Natty Dread

The very first song Lively Up Yourself, is a masterclass on lead guitar. The perfect example of playing just enough while leaving space. I believe it was Junior Marley who played lead on that album! The entire album is without any weaknesses!

I'd not heard this particular album before for some reason, but it's another classic Bob Marley albu, starting with "Lively Up Yourself", and followed by the original verison of "No Woman, No Cry". I will be adding this album to my wishlist.

Great album to shave to.

Does Bob get an instant 5? Probably, but let's listen. It was the first day of spring here, the sun came out and I was out and about in my car a lot with my sunglasses on. I say this because this music couldnt have fitted the scenario better. It's like sunshine in audible form. This album was quality all the way through and Bob is more than an icon. Yes, Bob gets 5 stars

This sent me down a bit of a reggae rabbit hoe, but I still wanted to come back to this album. Such a classic!

Every note by heart.

What more is there to say? I've loved Bob Marley & the Wailers since discovering them on a "Best of Reggae" compilation CD I got from the discount bin at HMV in high school, and my appreciation for them has only grown after living in Jamaica for a year. Five stars, no notes.

Great album

Damn solid album with a whole lotta soul. Stand out tracks: Lively Up Yourself, No Woman, No Cry, Them Belly Full (But We Hungry), Natty Dread

Obligatory. Has some of my favorite tracksx

He changed the way we listened to music and made us pay attention to the Caribbean. A genius.

Nice!

Maybe the best reggae album of all time. A classic.

This is a masterpiece for the genre, and an all time classic. There's so much groove, and bluesy rock, the band are completely in the pocket and this recored oozes passion and confidence. Along with some blistering social commentary and good vibes. It's a stellar record.

live laugh love reggae so groovy so funky 10/10

I really enjoyed this album, good beats, great songs, a classic in every sense of the word

It’s between 4 & 5 but I’ll pull 5 bc of my teen years. Really does hit all the way through.

das Reagge-Album

This is my jam! I’m immediately transported to the Caribbean when I listen to Marley. But this is more than relaxing beach music. This is about spiritual and political revival. Dancing for revolution!

I grew up listening to Bob Marley, I still listen to him regularly (should be more often) and I hope when I'm old and gray, I still listen to him. The lyrics of his political songs still work today, it is universal.

the reduction of bob marley/reggae generally to a brand and a punchline by many parts of white America is impossible to not be infuriated by after you actually listen to him

Totally a 5 Star awesome album.

Great reggae album

It’s Bob Marley.

Excellent - reggae is such a feel good genre I love it.

I love Bob. Great music. Best track: Lively up yourself.

If this list has taught me anything, it’s don’t meet your idols. Or at least, don’t listen to their albums in their entirety (I’m looking at you, Pink Floyd. Dark side of my ass…) So when I saw Bob Marley come up, I was worried. But this album is fantastic. Lots of blues/jazz influence adds variety to the Rasta beats. Lyrics are great. This version of no woman no cry is probably my least favorite track as it lacks a lot of soul the ubiquitous live version has. I will be listening to this album again.

This was solid, had never listened to a full album before but enjoyed the vibes

Uiterst lekker, hier kan ik wel van genieten. Kleine jer erbij en gaan

Good album

Who could dislike Bob Marley is all I have to say.

Fantastic album. Some of Bob Marley's best songs, great music and recording.

The first Bob Marley album I heard - like for many others, I’m sure - was Legend. So it’s hard to go from a greatest hits to a prober album release, but this is a killer album. Bend Down Low is a hidden gem and many of these songs would fit on Legend. Fantastic stuff - and check out the full album cover of Natty Dread that jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter pulled off.

The Man doesn't miss

Listened once, not enough to fully digest.

Surprising production value for the time

Bob Marley natty dread

Peak fiery mid 70s Marley.

Album #6 This is always a great album to have on in the background or on the car stereo as one drives down to Key West with the windows open and the ocean breezes flooding your world with BM lyrics and the salt air. Music that always creates a carefree experience without diving into the true meaning behind his lyrics.

Definitive reggae, a great album with a mellow, easy-going tempo with simple guitar strumming and The Meters inspired base and lead guitar.

Preciouse

Liked

This is a very good classical album from Bob Marly and the wailers I would recommend it 10/10

Fucking brilliant!!!

Great music to chill while I procrastinated work (just for a few minutes :-)

Awesome album for island music. Bob Marley was a musical genius and created beautiful songs.

Another top album.

