Jimmy Cliff Works With Rancid's Tim Armstrong On New Record 'Rebirth'

Ska legend Jimmy Cliff teams up with Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong to produce Cliff's new album 'Rebirth' to be released in mid-July 2012.

Their careers cross paths again since Cliff covered Rancid's 1995 song 'Ruby Soho' though he admits he didn't know it was a song of Tim's at the time. 'I had no idea it was one of Tim's songs, but I liked it and could identify with the sentiments,' said Cliff on his website. 'I never really had the opportunity to hear his music, but it was a great thing how we hit if off in the studio.'

Punk pioneer Armstrong, however, appears to have been a devoted Jimmy Cliff fan. 'Jimmy is one of my musical heroes and I've been responding to his music my entire life', he says. Before this record, he had already produced Cliff's 'Sacred Fire' EP last year.

The album is full of Cliff originals but with a couple of added covers including 'Ruby Soho' and The Clash's 'The Guns of Brixton'. 'World Upside Down' and 'One More' show in particular the world in which Cliff embarked on his musical career. 'I was inspired to re-visit my musical past and decided to go back to my roots on this record,' he said. ''Rebirth' is a new chapter in my life and signifies a rebirth in my career and all I have left to accomplish.'