Photo: John Leeson · CC BY 2.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Ernest Ranglin
Person · male · Jamaica · Manchester Parish · born 1932 · recording since 1966
Jamaican guitarist and composer
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Also known as Earnest Ranglin · Ernst Ranglin · 厄内斯特·兰格林
Timeline
39 events▣ Album 37◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1
1930s
1960s
· Debut release
Debut release: A Mod A Mod Ranglin
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography1,541 words · 6 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1373021476
Biography
Ernest Adheir "Ernie" Ranglin (born 19 June 1932) is a Jamaican guitarist and composer who established his career while working as a session guitarist and music director for various Jamaican record labels, including Studio One and Island Records. Ranglin played guitar on many early ska recordings and helped create the rhythmic guitar style that defined the form. He has worked with Theophilus Beckford, Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander, Prince Buster, the Skatalites, Bob Marley and the Eric Deans Orchestra. Ranglin is noted for a chordal and rhythmic approach that blends jazz, mento and reggae with percussive guitar solos incorporating rhythm 'n' blues and jazz inflections.
Ranglin was honoured with the Order of Jamaica in the 2021 National Honours and Awards on Jamaica’s 59th Anniversary of Independence.
Early life
Ernest Ranglin was born on 19 June 1932 in Manchester, Jamaica. His family moved to Kingston, where he attended the Providence Primary School, Kingston Senior School and Bodin College. Ranglin's introduction to music was through two uncles who both played guitar. Initially a self-taught guitarist, he received some tutoring on how to sight-read from a violin player named Tommy Tomlins. At the age of 15, Ranglin joined the Val Bennett Orchestra, which was followed by a period of employment with the Eric Deans Orchestra. While performing locally with these orchestras, Ranglin was introduced to the jazz pianist Monty Alexander, which led to a lifelong friendship as well as numerous musical collaborations.
Career
During the 1950s, Ranglin played guitar on calypso and mento releases, some of which were recorded for the tourist market. The 1958 albums The Wrigglers Sing Calypso at the Arawak as well as Jamaica Fabulous Island in the Sun - Denzil Laing and the Wigglers Sing Again (Kalypso FR 1002) recorded at Federal Studio are representative of the type of calypso floor show that Jamaican bands performed at hotels (some of the tracks from the original albums are included on the 2010 CD release Jamaica - Mento 1951–1958). He was employed as a guitarist by the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) between the years 1958 and 1965, with public radio broadcasting (radio services had been established earlier with the first broadcast transmitted in November 1939) commencing in 1959 and television broadcasting commencing in 1963. Ranglin also played with Cluett Johnson's studio band Clue J and the Blues Blasters; recording several tracks for Coxsone Dodd at Federal Studios, including the Theophilus Beckford hit "Easy Snapping" (recorded in 1956 and released in 1959), which he arranged and played guitar on. Ranglin also played on the Beckford tracks "Jack and Jill Shuffle" and "Shuffling Jug", the latter often considered as the first ska recording.
1960s
In 1962, the James Bond film Dr. No was being shot in Jamaica and Ranglin was hired by Carlos Malcolm, music director for JBC, to compose music for some of the scenes set in Jamaica. Ranglin was also the bassist on many early Prince Buster hits, including the 1963 ska release "Wash Wash" - a situation that arose from his contractual obligations to Federal Records, which barred him from appearing as a named guitarist on recordings not made or licensed by them. In 1963, Ranglin played guitar on and arranged "My Boy Lollipop", which was sung by Millie Small, who had recently been signed to Blackwell's Island label. "My Boy Lollipop" (a cover version of a song written by Robert Spencer of the doo-wop group the Cadillacs and originally recorded by Barbie Gaye in 1956) became a worldwide hit after being released by Island on licence to Fontana in March 1964. Ranglin was also employed by Duke Reid as an A&R man for Reid's Treasure Isle label as well as fulfilling the same role for the labels Federal (owned and operated by Ken Khouri, who recorded and produced Ranglin's 1965 Guitar in Ernest album) and Gay Feet. His solo releases during this period saw him return to his jazz roots with the albums Wranglin (1964) and Reflections, (1965) both issued by Island. He was also involved with Merritone, a subsidiary record label started by Federal.
