It was released in 1979 by Mango Records and includes some of the songs heard in the film by Jamaican reggae musicians such as Junior Murvin, Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear, Peter Tosh and Jacob Miller.

[1][2] Martin C. Strong called the album "one of the best samplers of 70s reggae on the market, with an iconoclastic, end-of-an era feel".

[6] MusicHound Soundtracks opined that it is "a fine collection of artists and tunes," with "many of the giants of contemporary reggae," as well as "some lesser-known talents".

[3] AllMusic claimed that "the soundtrack remains one of the most diverse yet coherent albums of the roots age".

[7] Note: Some versions replace "Man in the Street" with "Dread Lion" by Lee Perry & the Upsetters.