There have been some fantastic CD boxed sets released in the past few years. Often they are great value and can fill a hole in the collection. Well, that’s my justification. The plan is to share some of these in mid-week posts. This first artist doesn’t need any introduction at all, but I’ll reproduce the text from a Discrepancy Records article on the ‘Greatest Hits’ album Legend for those unfamiliar with the story.
Singing along to “Is this love” or “I shot the Sheriff”, it’s easy to forget the music of Bob Marley and the Wailers is, at the core, a revolutionary music. Nesta Robert Marley was born in Jamaica on February 6, 1945, a child of mixed-race origins who spent his formative years strumming a home made guitar in the Trench Town ghetto while enduring the taunts and racial abuse constantly directed at someone whose parents came from two different cultures. It was a tough teenage-hood, one that might have made Nesta Robert angry and bitter. Instead it hardened his resolution to make is own way. A way in music.
With close friends Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, young Marley—now preferring the shorter moniker Bob—formed The Teenagers in 1961 and started on the path that would take him out of the ghetto and around the world as one of the first genuine World Music superstars.
When The Wailers, as Marley’s band was now known, arrived in Britain in 1971 they struggled to get by despite being well-received at the few small gigs they landed. All found the UK’s climate challenging, particularly Bunny Wailer, but they hung tough and finally made a connection with Island Records’ Chris Blackwell. As well as encouraging, supporting and managing the young band, Blackwell also played a vital role in helping produce their early material. With an emphasis on tighter, more concise songs rather than endless jams, and with extra sweetening from US keyboard player John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick (Eric Burdon, Free, Roger Waters), The Wailers first album—Catch A Fire—was a hit.
Burnin’, the second, consolidated the band’s success. It’s opening cut was “Get up, Stand up”, a statement of Rastafarian intent and an equally clear indication of the revolutionary nature of the music. Indeed, Peter Tosh wanted much more social commentary in the music and left to pursue his own reggae vision.
Bob Marley and the Wailers went from strength to strength during the mid-70s, releasing hit singles including “Jamming” and “One love” and highly successful albums such as Exodus and Uprising. The final Bob Marley album, Confrontation, was released two years after his death from cancer in 1981. Marley received a State funeral, the service combing elements of Ethiopian Orthodoxy and Rastafarianism. He was a legend.
Bob Marley & The Wailers — The Complete Island Recordings
Tuff Gong / Island / Universal 2020
vinylconnection.com.au 
a) I think I know what #2 son will get for Xmas
b) I recall a friend returning from a UK holiday circa ’73 with a selection of Marley albums but not being overly impressed at the time
c) Enjoying Kaya on repeat whilst setting up a backyard for a party, circa ’80.
Thanks
DD
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a) Excellent to have Xmas sorted in August.
b) I recall feeling much the same. But it grows on you, doesn’t it?
c) See b).
You are most welcome.
BJ
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a) is for Amazon – unfortunately – but that job is done.
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I enjoy reggae and my artist of choice remains the very first reggae artist I listened to in my early teens: Bob Marley.
My Bob Marley journey started with the excellent live album “Babylon By Bus,” which my best friend got on vinyl. I believe that was a year or two after it had come up. I taped it on MC and listened to that cassette pretty frequently. In particular, I dig the version of “Is This Love” that’s on there, which I think is much better than the studio recording.
“Could You Be Loved” from 1980’s “Uprising” received a ton of radio play in Germany. Great tune! There are many others.
It’s a pity Marley passed away so early – in part because he refused cancer treatment until his disease was at a very advanced stage when drugs could no longer help him!
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Agree with you on Babylon, Christian. A fine live set. Though the earlier ‘Live’ is excellent too. I’m just getting to the final three albums now, none of which I know at all. That’s rather fun.
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Great point about “Live”. I actually taped that one on MC as well. Come to think of it, I tend to prefer Marley’s live versions of his songs on “Babylon By Bus” and “Live” over the studio recordings. I feel the former have a bit more bite!
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Spot on. One of a number of reasons I love live albums!
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I have the CD ‘box’ collection from the ’90s, I think, ‘Songs of Freedom.’ Plus six albums on vinyl.
Strangely, my route into reggae music was not through Bob Marley …his first entry into my record collection came a little later… @ ’78 I’d say. No, initially, after being in London one time @’77 and being invited to a party where Jimmy Lindsay was booming all night – that was when my ears opened up to the reggae sounds.