Was ein tolles Album!

damn. i was moved

love him!

fantastisk. TIL at jeg aldrig før i dag har lyttet til studieversionen af No Woman No Cry

There’s just something about Reggae and Ska. No other music makes me want to get up and dance in the same way, the skank is just irresistible. Coming midway through a particularly fertile period of Marley’s career, Natty Dread is not The Wailers first great album, that would be Catch A Fire, nor is it their best, that would be Exodus. What Natty Dread has going for it as an album is that it is probably the definitive solidification of what Reggae can and should be. The funkiness of the music, the quality of the performance is just top form here. There is a definitive sound, the album sounds cohesive, I don’t think Marley’s voice sounded better, except possibly on Redemption Song. But every song is perfectly formed. What I really love is how neatly each one builds. There’s often an extended instrumental section towards the ends, and there’s this fantastic trick of building up layers of instruments gradually, adding an organ, then a new guitar line, then horns, then harmonica. It’s great, and it sounds fantastic. And I’ve not even mentioned the quality of the songwriting…

Excellent

Such a great album

5/5 one of my favorite albums

I’ve never taken the time to listen to Bob’s actual albums. And after this, I’m ashamed of myself. I’m going to erase every time I’ve ever listened to legend from my memory and work through his back catalogue. Thoroughly enjoyed this! 4.5

Always a classic!

Bob rocks. 5/5

Fantastic

Great. Politically relevant to today.

Harmonious grooves, rhythmic progressive bass chords, organ, flute, trumpets, saxophone - it's so musically rich and diverse. Even the percussion instruments are layered - it's an orchestra not a 4/5 piece band. Bob Marley is a genius. Everything's gonna be alright.

Amazing album

Bob Marley was just a messenger

Love this album-if you want an introduction to reggae, this is it.

just amazing! a new fave

All Bob Marley is 5 stars. Reggae music always makes me feel better.

a classic

Another great Bob Marley record. I'm not sure if I prefer this to the other Bob Marley album I've got through the list so far, Exodus, but it was overall a wonderful listen. It's just so fun to relax and work to. I don't feel qualified enough to truly judge or even understand reggae entirely, but I know that I loved this. Favourite: Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)

Way better than The Police.

Perfect reggae

Natty Dread is an absolute classic. Easy 5 stars.

Pivotal album in bringing reggae to the mainstream. Poignant music and lyrics.

Helt otroligt bra album, tycker detta är reggae på som otroligt hög nivå. Favorit låt: Them belly full, no woman No cry

Reggae!!!!! Äntligen en mix upp från våra vanliga rock och pop album. Bob Marley är grym och detta albumet tyckte jag representerade hans grymhet. FAVORIT: Rebel music

All you ever need in music: rhythm, a theme that wanders in and out, amazing musicians, endless permutations in a perfect build, and Bob Marley!

Ja, dit soort muziek kun je keer op keer achter elkaar horen. Vrolijke reggae-ritmes met een rebelse ondertoon. Ik ben altijd een beetje bang voor Bob dat het meeste publiek buiten Jamaica vooral lollige muziek hoort en niet op de kritische teksten. Maar ja, daar ben ik er zelf ook een van. Had hij maar schoenenstaarmuziek moeten maken. Vanwege het vele plezier dat zijne Bobheid ons door de jaren heeft gegeven, 5 sterren.

I spent decades thinking I didn't like Bob Marley because I didn't like the stoners who were into him at my school. Turns out he's incredible. Who knew? My loss!

bob is the man

Classic! Who doesn’t love Bob Marley? I will say, this is probably the first time I’ve heard the original recording of No Woman No Cry. It threw me for a moment because I’ve always heard the live version. This album came out in 1974. I didn’t come out until 1975. These songs have been the soundtrack to many cook outs and family gatherings over the course of my life. Even though his life ended early, Bob Marley is such an icon. One can only wonder how far he would’ve gone had he lived longer. Not just in music but also in politics as he songs often have a political theme. I will say, one reggae album at a time is enough for me. I love the music, but the songs start to sound alike to me. I like a little variety in the soundtracks to my gatherings.

Full of classics I know and a bunch of them with plenty of heart and soul that I’d never heard before. Absolutely amazing.

Easiest 5/5 so far. Them Belly Full hits so hard even almost 40 years later.

I remember listening to this album with my uncle.