In 1964, Ranglin was in London with Blackwell, who was enquiring if it would be possible for Ranglin to play at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. Initially the manager of Ronnie Scott's was reluctant to agree but eventually allowed Ranglin to sit-in with the house band. The reception the audience gave to his performance overcame any reservations that the manager may have had and Ranglin was invited to become the venue's resident guitarist. He stayed for nine months, backing numerous guest artists as well as appearing onstage with the Ronnie Scott Quartet and Quintet. In 1964, a live set was recorded at the club which was released on the Fontana label as The Night Is Scott And You're So Swingable in 1966. Ranglin's tenure at Ronnie Scott's brought him to the attention of UK Jazz audiences with the Melody Maker′s readers duly voting Ranglin into first place in the guitar category of the paper's 1964 Reader's Jazz Poll. Upon his return to Jamaica he found himself once again doing A&R and session work for Federal (musical director from 1965 to 1972) and Coxsone. He was involved in the recording of the Wailers' track "It Hurts to Be Alone" released on the Coxsone label in Jamaica and subsequently released in the UK (1965) by Island records. Ranglin was also music director for the recording of The Melodians' song "Rivers of Babylon". The closing years of the 1960s found Ranglin working with the Jamaican producers Lee "Scratch" Perry and Clancy Eccles; both of whom were instrumental in developing and establishing the new genre of reggae. Ranglin played on the Eccles-produced "Say What You're Saying" (1967) by Eric "Monty" Morris, which he cites as one of the earliest records to feature reggae drumming.
1970s to present
In 1973, Ranglin was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for his contribution to music. Ranglin frequently recorded Latin/Caribbean-infused jazz with Monty Alexander during this period, most notably the album Rass!
Rass!Spotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Let's Stay Together9:012Sly Mongoose4:483Love And Happiness5:284Knowing That We Were Meant For Each Other4:345Yellow Bird5:396Limbo7:02 (1974). Ranglin also toured with Jimmy Cliff in the dual role of music director/guitarist, which resulted in the 1976 album release In Concert: The Best of Jimmy Cliff. Ranglin was the lead guitarist on the Lee "Scratch" Perry recording sessions at Black Ark Studios for the Heart of the Congos (1977) album by the Congos.
In 1982, he moved to Florida, where he continued to record as well as taking the opportunity to perform more regularly at jazz festivals. In 1991, Ranglin's nephew Gary Crosby formed the group Jazz Jamaica; Ranglin and Jazz Jamaica performed together at Ronnie Scott's in October 2009 as part of the club's anniversary concert series. In 1998, he signed to Chris Blackwell's newly formed Palm Pictures label and released In Search of the Lost Riddim. That same year he played with Spearhead on "I Got Plenty 'o Nuthin", which was released on the Red Hot Organization compilation album Red Hot + Rhapsody. The albums E.B.@Noon and Modern Answers to Old Problems
Modern Answers to Old ProblemsSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Memories of Senegal6:272Outernational Incident5:513Kunene5:144Many Roots7:525Profiles5:446What a Day6:267Swaziland4:558Sound Invasion7:429Inflight5:5310Alpinos5:03 were released in 2000, followed by Gotcha! in 2001. In 2002 Ranglin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of the West Indies for his outstanding contribution to the development of music in Jamaica. In 2006 he was the subject of a documentary Roots Of Reggae: The Ernest Ranglin Story produced and written by Arthur Gorson. In 2008, Ranglin was inducted into the Jamaican Music Hall of Fame by the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA). In November 2015, Ranglin announced that he would be retiring from the music business with a farewell tour in the summer of 2016. The tour featured musicians including Tony Allen, Courtney Pine, Ira Coleman, Cheikh Lô and Alex Wilson.
