CATCH A
FIRE
In 1972, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and
Bunny Wailer released the first
international Reggae album Catch A Fire.
It was the start of a long climb to
international fame and recognition for
the Wailers. |
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BURNIN'
In 1973, the Wailers released Burnin', an
LP that included newer versions of some
of the band's older songs with new tracks
"Get Up Stand Up" and "I
Shot the Sheriff". The latter was a
massive hit for Eric Clapton the
following year, reaching number one on
the US singles chart. |
NATTY DREAD
In 1974 Marley spent most of his time in
the studio working on sessions that
eventually provided Natty Dread.
By the start of the year, however, Bunny
and Peter had quit the group and the band
was renamed Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Natty Dread was released in 1974. |
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LIVE!
Touring for the Natty Dread album in the
summer of 1975, Bunny and Peter's missing
harmonies were replaced by the I-Threes.
Among the concerts were two shows at the
Lyceum Ballroom in London, which even now
are remembered as highlights of the
decade. The shows were recorded and later
released as the Live! album. |
RASTAMAN VIBRATION
Rastaman Vibration, the follow-up album
in 1976, cracked the American charts. It
was, for many, the clearest expression
yet of Marley's music and beliefs,
including most significantly "War",
the lyrics of which were taken from a
speech by H.I.M. Haile Selassie I. |
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EXODUS
Less than 48 hours after escaping
assassin's bullets, Marley played the
Smile Jamaica concert to emphasize the
need for peace amid pre-election chaos in
December 1976.
He left Jamaica immediately following the
show and arrived in London in January
1977, where he recorded Exodus. It was
rush released in May 1977 and remained on
the UK charts for 56 straight weeks,
properly establishing the band's
international status. |
KAYA
In 1978 the band released Kaya, an album
which hit number four in the UK the week
after release. Kaya saw Bob Marley in a
different mood: a collection of love
songs and, of course, homages to the
power of ganja. |
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BABYLON BY BUS
In late 1978 Island released Bob's second
live recording, a collection of vibrant
songs from the June 1978 shows at the
Pavillon in Paris.
Babylon By Bus celebrated the Wailers'
amazing talent for performing live. The
Wailers also broke new ground playing in
Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. |
SURVIVAL
Survival was released in the summer of
1979. Survival is an album of pan-African
solidarity, including "Africa Unite"
and "Zimbabwe". The latter was
a stirring anthem for the soon-to-be
liberated Rhodesia. The song was
performed by Bob Marley at the country's
Indepedence Ceremony in April 1980. |
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UPRISING
Uprising was released in May 1980. It was
an instant hit, which was followed by a
major European tour that included the
biggest shows in the band's history.
Uprising was the last album released
during Bob's lifetime. The closing track,
"Redemption Song", was a
fitting final statement in a career: a
summation of all the themes and thughts
that had created it. |
CONFRONTATION
Confrontation was produced by Chris
Blackwell and the Wailers. Songs like
"Chant Down Babylon," and
"Blackman Redemption" restate
the Gong's faith in music and the power
of peace.
These songs owe their magnetism to the
honesty of the self-doubt revealed: Bob
confronting the presence of good and evil
inside his own soul. |
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LEGEND
Legend, the most popular Marley release,
features 14 essential and timeless
compositions from his Island years and
serves as a warm introduction to his
musical legacy. |
REBEL MUSIC
Rebel Music is an exuberant collection of
Marley's most strident songs. It
reconciles his revolutionary fervor
("Get Up, Stand Up") and vision
of one love ("War/No More Trouble")
with his Rasta roots. |
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TALKIN' BLUES
Talkin' Blues captures the time, in the
mid-Seventies, when Bob Marley and the
Wailers took reggae into the mainstream
of popular music. Most of the tracks are
from a broadcast for KSAN radio in San
Francisco, the only recordings from the
Wailer's first American tour in 1973. |
SONGS OF FREEDOM
From "Judge Not" to "Redemption
Song," Songs of Freedom is a vast
and deep collection of 78 compositions,
spanning nearly two decades. Available
only as a limited edition, the set
presents rare and previously unreleased
versions of "No Woman No Cry,"
"Iron Lion Zion," and "Trenchtown
Rock."
It closes with Redemption Song, recorded
at Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh,
Pennslyvania, September 23 1980: Bob's
last concert. |
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NATURAL MYSTIC
Natural Mystic presents 15 essential
songs from Marley's 1975-1980 recordings,
a time of turmoil and great creative
output, personal transformation and a
deepening belief in Rastafari.
It includes the transcendent "Natural
Mystic" from Exodus, a stunning live
performance of "Trenchtown Rock,"
plus remixed versions of "Iron Lion
Zion" and "Keep On Moving." |
DREAMS OF FREEDOM
The first-ever full-length dub treatment
of Bob Marley and the Wailers that covers
their most influential and groundbreaking
work with Island.
Producer Bill Laswell notes "I
wanted this to sound as if someone had
dreamed it (hence the title), where the
music is there kind of floating beneath
the surface of your consciousness. In the
dream the songs themselves aren't quite
fully formed, but the rhythms and
melodies make the statement." |
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SONGS OF FREEDOM
SONGS OF FREEDOM has been reissued to the
delight of Marley fans worldwide. Songs
of Freedom was originally released in
1992 as a limited edition set and quickly
sold out. Now offered with reconfigured
packaging, one of music's greatest
collection of music by a single artist,
Songs of Freedom was reissued November 16,
1999. |
CHANT DOWN BABYLON
The new Bob Marley album featuring duets
with contemporary urban artists like
Lauryn Hill and Busta Rhymes. Bob's
original vocals and instrumental tracks
are remixed by son Stephen with fresh
lyrics from guest artists bringing their
different styles to the table.
"It was one of his dreams to get the
urban youth of America," says
Stephen. Chant Down Babylon brings Bob's
Rasta message to new listeners and
livicated fans alike. |
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SUN IS SHINING
Palm Pictures, the entertainment company
founded by Chris Blackwell, released the
dance remix of "Sun Is Shining"
by Bob Marley for North America on
November 23. The remix is by Ibiza All
Stars and Messy Boys and is the Marley
family endorsed remix/version of "Sun
Is Shining". |