"Natty Dread" is the seventh studio albums by Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers. It was their first album without Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. The lyrics are spiritually charged with many songs addressing political and social issues. There are multple songwriters listed due to contractual issues with Bob and he apparently did write all the lyrics. The album received wide spread critical acclaim and commercially reached #42 in the UK and #92 in the US. People screaming with the bass and percussion driving the music open "Lively Up Yourself." A bluesy-soulful guitar. Horns adding a jazz feel. The I-Threes are the three female background singers killing it here and throughout the album. A celebration of skanking, reggae and sex. An organ is the main melody instrument in "No Woman, No Cry ." A subtle reggae beat with the organ overriding with gospel. A nostalgic remembrance of growing up in poverty and the happiness of friends. The lyrics are credited to childhood friend Vincent Ford whom Marley said he would have starved if not for him. Optimistic and one of my favorite Marley songs. "Natty Dread" has horns and some more great reggae beat by the drums, percussion and bass. The I-Threes" repeating Natty Dread. About the Rastafari movement. The last two songs address political and social corruption while promoting Rasta. "Talkin' Blues" starts with an acoustic guitar and is a rock song before the reggae beat kicks in. More great backing vocals. The horns come back in the closer "Revolution." Guitar, percussion and we end very chill. This is a tremendous album. The bass. The backing vocals. Besides the reggae beat, there're influences of blues, gospel, jazz, soul and rock. Of course, that is the base of reggae. But, what is unique is the start of most songs which start in a different genre with a different instrument. The music and tone are optimistic even in the face of poverty and social/political injustice lyrics. Highly recommended.

Do you ever encounter rock music fans who say they don't really like The Beatles? I have and it's weird. But... I am a reggae fan who isn't really a fan of Bob Marley. The title track and Bend Down Low stand out on this album but the rest of the songs don't really do it for me.

Ótimo álbum, boas vibes, mas achei meio repetitivo.

Genre defining album from a seminal artist. Still sounds as fresh now as it did almost 50 years ago. Stunning.

As soon as it starts sense of chilled grooves just come through. No Woman No Cry of course an all time classic but lots of tunes throughout this.

Bob Marley. Wordsmith extraordinaire. Wonderful music. One of the greatest albums of all time.

Ya mon

Love it!

Can't go wrong with a vintage Bob Marley album. This is the first time I've heard the non-live version of No Woman No Cry and I have to say the vibe is more chill.

Jaaaa deze komt altijd van pas!! Alleen maar super platen

The natty professor. Säga vad man vill, men det är ju en riktig klassiker.

This is my absolute favourite Marley and the Wailers. album. Just love everything about it. There are some musical subtleties to this that are just sublime.

J'adore le reggea et cette album est juste trop smooth hehe je le mets dans ma liste. c,est parfait pour mon algorithme. 5

I mean, it's Marley, but it is missing the power of the Wailers, and doesn't have the real maturity that Exodus brought in my opinion.

Amazing, first true surprise from this generator, I never listened to it before and I loved it. The songs sound so true and sad. I liked especially "Them belly full" and "Rebel music". Great album.

I didnt expect to enjoy this as much as exodus...but I did

Chill and pleasant, but still has a bit of edge. No woman, no cry is definitely the best on the album

Fantastic album. Lots of classic songs.

Stellar stellar album. Listen to the studio version of No Woman No Cry and you'll hear a version that's faster and less heavy on the organ and backing vocals than the much more famous live version from Live at the Lyceum. The second side's intensity drops a little from the first, but it's from a 6 to a 5 really.

Just a whole vibe. Can't go wrong with Bob Marley!

Love it

The guitar is fucking killer

Flawless!

Awesome album. A very pleasant album to listen and you can't go wrong with Bob Marley.

This is an absolute masterpiece. Loved this one.

Even though many of the songs on this album have been horribly overplayed, this album is just so solid. I'm reminded of what great musicians these guys were and the production is just so clean and well done. The songwriting is cohesive, every song but one is a stand out, just a fantastic album. 5/5

I've never been massively into reggae, but I enjoyed this. Absolutely, convincingly doing its own thing while being tuneful and accessible.

é o grande mestre não adianta

He’s so good. They’re a great band. I only really know the obvious ‘hits’ but everything I hear is pretty great. I’m glad this project made me listen to another full album.

Another outstanding album!! Bob Marley was one of a kind! People have tried to emulate his sound, but have never been able to capture it just right. His music has a way of instilling hope and happiness in me every time I listen to it. I find the song No Woman No Cry almost therapeutic (I can turn it on on a bad day and feel better instantly). The part of the song where he repeats "Everything's going to be alright" just forces you to put everything in perspective. Such excellent reggae music with subtle notes of funk mixed in. Every song on this record is amazing! Favourite songs: No Woman No Cry, Bend Down Low, Talkin' Blues, Them Belly Full (But We Hungry), Revolution, Natty Dread, Lively Up Yourself Least favourite song: if forced to pick one, Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock). It is still a phenomenal song, it just didn't hit as hard for me as the other songs. 5/5

An artists I previously only knew through best of albums. So much more in here.