Ranglin was honoured with the Order of Jamaica in the 2021 National Honours and Awards on Jamaica’s 59th Anniversary of Independence.
In 2021 and 2022, he recorded the album Two Colors
Two ColorsSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1De Ranglin5:282Rangos5:383Papa R5:094Mi Nuh Know5:125Sam-Fi5:456Clara’s Heart6:097Two Colors5:488Joshua6:069Lighting from the East4:0710Playing Twins5:0611Unknown Melody3:5912Nuh True5:55 with saxophonist/producer Dean Fraser, which was released in May 2022.
As leader
Ernest Ranglin Trio, Guitar in Ernest (Island CB 23, 1961) – totally different from RCA Victor PC-1040; with 7 track
Wranglin' (Island ILP 909, 1964)
Reflections (Island ILP 915, 1965)
Guitar in Ernest (RCA Victor PC-1040, 1965) – totally different from Island CB 23; with 9 tracks
The Exciting Ranglin (RCA Victor LPJ-1002, 1966)
Ranglin Presents The Zodiacs (RCA Victor RCA-101, 1966)
A Mod a Mod Ranglin (Federal, 1966; Steady, 1970)
Boss Reggae (FRM/Federal, 1969; Steady, 1970)
Mr. Ernie Ranglin with Soul (Steady, 1969; RCA Victor, 1969)
Softly with Ranglin (Twilight, 1969)
Ranglin Roots (Aquarius, 1976)
Ranglypso (MPS, 1976)
Monty Alexander/Ernest Ranglin (MPS, 1981)
From Kingston JA to Miami USA (Vista Sounds, 1983)
Rum Raisin (RRR Productions, 1985)
We Want to Party (Rooney, 1989)
True Blue (Rooney, 1989)
The Pensive Ranglin (Kinlin, 1993)
Play the Time Away (Grove Music, 1995)
Below the Bassline (Island, 1996)
Memories of Barber Mack (Island, 1997)
Tribute to a Legend (Kariang, 1997)
Soul D'Ern (Jazz House, 1997)
In Search of the Lost Riddim (Palm Pictures, 1998)
E.B. @ Noon (Tropic, 1999)
Modern Answers to Old Problems (Telarc, 2000)
Gotcha! (Telarc, 2001)
Alextown (Palm Pictures, 2005)
Surfin' (Tropic, 2005)
Order of Distinction (Milk River Music, 2009)
Avila Featuring Ernest Ranglin (Avila Street, 2012)
Bless Up (Avila Street, 2014)
Jazz Jamaica (Federal, 2014)
Two Colors (Tad's Record, 2022)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 14 | 70.2th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 43 | 93.3th |
| Studio albums | 37 | 98.7th |
| Awards recorded | 2 | 92.6th |
| Timeline events | 39 | 98th |
| Recording span (years) | 60 | 97.7th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (43 release groups · 37 studio albums)
Albums · 37
1966 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 38:06
A1La Bostella3:03A2Walk Away4:03A3More & More Amore1:53A4Blowing in the Wind2:27A5Spanish Eyes5:03A6Archie1:50B1What Now My Love?2:10B2Lemon Tree2:55B3You Won't See Me4:27B4Born Free4:50B5Felicia2:00B6Somewhere My Love3:251969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 28:56
A1Grandfather's Clock2:48A2Soulful I3:29A3Liquidation3:22A4Dr. No-Go2:23A5Everybody's Talking2:34B1Pop-A-Top3:34B2Sweet Sensation3:38B3Scoopy2:43B4There's A Fire2:14B5My Elusive Dreams2:111974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 36:32
1Let's Stay Together9:012Sly Mongoose4:483Love And Happiness5:284Knowing That We Were Meant For Each Other4:345Yellow Bird5:396Limbo7:021976 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 44:20
A1Mento - Time in Jamaica4:40A2Feel Like Making Love6:43A3Escape to Villingen Blues5:29A4Tico Tico4:10B1Ranglypso6:38B2You Make Me Feel Brand New5:39B3Honky Tonk5:21B4Freeway5:40Monty Alexander - Ernest Ranglin
1981 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 48:50
