Language Barrier (album)

AllMusic awarded the album with three stars and its review by Scott Bultman states: "Sly & Robbie team with producer Bill Laswell for an edgy dub set".[1] Village Voice critic Robert Christgau called it a "world-music mishmash".[2]

The single "Make 'Em Move" reached No. 83 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1985.[3] The album brought the duo international recognition and led on to their subsequent hit album Rhythm Killers in 1987.[4]

1. "Make 'Em Move" (S. Dunbar, R. Shakespeare, B. Aasim, B. Laswell, B. Worrell) — 7:58
2. "No Name On The Bullet" (S. Dunbar, R. Shakespeare) — 6:03
3. "Miles (Black Satin)" (Miles Davis, S. Dunbar, R. Shakespeare, B. Laswell) — 7:20
4. "Bass And Trouble" (B. Laswell, S. Dunbar, R. Shakespeare, Manu Dibango) — 7:58
5. "Language Barrier" (Wally Badarou, S. Dunbar, R. Shakespeare, M. Chung, B. Reynolds) — 6:51
6. "Get To This, Get To That" (S. Dunbar, R. Shakespeare, B. Fowler, B. Worrell) — 5:17

Musicians

• Sly Dunbar – drums, percussion
• Robbie Shakespeare – bass
• Wally Badarou – keyboards
• Herbie Hancock – keyboards
• Bernie Worrell – keyboards
• Robbie Lyn – keyboards
• Manu Dibango –saxophone
• Bob Dylan – harmonica
• Africa Bambaataa – vocals
• Bernard Fowler – vocals
• Doug E Fresh – human beatbox
• Eddie Martinez – guitar
• Pat Thrall – guitar
• Mike Hampton – guitar
• Mikey Chung – guitar
• Barry Reynolds – guitar
• Daniel Ponce – percussion

Technical personnel

• Clive Smith – Fairlight CMI programming
• Robert Musso, Steven Stanley, Solgie – engineers
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• Tony Wright – art direction
• Chris Garnham – photography
• Issey Miyake – glasses