5/5 I mean c'mon it's bob Marley you doesn't like him

Great album.

A very good album, worthy of recommendation

Well, this is an album I'd not heard of before, and I'm not sure it could be any more perfect. I'd not even heard these versions of the tracks I had heard before. Great stuff.

Instant Classic

Contains some classic songs that I already knew, but plenty that I hadn’t experienced before. Great from start to finish, listened multiple times.

Brilliant

Fantastisch, beste album dat niet zo gewaardeerd wordt als enkele andere. Maar stiekem zijn de nummers (waarvan de helft al eens in een eerdere vorm opgenomen was) stuk voor stuk sterk. Experimenten met instrumentatie, koortjes, loodzware riffs en lichte melodieën, maar misschien is dat wel meer dan de eerdere platen, zeer sterke teksten. Vanaf de eerste keer dat ik het album draaide tot nu toe mijn all time favorite van Marley!

Love this album.

Well, that was an excellent way to start off a Friday. Would probably also work for a Sunday. Or, really, most days.

Bass resonates through the album in a comfortingly familiar pace. Very repeatable listen.

This is amazing. after a lifelong (well actually only my youth) of having only heard “Legend” I started to get to know more about Marley when I was in college. I was in Jamaica just the other month and it made me very happy to see how beloved he is over there. And with total reason, do you know a more influential artist? I don’t think I do, I know many more famous ones, but none as influential. I have a soft spot for reggae and this is going out with a 5.

Classic

I mean, it's a classic Reggae album. Like THE reggae album.

Great album, no skips and just an all out good time. Favorite song was Revolution

A album full of good vibes, great lyrics, and bob marley. This is a revolutionary album for reggae and one of my favourite reggae records I have heard

Classic Bob Marley & The Wailers album, 5 star like any other BM from that period but this one together with Catch A Fire, might be their best but it is hard to say ..would be nice if some of their earlier albums are in the list as well.

Love me some reggae with this warm weather. I was more familiar with other versions of Lively Up Yourself and No Woman No Cry, so I needed some adjusting, but with the second listen I was all in for the entire album.

4.5/5 good chill music

Reggae doesn’t get much better than this. Catch a Fire will always be my favourite Marley album but this is a seminal album in its own right. Definitely prefer the version of No Woman, No Cry on this album.

This is the album and artist all reggae try to live up to. Pretty easy 5 stars when it defines a genre.

Probably still my favorite of his (along with Exodus and Burnin') from THE reggae singer.

Wonderful, not quite the Marley that gets played on the radio in Scotland, but probably more authentic because of that. The version of 'no woman no cry' is very different to the famous version on the "Legend" album, but still very impressive. For clarity, I loved it!

Does it get much better? I think not , what an album,special mention to the best version of no Woman no Cry . What a fucking Champ

Hands up if you love reggae but have never listened to a Bob album? Anybody? Just me yeah? I'll get my coat

Amazing great. The beginning of greatness.

I really enjoyed this album and the lyrical themes within the tracks.

9/10. Rather nice

I recently learned that my husband thought "No Woman No Cry" meant if you don't have a woman, she can't make you cry. Like "no pain no gain" or something. I think I need to listen to a lot more Marley. Back in the 90s I named my cat Marley, now I rarely listen at all.

Beautiful blast from the past. Nice to listen to it front to back for once

Brilliant, chilled out vibes. Like a best of album

Pretty good

Seminal Reggae from the master. Proper summer album!!

Wow. Best Marley band ever. Did not think I'd write that but the songs are all sooo good...all of them. With the exception of the closing song which is still more than listenable. Marley's best, need I say more?

An outstanding album that I loved since the first time I heard it. I had a college radio show years ago that was reggae/ska-based programming and components of this album were a backbone.

Amazing

A great classic

Stellar! I hadn't ever heard this and was mainly new some songs from Live! Need this one.

Genial!

"A hungry mouth is a hungry mouth"? "A hungry mouth is a hungry mob"? "A hungry mouth is a hungry mind"? I'm not sure which it is, if any, but I'm also not sure it matters. While Bob's full prophet mode, he could sing, "A hungry mouth is an orange as seen through binoculars made of jelly" and I'd think it was a message from heaven. So respect him for the "Bend down low, let me tell you what I know" humblebrag. Ain't no one stooping down to anyone else's level here except Bob. Anyway, this blew my mind in a way it hasn't before. The grooves are eternal and gorgeous. And it has that remarkable James Brown-ian quality of every instrument--be it string, wind, wood or brass--contributing to the rhythm. If you'd asked me yesterday what my got-to Marley is, I'd've told you 'Legend'. But that's a celebration of Bob-the-songwriter and cultural icon. This is really where I turn. To the proof of hope and salvation through unbreakable rhythmic unity. And I like how the songwriting credits are shared around.