A1Just Friends5:45A2If I Should Lose You5:49A3Taboo4:48A4Cruxian Dance3:41A5Con Alma4:40B1Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Treat)3:48B2Consider5:40B3Mountain Melody5:17B4Lullaby of the Leaves4:31B5Fly Me to the Moon4:511983 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks
A1Why NotA2In the RainA3Papa "Doo"B1Be What You Want to BeB2Soft TouchB3Keep On Dancing1995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 37:28
1Play the Time Away3:492Grooving3:273Eastern Skies3:024Lively Up Yourself3:435Do for Love4:066Ragga Style3:317Fern Gully Ride3:318Monday4:329Let's Stay Together3:5710Swing We A Swing3:501996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 55:08
1Congo Man4:562Surfin'5:443King Tubby Meets the Rockers5:074Satta Massagana4:41554-46 (Was My Number)5:546Ball of Fire6:077Black Disciples6:068Bourbon Street Skank5:009None Shall Escape the Judgement3:1410Nana's Chalk Pipe3:4111Below the Bassline4:381997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 56:27
1Papa's Bag Juice5:102Fade Away4:123For Juni6:184Undecided4:245Memories of Barber Mack6:446Stop That Train5:407Mountain Breeze7:078Loverbird4:469Dancehall Fever5:3710Five Thirty6:291997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 1:16:34
1Ronnie's Intro0:232Just One Of Those Things13:433One Note Samba7:174Just In Time5:265Cherokee9:186A Foggy Day4:537Ernest's Other Blues12:058Get Me To The Church On Time10:489Soul d'Ern12:411998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:10:21
1D'accord Dakar4:362Up on the Downstroke4:383Minuit8:574Ala Walee6:245Cherie5:536Haayo10:167Anna4:138Nuh True6:179Wouly6:0610Pili Pili5:4411Midagny7:171999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:13:06
1E.B. @ Noon4:182Like Your Company4:483Ska Wey Dat4:184Heaven Bound4:535Rasta Roots Woman4:386Roker A4:107I'll Be With You4:198Big Business3:599Liberty Valley5:2710Something Gotta4:2111Beautiful4:5512She Cute4:1213Like Immigrants4:5314Sweet & Lovely4:5415Headline News5:0216Minimum3:591999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:17:16
1Sly Mongoose4:512Love and Happiness5:253Limbo7:074Ranglypso6:455Freeway5:466Ripe Banana5:467Funny4:378Taboo4:549Cruxian Dance3:4810Con Alma4:4511Fools Rush In3:5212Mountain Melody5:2213Lullaby of the Leaves4:3614Fly Me to the Moon4:5815Now Is the Time4:44Modern Answers to Old Problems
2000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:01:07
1Memories of Senegal6:272Outernational Incident5:513Kunene5:144Many Roots7:525Profiles5:446What a Day6:267Swaziland4:558Sound Invasion7:429Inflight5:5310Alpinos5:032001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 36:29
1Play The Time Away3:442Grooving3:213Eastern Skies2:564Lively Up Yourself3:355Do For Love3:556Ragga Style3:267Fern Gully Ride3:268Monday4:279Let's Stay Together3:5110Swing We A Swing3:482001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 57:22
1Soulful Moments6:102Blackout5:083The Bubbler6:144Pass the Dutchie (Aka Pass the Kouchie)5:345Way Back When6:326Thinking of You5:557Moondance8:348Rock It With Me6:539Gotcha6:222002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:10:18
1Ranglin’s Diamond7:052Hail Count Ossie5:583The Trip3:384Love Knows5:405I’ll Be With You4:236Ranglin Roots3:137On Higher Ground3:598Love is Loving June2:579Explosion4:3110Double Talk6:3711E.B. @ Noon4:2112Fate3:4113Liberty Valley5:2614Something Gotta4:1915Steppers Dance4:302003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 28 tracks · 2:31:01
