The Wailers brought reggae to the world with the spiritual essence, political realism, and bottom heavy rhythmic bounce of their incendiary major label debut. With three albums under their belt ('The Wailing Wailers', 'Soul Rebels', and 'Soul Revolution') the band was invited to open for Johnny Nashon his UK tour. When the tour was over, the band was stranded in Britain without enough money to get back to Jamaica. They contacted Chris Blackwell from Island Records and received an advance for the recording of an album and enough money to get home.
The intial recording took place in three studios in Kingston, Jamaica: Dynamic Sound, Harry J's, and Randy's with overdubs added later in London at Island Studios. 'Catch A Fire' was co-produced by Marley and Blackwell and features Peter Tosh on organ, guitar, piano, and vocals; Bob Marley on guitar and vocals; Bunny Wailer on bongos, conga, and vocals; Aston "Family Man" Barrett on bass guitar; Carlton "Carlie" Barrett on drums; John "Rabbit" Bundrick on keyboards, synthesizer, and clavinet; with Wayne Perkins on guitar; Rita Marley and Marcia Griffiths on backing vocals; Tommy McCook on flute; Robbie Shakespeare on bass guitar on 'Concrete Jungle'; Francisco Willie Pep, Winston Wright, and Chris Karan on percussion.
'Catch A Fire' charted at one hundred and seventy-one on the US Billboard 200 and fifty-one on the US R&B album chart. The album received rave reviews and is acknowledged as one of the greatest reggae albums of all time. It was initially released with a zippo sleeve that opened like a lighter to reveal the album inside. Later pressings feature Marley smoking a joint on the cover and are credited to "Bob Marley and the Wailers".
Original album release (1973)[edit] All songs were written by Bob Marley, except where noted. Side one
1."Concrete Jungle" 4:13 2."Slave Driver" 2:54 3."400 Years" (Peter Tosh)2:45 4."Stop That Train" (Tosh)3:54 5."Baby We've Got a Date (Rock It Baby)" 3:55 Side two
6."Stir It Up" 5:32 7."Kinky Reggae" 3:37 8."No More Trouble" 3:58 9."Midnight Ravers" 5:08
I wanna love you and treat you right; I wanna love you every day and every night: We'll be together with a roof right over our heads; We'll share the shelter of my single bed; We'll share the same room, yeah! - for Jah provide the bread. Is this love - is this love - is this love - Is this love that I'm feelin'? Is this love - is this love - is this love - Is this love that I'm feelin'? I wanna know - wanna know - wanna know now! I got to know - got to know - got to know now! I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I - I'm willing and able, So I throw my cards on your table! I wanna love you - I wanna love and treat - love and treat you right; I wanna love you every day and every night: We'll be together, yeah! - with a roof right over our heads; We'll share the shelter, yeah, oh now! - of my single bed; We'll share the same room, yeah! - for Jah provide the bread. Is this love - is this love - is this love - Is this love that I'm feelin'? Is this love - is this love - is this love - Is this love that I'm feelin'? Wo-o-o-oah! Oh yes, I know; yes, I know - yes, I know now! Yes, I know; yes, I know - yes, I know now! I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I - I'm willing and able, So I throw my cards on your table! See: I wanna love ya, I wanna love and treat ya - love and treat ya right. I wanna love you every day and every night: We'll be together, with a roof right over our heads! We'll share the shelter of my single bed; We'll share the same room, yeah! Jah provide the bread. We'll share the shelter of my single bed 'Kaya' is a Rastifari term that can refer to enlightenment, peace, or marijuana. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0dv_D-EwEo
Wake up and turn I loose Wake up and turn I loose Wake up and turn I loose For the rain is falling Got to have kaya now Got to have kaya now Got to have kaya now For the rain is falling I'm so high, I even touch the sky Above the falling rain I feel so good in my neighbourhood, so Here I come again Got to have kaya now Got to have kaya now Got to have kaya now For the rain is falling Feelin' irie I Feelin' irie I Feelin' irie I 'Cause I have some kaya now I feel so high, I even touch the sky Above the falling rain I feel so good in my neighbourhood, so Here I come again Got to have kaya now Got to have kaya now Got to have kaya now, Lord For the rain is falling (Kaya now, kaya, kaya) Huh
'Kaya' full album: 00:00 Easy Skanking 03:09 Kaya 06:25 Is This Love 10:17 Sun Is Shining 15:16 Satisfy My Soul 19:39 She's Gone 22:05 Misty Morning 25:39 Crisis 29:34 Running Away 33:49 Time Will Tell 37:23 Smile Jamaica (Alt. Version)
Bob Marley survived an assassination attempt and left the political upheaval of his native Jamaica to record the definitive Biblical reflections of this reggae landmark. Work began on 'Exodus' in Kingston, Jamaica amidst a state of national emergency. Marley refused to take sides in the violent political landscape, seeking to create some kind of unity: “God never made no difference between black, white, blue, pink or green. People is people, yuh know. That is the message we try to spread.” He organized a free concert called ’Smile Jamaica’ to bring people together; but it was seen as supporting the prime minister and his political party. Two days before the show, armed gunmen attacked his home, seriously wounding his wife and his manager. Even though the rest of the Wailers were in hiding, Marley shocked everyone when he showed up for the concert and played a ninety minute set despite his own injuries. He said: "The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?"