It's quite an accomplishment to make music that's so chill and still makes people want to move. Best track: No Woman No Cry

Jammin brudah

4.5/5. Ok I kinda get it now, thanks Ilya

I could listen to Bob Marley \"wail\" for days at a time. His voice is just that iconic, and his songs are the right ratio of catchy to saying something. When you're in the mood for reggae, you can't do better than Marley.

Awesome music Bob was the man!

Love this. Great rhythms and relaxing enough to let me work at the same time.

Love Bob!

Have to give a 5 considering I added 99% of tracks to the playlist

classico do bob

Really glad I listened to this and want to listen again!

Bob, Nuff said

Tasty

Made me happy, reminded me of my grandmother who loved reggae. Pleasantly surprised by how good EVERY song is .

Classic reaggae sounds, feels light and groovy all along!

Don’t know if it’s how little music I listened to this week or if it’s just a bunch of bangers right in a row. Bob rules

I prefer later, live versions of No Woman, but come on. Bob is an all timer.

Now that’s what I’m talking about !!! This is almost a greatest hits album all by itself.

Chill vibes, perfect to walk in nature

10/10 love bob marley

Brilliant

I and I gonna have things our way

Amazing. should be 10 stars.

Great album

Sets the stage for everything else.

amazing

What the Straight White Man™️ Did to Marley’s legacy and reggae as a whole is unforgivable. This is an album of musicians at the peak of their craft, the tones alone across this are so sumptuous and warm and joy-giving.

Great album for cooking :D

South Africa vibes

The opening four tracks are all mighty reggae cuts, funky, emotive and socially concious. It tails off a bit towards the end though: Marley was a prolific songwriter but he needed to leave a bit more on the studio floor.

Bob is the GOAT man. Idk what to say.

fabulous

I really do not like reggae, but after my second Bob Marley album, I have found that I do like Bob Marley. He has this infectious good time groove that he gets in- it’s positive, happy music, and it’s hard not to enjoy it if you just let yourself. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Everyone loves Bob Marley. I love Bob Marley. Listening to this album makes me realize how superficial my appreciation is for his music. I haven't heard most of the songs on here but yet they feel familiar. It was an absolute pleasure listening to this album. No bad songs, no real "skips". It doesn't even get repetitive.

Bob Marley is so much of a household name, many people still think he was solo artist, yet, he never was. Does he really need any context here? When an album involves Bob Marley, you already know what you're getting into. If you don't, it's time for you to get out under that rock, and live a little(smoke a little). Favorite Track: "Natty Dread".

great album by an great artist (3.5/5.0)

I'm finding that I really enjoy reggae, but I'm also having a hard time differentiating between songs. Really liked it though.

Classic Bob Marley. Classic Reggae. 3.5/5

It’s an even good reggae album, but with no huge hits.

pretty chill, definitely worth a listen

It’s cool and very listenable but it’s not Exodus.

Not quite as strong as Exodus but still a fine album. Contains the non-live version of No Woman No Cry which I'm not sure I'd heard before. Favourites were Rebel Music and Natty Dread.

Some really good songs. Didn’t realise No Woman No Cry was originally faster

I really liked this. Cant say I’ve ever been mad keen on reggae but there was something great about this and it was really listenable.

Gimme some reggae !

So far so good I fuck with Bob Marley Nothing life changing but solid

This was amazing. Makes me appreciate how influential he was. This is a bit of a treasure

Banger

Poignantly political, these tunes are injected with fresh and radical spirituality but never cease to feel like a crying anthem for the working class. Great, soulful grooves with powerful lyricism.

7/10

Exodus llega a cansar en algunos puntos o se vuelve monótono, este disco es todo lo contrario, se lleva. 3,75/5

Very easy listen, enjoyable af

Good as expected - just something about the rhythm, his voice the energy - really enjoyed

The obvious, it’s Bob Marley, party music that defined a revolution and a generation of Jamaicans. Listening more closely, I also have to give a ton of props to the production, the placement of the guitar and various drums on lively up yourself is a thing of beauty. Gets a strong 4

peace nigga

Made my drive to work a joy. You can’t listen to Bob Marley and not be smiling. It’s just not possible. The album where Bob fully took the reins and became the artist we know and love today. Fusing reggae with blues and soul, this still hits as hard today as it did when it was released. The Wailers are flawless in their backing, everything sounds easy breezy and at its own pace, but not a single beat is out of place. Their technical ability is incredibly underrated. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised, but so many of these lyrics speak to the current day almost as much as they did back when this album was released. really enjoyed listening to this!

