+ scroll down for Wild World and I Can See Clearly Now by Jimmy Cliff, as well as You Can Get It If You Really Want by Jimmy Cliff and Desmond Dekker
Single:
Wonderful World, Beautiful People entered the Australian singles chart* on 29 December 1969 and peaked at #30.
Songwriter:
Jimmy Cliff
Producer:
Leslie Kong
Record label of Australian release:
Festival
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
OTHER SINGLES BY JIMMY CLIFF BELOW – scroll down for Wild World, I Can See Clearly Now, and You Can Get It If You Really Want
Wikipedia – Jimmy Cliff:
Jimmy Cliff was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and actor. At the time of his death in November 2025, he was the only living reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Cliff
Wikipedia – Wonderful World, Beautiful People:
The song, composed by Jimmy Cliff, is about what the world could be. Politicians Harold Wilson and Richard Nixon are mentioned in the song. It was originally recorded in the West Indies. Jimmy Cliff wasn’t satisfied with the orchestral backing so in order to get the strings right, he flew to New York and spent three hours in a twelve track studio re-recording the orchestral parts.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderful_World,_Beautiful_People
Lyrics:
Wonderful world, beautiful people
You and your girl, things could be pretty
But underneath this there is a secret
That nobody can reveal
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 60s
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
Other charting singles by Jimmy Cliff
WILD WORLD
Written by Cat Stevens
This song entered the Australian singles chart* on 23 November 1970 and peaked at #31.
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
Written by Johnny Nash
This single peaked at #17 in Australia in 1994. It is on Cool Runnings – Music from the Motion Picture which entered the Australian albums chart* on 21 March 1994 and peaked at #32.
YOU CAN GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT
This song was written and originally recorded by Jimmy Cliff and released as a single in July 1970. Jimmy’s version didn’t chart here or in other countries. Another version, recorded by Jamaican singer Desmond Dekker and released within a few weeks of Cliff’s version, became a hit single in a number of markets, reaching #17 in Australia.
Jimmy Cliff:
Desmond Dekker:
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