Disc 11EB @ Noon4:142Like Your Company4:453Ska Wey Dat4:184Heaven Bound4:545Rasta Roots Woman4:506Rocker A4:087I'll Be With You4:128Big Business3:589Liberty Valley5:2410Something Gotta4:1811Beautiful4:5012She Cute4:1213Like Immigrants4:4714Sweet & Lovely4:5215Headline News4:5816Minimum4:00Disc 21Intro / Surfing6:16254 468:013Bourbon Street Skank8:594Satta Massagana8:245Ball O' Fire9:126Headline News5:117Say Bye Bye4:308Sweet Lady4:319Ska Party5:5610(It's Only a) Paper Moon4:4211You're for Real6:3512The Whip Medley6:042004 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 57:37
1Double Barrel4:562Confucius4:453Stalag 174:254Marcus Garvey4:335Nightwork5:216East of the River Nile5:157Israelites4:168Row Fisherman4:529Freedom Street4:3810Pressure Drop4:5711At the Feast5:4312Redemption Song3:562004 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 35:22
1Soul De Ern4:422Cherokee5:563Ernest's Tune3:044Green Dolphin Street4:075Jordu2:526Ernest's Delight3:467One For Robby2:548Angelima4:229Chow Mein3:392005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:08:41
1Surfin’3:452Reminiscing4:383Ketch It4:084Freedom Dancer3:475One Chord Stylee5:286Jah Kana3:207Ramouslin2:578Surfside3:429These Times4:0810Dancing Mood II3:3911Nyah4:1312Diamond7:1713Tender Moments4:1214September3:4815Dance All4:4516Yu Si Mi4:542005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 44:26
1Trenchtown Music4:272Pictures of Jozy5:353Ezi Myama4:004Joss Song4:195Alextown3:37638 Melle Street5:477Amogumbi4:268South African Sunset3:389Just Guitar Magic4:0810Jazz Club Five4:292005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 57:55
1Long Bay5:522What I Am9:183Mestre' Tata4:164I've Got the Handle6:485One Foundation5:106Fade Away7:277Passion Dance6:348Rivers of Babylon8:329Island in the Sun3:582006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:02:33
1Long Bay4:512What I Am9:173Mestre'Tata4:144I've Got the Handle6:465One Foundation5:086Fade Away7:257Passion Dance6:338Rivers of Babylon8:329Island in the Sun3:5710Long Bay Extended Version5:502006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:15:33
1Rasta Roots Version4:382Freedom Dancer3:443I'll Be With You Version4:204Surfin Dub3:455Ramoulin Version2:536Surfside Vibe4:227Village Soul4:298Jahkana Vibe3:179Montego Version4:2510Cardub4:4211Japaneze Doll4:0912Rocksteady Version3:1513World Version4:2514Put Your Version5:2615Compatible Dub4:2516Money Pressure4:5417Foxy Foxy Version4:1418Sunday Evening Version4:102008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:07:13
1Eb @ Noon4:172Liberty Valley5:263Something Gotta4:204Like Immigrants4:525Sweet & Lovely4:546Reminiscing4:387Ketch It4:088One Chord Style5:289Jahkana3:2010Surfside3:4211These Times4:0812Dancing Mood3:3913Freedom Dance3:4714Dance All4:4515Yu Si MI2:0416Surfing3:452011 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 56:56
1You Won’t See Me4:202What Now, My Love?2:073Blowing in the Wind2:244Julie4:115More and More Amor1:546This Is My Song3:527Flaming Rock Steady3:208La Bostella3:009Walk Away4:0610Summertime Rock Steady2:5911Felicia1:5312Spanish Eyes5:0213She Wears My Ring3:0514Am I That Easy to Forget?2:5715Lemon Tree2:4216Born Free3:4117Archie1:4618Somewhere My Love3:372012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 43:44
1Manenberg6:572Memories of Senegal4:543Ernossi3:564Ska Rango6:145Uncle Funky3:426Swaziland5:207Avila (Oscar’s Song)4:338Return to Manenberg8:082012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:53:35