The sessions included Marley on guitar and percussion; Aston Barrett on bass, guitar, and percussion; Carlton Barrett on drums and percussion; Tyrone Downie on keyboards, percussion, and backing vocals; Alvin Patterson on percussion; Junior Marvin on lead guitar; and the I Threes (Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt) on backing vocals. The lyrics are serious and scathing, but also optimistic and ebullient; while the mellow grooves helped to make Marley an international star. 'Exodus' went to twenty-one in Austria, twenty in the US, fourteen in Norway, twelve in New Zealand, and eight in the UK. It was certified gold in the US and eight times platinum in Canada.
'Natural Mystic' "This could be the first trumpet Might as well be the last Many more will have to suffer Many more will have to die Don't ask me why There's a natural mystic Blowing through the air I won't tell no lie If you listen carefully now, you will hear"
'Exodus' (movement of Jah people) "Open your eyes and look within Are you satisfied with the life you're living? We know where we're going; we know where we're from We're leaving Babylon, we're going to the fatherland"
'Jamming' "No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor will we bow Neither can be bought or sold. We all defend the right, JAH JAH children must unite Your life is worth much more than gold."
'Waiting in Vain' was written about Marley's mistress Cindy Breakspeare. "It's been three years since I'm knocking on your door And I still can knock some more Ooh, girl, ooh, girl Is it feasible, I wanna know now For I to knock some more? Ya see, in life I know there's lots of grief But your love is my relief Tears in my eyes burn Tears in my eyes burn while I'm waiting While I'm waiting for my turn."
'Three Little Birds' "Rise up this morning smiled with the rising sun three little birds pitch by my door step singing sweet songs of melodies pure and true saying, this is my message to you: Don't worry about a thing cause every little thing is gonna be alright don't worry about a thing every little thing is gonna be alright"
'One Love/People Get Ready' "One love, one heart Let's get together and feel all right Hear the children crying (One love) Hear the children crying (One heart) Sayin', 'Give thanks and praise to the Lord And I will feel all right.'"
'Punky Reggae Party' celebrates the punk music that he heard in London and namedrops The Dammed, The Jam, The Clash, Maytals, and Dr. Feelgood. The song was a response to the Clash's cover of Junior Murvin's 'Police and Thieves'. It was released as the b-side of 'Jamming' and later added to the cd reissue of 'Exodus'. "It's a punky reggae party, And it's alright, What did you say? Rejected by society Treated with impunity Protected by their dignity I face reality New wave, new craze"
'Exodus' full album: All tracks written by Bob Marley, unless noted.
Side one 1."Natural Mystic" 3:28 2."So Much Things to Say" 3:08 3."Guiltiness" 3:19 4."The Heathen" 2:32 5."Exodus" 7:40 Side two 6."Jamming" 3:31 7."Waiting in Vain" 4:16 8."Turn Your Lights Down Low" 3:39 9."Three Little Birds" 3:00 10."One Love/People Get Ready" (Bob Marley / Curtis Mayfield)2:52
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