The best!

Perhaps slightly jaded from back to back Bob but still a good listen

Some great tracks here.

It’s not as good as Exodus or Kaya personally but a great listen as to be expected. The Live version of No Woman, No Cry is the superior one

Pretty solid!

Classic Bob Marley.

Enjoyed this. Faves were Rebel Music and SoJah Seh.

I've never really listened to reggae before, but I actually like it a lot. It's so relaxing and uh unique or something and yeah I like it. Wowie zowie My ears are blessed.

RATING: 8/10 HIGHLIGHT: Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) LOWLIGHT: Talkin’ Blues

Brilliantly bouncy, meaningful and rhythmic.

This is the first real reggae record I've listened to, and it was a really intriguing and satisfying musical experience. Obviously I've heard the big hits from Bob Marley, as well as the reggae material from punk bands like Bad Brains, but hearing all of these songs in the concept of a record really put things in perspective. Bob Marley is an excellent storyteller, portraying stories of the Jamaican ghetto and of his own homelessness contrasted with the Rastafarian emphasis of celebrating life for what it is. That said, he definitely isn't ignorant to the injustices of the world that cause people to pursue revolution, with the final track containing some of his most vivid imagery. Another thing I took away from this record was the considerable blues influence, as Bob Marley's wails and crooning isn't that too unlike that of the vocals of American blues singers like Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. The instrumental offerings of guitarist Al Anderson and harmonicist Lee Jaffe add to this backbone, contributing to tracks like "Talkin' Blues" and "Rebel Music" with a sense of emotional anguish. "No Woman No Cry" definitely takes the cake in the marriage of the instrumentation and Marley's lyricism, especially with the emotive guitar solo that ends the track.

Good album but not is best one

No Woman No Cry is one of my all-time favorite songs.

Favourite Songs: Natty Dread Revolution

People don't spend enough time talking about how bad ass this band is. Every person in it and the way they play together is unparalleled in modern music of every genre.

Even though I hadn't really listened to *any* Bob Marley albums in their entirety before this collection, and I've never been a particularly big reggae listener, I'm pretty sure he has the highest average rating of all the multi-album selections in this collection. And what a great way to finish off the three Bob Marley albums with this one; even though it's not quite as great as "Exodus", it's a great testament to Bob Marley's strength after Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston's departures. The strongest tracks are the opener "Lively up yourself", the eternal "No woman, no cry" (even if this studio version isn't as good as others by him, or various covers even), "So jah seh" and "Revolution". It was also fun to read how Marley gave songwriting credits to various friends and family members as a way of avoiding record label contract restrictions (and providing royalty income to deserving people).

I really liked this more than I thought I would considering I didn't recognize any of the songs from the names. Thoughtful lyrics, great beats, and interesting melodies and harmonies... really all I need to like an album. The first two tracks are great.

Good, though not quite to the level of “Catch a Fire”. The absence of Peter and Bunny is noticeable.

9/10 - The apple music description for this album asserts that "'No Woman, No Cry' dominates" the album. Thats stupid. This album is full of amazing songs. Them Belly Full, So Jah Seh, Bend Down Low, Rebel Music. All bangers that hold there own. No Woman, No Cry is also a fantastic song, and maybe I am underrating it due to frequent exposure to it, but it was just one of the many great songs on this album. First reggae album for me, and it was a great introduction.

Parempi kuin edellinen listalla ollut Marley-albumi. En tiedä miksi, ehkä tämä on enemmän ”reggae”… Ehdottomasti loistava albumi. 4/5

Quite solid, with some excellent tracks that were new to me (the title track and "Lively Up Yourself", for example) and a few weaker ones. Probably not as consistent overall as Exodus, but still very good.

A classic

女性のコーラスと、独特なフワフワしたリズム、が印象的です。ベースとドラムのリズム隊が前に出てきていたり、同じリリックを何回も繰り返し歌うのもおもしろいなと思った。この独特のサウンドを世界に広げたのはまじですごいし、これを自分たちの音楽に取り入れ、発展していったバンドたちもすごい。

I was burned by a million fart boys playing Jamming over and over in university so it was so nice to hear this much less overplayed album.

Bob le bricoleur de rêve en fait

Classic.

Great album..always fun

1. "Lively Up Yourself" 2. "No Woman, No Cry" 3. "Revolution"

Enjoyed it

Very good album

I've never listened to the full album before.

