"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]
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)
"Stir It Up" – 3:34
"Ain't Love the Strangest Thing" (acoustic) – 4:10
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]