So glad I went along to that party! 🙂
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Of course, the London scene was vital to Marley’s success but it’s great to hear alternate histories too. Cool story.
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Not sure if Marley would be my cuppa but looks like a great set. And agreed that there have been a bunch of superb box sets in recent years. Just bought the new Steeleye Span one! The Fleetwood Mac 69-74 and ELP live box have been recent purchases too. The only drawback is finding time to listen to everything…
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Ain’t that the truth, comrade. Reckon I’m only ⅓ the way through the Van Der Graaf box from two years ago!
Must search out the Steeleye Span (even though I have all the LPs!!).
And thanks for the reminder. I’ll post on the live ELP too.
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There are bonus tracks on most the discs in the Steeleye set and I think one or two of the live discs might be previously unavailable. Nice book too! https://steeleyespanfan.co.uk/the-music/good-times-of-old-england
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That’s the one I ordered. (Phew!)
Thanks for that.
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No worries! Usually I find out about these things before release but this just seemed to come out of nowhere. Enjoy!
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I got this too, a while back. Not as much to tempt if you have them already though (I didn’t) https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/steeleye-span-all-things-are-quite-silent-complete-recordings-1970-71-3cd-boxset/
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Yeah, thanks. I saw this one too. Have all of them, two on CD, and decided there was more on offer with the other box. I think I lean towards the more pronounced folk-rock of 1972 and onwards.
Also, apropos of folk-rock, I took delivery of a couple of post-70s Alan Stivell albums a short while ago and thought of you. Are you a fan of the Celtic harpist?
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The name is familiar but that’s all. Worth investigating?
Agreed on the Steeleye Span. I’m not so keen on the earlier stuff. First album is good. I do like Martin Carthy a lot though. Just got a batch of his 70s album on vinyl. More folk and less rock by that point though…
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Reckon so. I’ll spin a couple and make a suggestion.
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I’m only about a third through the VDGG too… not easy music to absorb. But I love it all so far.
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Curse you, HMO! Another boxed set on the way.
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Bob was religion in my house growing up. There’s a whole lotta violence in this box set too.
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I noticed ‘Survival’ has a more angry, edgy feel. Is that what you mean, Joe?
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The man was a fighter, literally and he sang sweet melodic songs about a lot of oppression and violent revolution. ‘3 O’clock Road Block’ is a classic and yeah, Survival may be my fave one too.
It’s always sickened me the way folks just associate Marley with dope smoking and beach holidays.
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(Ironically I get a bit fascistic about my views on Mr M)
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Balls! I meant ‘Ambush In the Night’, my error has brought shame on my whole family.
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I won’t tell anyone.
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So many Sunday mornings in college, wake, bake, shake off the residual crust from the night before, nod along to Exodus.
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The people were moving slowly, eh? A lovely rhythmic image, Jeff.
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I think he’s a way better singles artist than an albums artist – I used to own all of these but really only need Exodus and Legend. I find the message takes precedence over the music on the more political stuff. Brilliant singles though, and he’s hugely influential here in Aotearoa.
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The music and the message are tightly intertwined, aren’t they? You may well be right about what one ‘needs’, but gee it’s hard to pass up these boxes!!
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[…] celebrated the Bob Marley boxed set just recently, I thought it would be a nice follow-up to share this piece, written for Discrepancy […]
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He sure was (a legend). I miss him still. We have most of these albums, but not The Confrontation. I hadn’t paid attention to what labels the LPs were released on, but realize now that we have a couple of the Trojan albums, African Herbsman and Rasta Revolution. We were able to see them three times in concert (in Massachusetts, US), Peter Tosh twice, and Bunny Wailer once. As you said, Bob Marley really did have a global audience and was such a positive, unifying force. I’ve just encountered your terrific blog and look forward to reading more. Have you read Island Records’ founder Chris Blackwell’s autobiography, _The Islander: My Life in Music and Beyond_? I have only read an excerpt, but think it might be interesting to you if you haven’t read it already. J
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Welcome, Josna, and thanks for commenting on some posts. Really appreciate it and enjoy when folk browse backwards, as it were.
Several people have recommended Chris Blackwell’s memoir. I really should track it down. Probably the only thing stopping me is the teetering pile of unread rock books on the bedside table that threaten to squash me as I sleep. 🙂
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Haha! But laughing aside, I’m going to enjoy your blog, both backwards and forwards. Thanks!
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