This is an excellent collection of pristine early recordings by Bob Marley and the Wailers (then consisting of Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer) from 1963-67 or so.
Technically, the sound in crude by modenr standards, but for me, that’s part of the primal appeal of this. The music is raw and the singing occasionally leaves something to be desired, but this is extremely soulful music with some poetically profound lyrics considering that our heroes were in their late teens and early twenties at the time. The Curtis Mayfield influence is evident, but Bob in particular was well on his way to finding his winning formula of folk sayings, local proverbs, Black history, and anthems of liberation and positivie thinking.
We start things off with a lovely accapella version of “This Train,” which leads us into the terrific trio’s first Jamaican hit, “Simmer Down,” an enjoyable anit-violence record. The rare tape of Bob and his future wife Rita doing “Wages of Love” has a really pleasant mid-60s malt shop and drive-in feel to it, unlike most of their work.
“I’m Gonna Put it On” (which has the title of this review in one of the lyrics) is one of those songs that you can dance a storm or sit down and listen to its loveliness (it is said that Bob and Rita played this repeatedly at their 1966 wedding). Later remakes were no comparison. The Bobless “Let Him Go” in which they plead for the release of a youthful criminal, was considered a revolutionary call to arms at the time (and Bob, who was then in the USA, warned Bunny and Peter of the possibility of being shot for such songs). It’s quite surprising since it sounds relatively innocent today.
Our heroes do a wonderful remake of Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” with really nice opening all of their own grafted to the proceedings. “Freedom Time” may sound familiar to Bob fans as some of the lyrics would appear in Bob’s later (and better known) antiracist tune “Crazy Baldhead.”
Overall, technophiles may not dig, but Marley fans will consider this a revelation.
Rating: 5 / 5
I agree that this is not the most consistent CD but it has great hidden treasures. First, right now I am listening to Rude Boy which is excellent. What is surprising is that Bob blends in with the others, and they are singing as a trio.
I really like their cover of “and I love her.” Now I am listening to “I’m still waiting” which features an interesting lead by Bob and some almost doo wop backgrounds by the others.
I could go on and on but really you should buy this CD for a totally different sound with some interesting covers of older Soul hits.
Rating: 5 / 5
Bob, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer (and Rita and Marcia, too). Backed by the Skatalites on many cuts. Early Wailers, when they were all together. The early Wailers have a deep, transcendently great catalog of music, and this is just a taste (even stronger material remains in the vaults). This particular set’s value lies in its heights, not in its coconsistency. There are some absolute gems, e.g., “This Train,” Simmer Down,” “I’m Gonna Put It On,” “Jailhouse,” and early versions of songs such as “Bend Down Low.” Other material, including alternate takes, good but not as strong. If you’re not familiar with the pre-Island, pre Scratch Perry- era Wailers, this is a good place to start.
Rating: 5 / 5
Comments (4)
This is an excellent collection of pristine early recordings by Bob Marley and the Wailers (then consisting of Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer) from 1963-67 or so.
Technically, the sound in crude by modenr standards, but for me, that’s part of the primal appeal of this. The music is raw and the singing occasionally leaves something to be desired, but this is extremely soulful music with some poetically profound lyrics considering that our heroes were in their late teens and early twenties at the time. The Curtis Mayfield influence is evident, but Bob in particular was well on his way to finding his winning formula of folk sayings, local proverbs, Black history, and anthems of liberation and positivie thinking.
We start things off with a lovely accapella version of “This Train,” which leads us into the terrific trio’s first Jamaican hit, “Simmer Down,” an enjoyable anit-violence record. The rare tape of Bob and his future wife Rita doing “Wages of Love” has a really pleasant mid-60s malt shop and drive-in feel to it, unlike most of their work.
“I’m Gonna Put it On” (which has the title of this review in one of the lyrics) is one of those songs that you can dance a storm or sit down and listen to its loveliness (it is said that Bob and Rita played this repeatedly at their 1966 wedding). Later remakes were no comparison. The Bobless “Let Him Go” in which they plead for the release of a youthful criminal, was considered a revolutionary call to arms at the time (and Bob, who was then in the USA, warned Bunny and Peter of the possibility of being shot for such songs). It’s quite surprising since it sounds relatively innocent today.
Our heroes do a wonderful remake of Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” with really nice opening all of their own grafted to the proceedings. “Freedom Time” may sound familiar to Bob fans as some of the lyrics would appear in Bob’s later (and better known) antiracist tune “Crazy Baldhead.”
Overall, technophiles may not dig, but Marley fans will consider this a revelation.
Rating: 5 / 5
I agree that this is not the most consistent CD but it has great hidden treasures. First, right now I am listening to Rude Boy which is excellent. What is surprising is that Bob blends in with the others, and they are singing as a trio.
I really like their cover of “and I love her.” Now I am listening to “I’m still waiting” which features an interesting lead by Bob and some almost doo wop backgrounds by the others.
I could go on and on but really you should buy this CD for a totally different sound with some interesting covers of older Soul hits.
Rating: 5 / 5
Bob, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer (and Rita and Marcia, too). Backed by the Skatalites on many cuts. Early Wailers, when they were all together. The early Wailers have a deep, transcendently great catalog of music, and this is just a taste (even stronger material remains in the vaults). This particular set’s value lies in its heights, not in its coconsistency. There are some absolute gems, e.g., “This Train,” Simmer Down,” “I’m Gonna Put It On,” “Jailhouse,” and early versions of songs such as “Bend Down Low.” Other material, including alternate takes, good but not as strong. If you’re not familiar with the pre-Island, pre Scratch Perry- era Wailers, this is a good place to start.
Rating: 5 / 5
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