| Born Tuff | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1986 | |||
| Studio | Blue Wave Studios | |||
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| Length |
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| Label | ||||
| Producer | Eddy Grant | |||
| Eddy Grant chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Born Tuff | ||||
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Born Tuff is the eighth studio album by British-Guyanese singer-songwriter Eddy Grant. The album was recorded to completion at Grant's self-owned Blue Wave Studios in St. Philip, Barbados. The album's engineering duties were shared between Alan Smart, Frank Aggarrat, Ray Bardani, and on the closing track "Water" (from the film of the same name), Grant himself.[2] The album failed to replicate the success of Grant's previous two albums, and neither the album nor its second single, "Dance Party", charted anywhere in the world.
Background
The opening track "Dance Party" was released as a single in Germany in 1985 and to the rest of the world the following year.[3] Early German pressings of the album are also dated 1985[4][5], but due to this album's low documentation, it is unclear if this is accurate.
"Melody of the Night" was inspired by Grant's childhood home in Plaisance, Guyana.
"Born Tuff" is dedicated to anti-Apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, who at the time of this album's release, had been imprisoned since 1964.
"Baby Come Back" is a re-recording of the Equals' hit, which was penned by Grant during his time with that band. Its single release predated the album by more than a year, and charted at No. 58 in Germany.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Eddy Grant.
| No. | Title | Engineer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dance Party" | Aggarrat | 4:20 |
| 2. | "Next Time Around" | Smart | 3:18 |
| 3. | "Come Along to My Place" | Aggarrat | 4:05 |
| 4. | "Melody of the Night" | Smart | 4:19 |
| 5. | "Born Tuff" | Smart | 5:07 |
| 6. | "Baby Come Back" | Bardani | 4:59 |
| 7. | "Blood Money" | Smart | 4:32 |
| 8. | "Village Life" | Aggarrat | 4:00 |
| 9. | "Funny Little Groove" | Smart | 4:19 |
| 10. | "In L.A." | Bardani | 4:23 |
| 11. | "She's Standing at the Corner" | Bardani | 3:54 |
| 12. | "Water" | Grant and Smart | 4:53 |
| Total length: | 54:07 | ||
*Tracks 6 and 12 were omitted from worldwide LP and cassette releases, all US releases, and later reissues.
Personnel
Adapted from the liner notes:
Musicians
- Eddy Grant - production, engineering (track 12), all instruments, all vocals except:
- Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie - backing vocals (track 1)
- Alan Smart - news announcer (track 7)
Technical
- Ray Bardani, Alan Smart, Frank Aggarrat - engineering
- Martyn Goddard - lenswork
References
- "Eddy Grant: Born Tuff Tracks & Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
- Eddy Grant - Born Tuff, 1986, retrieved 2026-06-24
- Eddy Grant - Dance Party, 1984, retrieved 2026-06-24
- Eddy Grant - Born Tuff, 1986, retrieved 2026-06-24
- Eddy Grant - Born Tuff, 1985, retrieved 2026-06-24