1Lively Up Yourself3:432Monday4:323Let’s Stay Together3:574Grooving3:275One Note Samba (live)7:186Swing We a Swing3:507Play the Time Away3:498Just One of Those Things (live)13:359Just in Time (live)5:2610Ragga Style3:3111Eastern Skies3:0212A Foggy Day (live)4:5713Cherokee (live)9:1814Do for Love4:0615Ernest’s Other Blues (live)12:0216Fern Gully Ride3:3117Get Me to the Church on Time (live)10:4818Soul D’Ern (live)12:432014 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:12:47
1Bond Street Express4:022Bra Joe From Kilimanjaro5:013Sivan5:364Bless Up4:465O Meets R0:516Joan's Pen3:167Follow On4:488El Mescalero4:279Blues for a Hip King4:5810Rock Me Steady4:0811Stuff I Am Looking For0:1012Ska Renzo5:0513You Too5:2414Mystic Blue4:4115Good Friends4:4816Bra Joe From Kiliminjaro (Home)10:46Ernest Ranglin at Side Door Records
2015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 52:39
1Yardie4:242Step So Frantic6:493Half Step4:084Tree House6:155P.E.J.4:396Skadela4:447Passing Fancy5:348Ding Dong5:139Wy Fly5:3310T.P. Cal5:202015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 38:21
1Noctrune in E‐flat Major2:322I Remember You2:573Blue Velvet3:294Like Someone in Love2:455Deep Purple2:306An Affair to Remember2:397Why Don’t You Believe Me3:258Smoke Gets in Your Eyes4:289Misty3:5610They Say That Falling in Love Is Wonderful3:3411Blue Star2:3312San Francisco3:332016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 33:02
1Hold Me Tight3:062Story Book Children2:583Don’t Sleep in the Subway3:434She Wears My Ring3:065Am I That Easy to Forget3:036This Is My Song4:117Summertime (Rock Steady)2:568Julie4:179Flamingo (Rock Steady)3:1710Sling Shot2:252016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 31:09
1Sly Mongoose6:022Gimme Back Me Shilling3:053Solus Market3:364Water Come to Me Eye1:555Hold Him Joe4:136Emmanuel Road3:017Linstead Market2:508Make Him Tan de Burn3:259Iron Bar3:022019 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 25:32
1Soft Touch4:192Keep on Dancing3:403In the Rain3:294Be What You Want to Be4:385Papa Doo5:176Why Not4:092021 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:02:44
1One for Fred4:542Street Where You Live4:043Polkadots and Moonbeams5:474Tenderly8:385All the Things You Are3:546Back to Back3:017Bahama Lullaby3:268A Matter of Mind Over Matter2:009Bay Street Roach March2:2110Bed Bug2:2411Caroline2:0812Dahoud4:0713Family Scandal2:3314Free Lance4:1915It Never Happened to Me2:0916Junkanoo1:5817Little Boy2:3618Little Fly2:252022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:04:22
1De Ranglin5:282Rangos5:383Papa R5:094Mi Nuh Know5:125Sam-Fi5:456Clara’s Heart6:097Two Colors5:488Joshua6:069Lighting from the East4:0710Playing Twins5:0611Unknown Melody3:5912Nuh True5:55
Album · 5
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Tribute to a LegendSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 55:391Tribute to a Legend4:14 2One Drop3:58 3Iron Zion3:44 4Africa Unite2:49 5Stir It Up4:01 6Nice Time2:51 7Natty Dread3:59 8Talking Blues4:15 9Hurts to Be Alone4:28 10Rastaman Chant6:10 11Guiltiness4:23 12Duppy Conqueror4:08 13Easy Skanking3:27 14Smile Jamaica3:12 | Compilation | 1997 | |
| 2007 | Order of DistinctionSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks · 1:02:561Pocomania4:25 23 Pope3:33 3My Boy Lollipop2:59 4Satta Massaggana3:52 5Ball of Fire5:06 6Many Rivers to Cross4:57 7Mandeville5:06 8Spur Tree5:18 9Hurts to Be Alone5:17 10Grandfather Clock4:04 11Straight Flush7:48 12Ranchin’6:41 13Pimento Walk3:50 | Live | 3 July 2007 | |