A solid reggae album. I know enough about reggae to find enjoyment in it, but not enough to make a thoughtful critical analysis. But the groove is present, the musicians are tight but not flashy, and the message is clear - there’s a lot of shit in the world, wake up and do something if you want it to change, praise Jah.

very chill

Good album. Exactly what you'd expect from Bob Marley; chill reggae with a social conscious. I like it a lot, but don't absolutely love it.

really nice,listened to it while cleaning

Loved it!

Reggae all day

piolinga, auto

Para ser mi primera vez escuchando a Bob Marley, está bueno, le doy un 5/10

Marley always puts me in a good mood, and it was great to hear something different. Really fun stuff here.

Lyssnade på den direkt efter Exodus. Exodus är såklart bättre, men det här är också bra! Speciellt 4-5 första låtarna.

Really just classic Bob Marley. Nothing not to love here

Génial

I’m chilllll man. I know most of these songs because my dad is part of the wmrc and I’ve been to Romford many times.

Some good songs

precioso

Bob lid

Not as fiercely political as other album I’ve had from them, but the grooves are still there. “Jammin” and “No Woman No Cry” are iconic.

One of his best 4/5

After yesterday's album that I really didn't enjoy, I was so happy to hit the submit button and have this one pop up today. I'm a big Bob Marley fan and while I love reggae music generally, no one does it like Bob Marley. I've never listened to this album front to back, but I've heard all the songs and was pretty familiar with a lot of them. This is the first album that Bob did without Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, and where Bob really started making the band his own. It's also where the "I-Threes" first appear as back-up singers, and I think their voices always make the songs better. Fun fact is that even though Marley wrote all of the songs himself, the credits on the album are actually given to family members, friends and band members. Marley was involved with a contract dispute with his record label, and he gave songwriting credits to others to both avoid any contract restrictions and to make sure that family and friends were taken care of even if something happened to him. This isn't my favorite or the best Marley album in my opinion, but it's still amazing and just classic reggae Bob Marley style!

I'm reading "A Brief History of Seven Killings" by Marlon James. A great co-read to this listen. A delight to listen to, with deep political messaging underneath.

I'm sorry but I wasn't smoking The Fattest Blunt Ever so I don't think I got the highest possible enjoyment of it

Given how much I absolutely DESPISED catch a fire, this was a nice surprise! I enjoyed the feel good vibes in this

I got Megadeth yesterday and I can say with all confidence this album is the complete opposite of that.

None of the big Bob Marley hits that I generally recognize are on this album (besides No Woman, No Cry), but I don't think that matters that much. Marley is clearly a talented songmaker, even if reggae isn't my usual stuff, and I enjoyed quite a few of these. Them Belly Full, Rebel Music, Revolution, and Am-A-Do were probably the ones that I enjoyed the most. I don't really think there were any bad tracks, though. Maybe I should have been high? I'll have to try again later.

A couple of the songs kinda drag, but when they connect they really connect

A reminder of the passion and pathological lies of a young love. I found it easier to listen to, but a bit boring.

makes me want to lay on the beach real bad

Not necessarily a big reggae fan but I like the more bluesy and jazzy side of this one. Very enjoyable listen , solid 3.5/5

Such a chill album. Positive vibes only. Even the protest songs have a good vibe to them. As always the instrumentation is groovy as fuck and such a vibe. Super consistent too. I love reggae!

el reggae de toda la vida

I honestly love the whole vibe of Bob Marley so much, his songs make me feel as if everything’s gonna be alright. It’s so chill, so mellow and sounds almost tropical? I feel like I’m sitting under a palm tree with a coconut in my hand. All of the songs on this album are great, personally felt that I vibed with Lively Up Yourself the most so that’s the one I’ve saved.

first time listen

einfach krass! aber kenne mich auch nicht so gut aus.

Exodus was served up Friday, and now Natty Dread on Monday. I appreciate the good luck, especially because I'm not a reggae head, and it gave me a chance to listen comparatively, to see differences between the albums. For instance, Natty Dread features more traditional lead guitar work, with blues figures in the leadoff track, "Lively Up Yourself," which is a great beginning and probably the standout track for me. Natty Dread is a great album, but not as great as Exodus. That's not much of a fault, because Exodus is an easy 5 stars. Yeah, I'd keep this in my library. Maybe wouldn't be on my must-listen list, since Exodus is there, and I still have Catch a Fire to go.

