the second single from his debut album, The Album (1993). It was only released in the US.

Critical reception

Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box wrote, "Hot new Arista singer (where have we heard that one before?) Haddaway looks to recover from the disappointment of last single, "Life", with this solid cover of one of Bob Marley's most beloved songs. The cut's producers add a contemporary, almost techno-pop feel to the song (Marley's surely bumpin' in his grave!), but the tune's solid arrangement and Haddaway's likable voice translate to a crossover hit waiting to happen. Hit radio will stir it up soon."[17]

Track listing

  • 12", US (1994)
  1. "Stir It Up" (Long Version) — 6:20
  2. "Rock My Heart" (Extended Mix) — 5:58
  3. "Rock My Heart" (Celebration Mix) — 5:48
  • CD single, US (1994)
  1. "Stir It Up" (Single Version) — 4:16
  2. "Rock My Heart" (Extended Mix) — 5:58
  3. "When The Feeling's Gone" — 4:15
  • Cassette single, US (1994)
  1. "Stir It Up" (Long Version)
  2. "Stir It Up" (Single Version)
  3. "Rock My Heart" (Extended Mix)

References

  1. ^ "Bob Marley And The Wailing Wailers – Stir It Up / This Train". Discogs. March 11, 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Bob Marley & the Wailers – Stir It Up". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Johnny Nash - Stir It up".
  4. ^ The Old Grey Whistle Test (DVD). Warner Home Video. 2003.
  5. ^ "British single certifications – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Stir It Up". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  6. ^ RPM Adult Contemporary, May 5, 1973
  7. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Stir It Up". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  8. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  9. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 171.
  10. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (July 13, 2017). "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada.
  11. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  12. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 1973". Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  13. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  14. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (28.4.–04.5. '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 28, 1994. p. 20. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "The Black Sorrows – Stir It Up" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  16. ^ "The Black Sorrows – Stir It Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  17. ^ Augusto, Troy J. (April 23, 1994). "Pop Singles — Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
Categories
Table of Contents