| 2009 | Order of DistinctionSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks · 57:541Three Pope3:27 2Spur Tree5:16 3My Boy Lollipop2:53 4Satta Massaganna3:45 5Pimento Walk3:47 6Straight Flush7:42 7Ranchin’6:35 8Grandfather Clock3:59 9Ball of Fire5:26 10Hurts to Be Alone5:10 11Many Rivers to Cross4:53 12Mandeville5:01 | Live | 2009 | |
| 2015 | Sounds and PowerSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 17 tracks · 48:161Major Walk2:05 2Mix Master2:19 3Sound & Power2:56 4More Stars3:16 5West of the Sun4:06 6Black Man’s Train3:14 7Psychedelic Rock3:28 8Ranglin Doddlin2:07 9Mama Top2:26 10So We Call It2:30 11Lee Arab2:34 12Jericho Rocking2:51 13Less Problems2:13 14Black Eye Peas2:37 15These Eyes4:13 16Still Waters2:52 17Now2:29 | Compilation | 30 October 2015 | |
| 2026 | The Indispensable Ernest Ranglin 1958-1962 - Jazz, Calypso & SoundtrackSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 22 tracks · 1:18:331Bloodshot Eyes3:16 2Calypso Medley: Solas Market / Water Come a Mi Eye (Come Back Liza)3:38 3Don't Touch Me Tomato3:14 4Limbo2:10 5Georgie and the Old Shoe2:37 6Jack and Jill Shuffle3:02 7Don't Want Me No More2:49 8She's Gone2:43 9That's Me2:45 10Silky2:50 11Jamaica Blues2:49 12I Want to Be in Love3:42 13Ernie's Delight4:49 14Tenderly8:38 15Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes3:33 16Ernie's Tune3:48 17Polka Dots and Moonbeams5:48 18One for Fred4:55 19Dahoud4:08 20Yellow Bird2:49 21Exodus2:57 22The Boy's Chase (From the "Dr. No" Film Soundtrack)1:33 | Compilation | 2026 |
Single · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Free Form / Skalvouv'aSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 5:37AFree Form2:39 BSkalvouv'a2:58 | 2011 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Ernest Ranglin head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 14 | 70.2th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 43 | 93.3th |
| Studio albums | 37 | 98.7th |
| Awards recorded | 2 | 92.6th |
| Timeline events | 39 | 98th |
| Recording span (years) | 60 | 97.7th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Order of Distinction | won | |
| — | Order of Distinction | won |
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Duke Reid Group(band) | — | present | |
| Workshop Musicians(band) | — | present | guitar |
| Sound Dimension(band) | — | present | |
| Ernest Ranglin Trio(band) | — | present | eponymous |
| Ernie Ranglin All Stars(band) | — | present | eponymous |
| King Edward Allstars(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ernest_Ranglin_2005.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/924203bb-da5f-4bd0-9630-c753c7cb9774discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/924203bb-da5f-4bd0-9630-c753c7cb9774core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q931243genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q931243seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Ranglinbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Ranglin
Why this artist is in the database
- List of reggae musicians
- List of ska musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: John Leeson · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q931243 · MusicBrainz: 924203bb-da5f-4bd0-9630-c753c7cb9774
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