I haven't heard much Bob Marley, so this is a good opportunity. It's hard not to like this as a bass player; that fat picked bass unapologetically takes all the space it wants. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by how hard this grooves; reggae is built around groove, but what did impress me was the funkiness of the bass and guitars and such. The guitar solo on "woman don't cry" was powerful and exhibited technical proficiency. I'm feeling a light 4

Classic reggae, classic Bob Marley; how do I rate it? It's sort of sui generis, and, for me, a bit of a problem, because it tends to recede (comfortably, not unpleasantly) into the background: wallpaper music. As a side note, it's always, I guess, sort of pleased me (a little) and surprised me (a little), that reggae became -- and has stayed -- so popular. Globally, I mean, and in specific (and kind of unexpected) places like "classic rock" stations. Could do a whole thing on what classic rock stations do and don't play (why so little soul/r&b, e.g., and yet yes to reggae?). ANYWAY, I do like this, quite a bit, but I don't love it. So, a 3, or a 4. No, wait, 3 feels definitely too low, and I could even sort of see a case for making it a 5. But I'm gonna be a little lazy (like reggae feels, lol), and settle comfortably at 4. Now back to morning coffee and biscuits and playing NYTimes games while this plays pleasantly in the background, almost unnoticed. Wait, one more thought: the classic 5-star reggae album (I hope it shows up here) is the soundtrack to the movie "The Harder They Come." Of course, Bob Marley (who died way too young) was the most famous reggae performer, and was the person who probably did the most to make reggae known globally. But "The Harder They Come" helped to put the door of fame directly in front of Bob Marley. And is a truly great (5-star) reggae album, not aural wallpaper for (white) partiers and stoners. There, I said it.

I feel bad for the souls that cannot enjoy this. The rhythm section and vocals are on point. It's good for my soul, anyway Gonna go with a four because there are some weaker tracks: Rebel Music, Talkin Blues. They're a bit too simple I guess. But that does make it easy-listening. I'm surprised this album is from 1974. It sounds more modern to me. I'm also surprised by it's cultural staying power, and as Dad mentioned Marley's prevalence on rock radio. My explanation would be that the simplicity makes it palatable to a broad audience.

Can't go wrong with Bob Marley! Great album, not very many of his most well-known songs though.

Today I discovered a new love for reggae.

Love me some Bob Marley. For a while in high school Legend was my personality. Never had listened to this one all the way through, nice work team. Lively Up Yourself is a banger, love it.

Seth - 3.8/5 Logan - 3.5/5

fav songs: lively up yourself no woman, no cry natty dread bend down low am-a-do soulful, melodic, conscious 70/100

High 4

3.75 Rating for me. A few 5/5 songs in there but I believe the album finished off poorly.

great discovery, looking forward to listen to other Marley’s songs

I know all these songs pretty well, but surprised to find a lot of them are different versions? Not sure if it’s familiarity bias, but this seems very scrappy and a bit under cooked compared to the other versions I’ve heard.

Recognizable voices (Bob and the I-Threes) singing accessible blues influenced reggae. Lively Up Yourself and No Woman, No Cry on this album. Bob Marley is one of the few artists who's live versions are better than the studio cuts...more energy.

reggae is usually not my thing, but this was actually really great! lots of really cool variety alongside classics that i grew up with

God, every time I listen to Bob Marley I feel like, 5% better. It always improves my mood, even if it's bittersweet message--wrapped in a layer of peace and serenity and dignity. Loved this.

What's not to like. Such an easy to listen to album.

Great reggae album. Love this sound of the tropics, almost transports me back yo the years of my youth in the Caribbean

When I was back doing bass lessons, we spent a lot of time working on reggae - something to do with the clear, bass-forward rhythms were a good fit for practicing the fundamentals of fingerwork. That meant having to do my homework on Bob Marley for the first time. Overall Natty Dread's a pretty good album, if not necessarily on an even keel throughout. It's not quite his best, anyway, despite being imminently listenable. Fav tracks: No Woman No Cry, Am-A-Do

Never listened to a Bob Marley album before. Liked this more than I expected!

Groovin' for an hour or so! Sign me up

Easy to listen to, got jump scared when he sang about bombing a church or something lol

Very nice music. Lyrics were very surprisingly violent sometimes. Good album.

i like it more than "catch a fire". it's definitely more memorable. definitely more political. i'm still not a big reggae fan, but this one seems pretty solid. band seems tighter than "catch".

So many good tracks. Hard not to be scarred by No Woman No Cry’s co option

not my thang

The first post Tosh and Bunny record, and for me, it's apparent. It's a great record full of sunny hits and the usual social commentary. But the edge, the danger, the sense of urgency to get this message out, it's not quite there. That would eventually come back strong on Exodus but BM never reached the heights of Catch A Fire again, imo, and who could blame him after losing two of the greatest artists of the genre from his band. Shout out to anyone who started singing Makisupa Policeman to the tune of Ben’s Down Low. IYKYK