Catch A Fire

I came into this album mildly interested. I listened to Bob Marley a lot when I was younger, and my lasting impression was pleasant, political, fun. Good background, maybe. In other words… I was wholly unprepared for the 40 minutes I was about to get. This time, I decided to listen a little closer to the musicianship, get a sense of what is going on in the background. And let me tell you. These players are…. So. Fucking. Locked. They are locked like a locomotive. They’re not going anywhere. When you look up “pocket” in the encyclopedia it should be the smiling face of that clav player on Track 1. Unbelievable. This is how you start a reggae band, folks. You hear some music that is so unbelievably locked like this and you think maybe, just maybe we can pull this off. Well you probably can’t. Don’t let it stop you, but… the level of locked and loaded on these rhythm parts puts most other reggae and ska to shame. To shame. That’s how high the heights are here. This kind of rhythm is so infectious. I was having a hugely fun time. I am thankful this exists, and it is no longer background music to me. It is music music. I am going to evangelize to all my music friends. They’ll think… “Jacob, aren’t you’re exactly 50 years too late?” Fuck I don’t care. 5/5

What a great album. Marley has an uncanny ability to write scathing social commentary and put it to music that just feels good. There's anger and frustration here but it's mixed with enough joy to stay sweet. The result is so balanced that I find myself digesting the message without any of the jaded defensiveness that "message" albums often provoke. It's great. Marley and his Wailers were brilliant.

The only Bob Marley album I had ever heard before this was the greatest hits. And I have to say this album was on par with that. A great collection of songs that are political and beautiful. I really liked this one.

Not even close to my fave BMATW album but still worthy of full marks. So much political struggle coursing through this album, broken up by amazing love songs like ‘Baby we’ve got a date’ and ‘Stir It Up’. Love that Rita Marley and Marcia Griffiths are on the backing vocals of Stir it Up. Peter Tosh also deserves a notable mention. ‘Stop that Train’ is a tune. BMATW were by no means a one man band as many believe

I think this is an underrated one by Bob. High Tide or Low Tide may be my favorite Bob Marley that no one ever talks about.

I really don't understand how people can enjoy this drivel. Sure, it's not as aggravatingly painful to the ears as other 1's on my list. But it's soooooo boring that having it on drives me absolutely insane - as compared to silence which is massively more interesting. I wasn't able to stand half of any of the first five songs. Gosh, I really hate Bob Marley. Even if I were stoned out of my mind this wouldn't be anywhere near listenable.

This is sadly not the long-hoped-for revelation: most reggae bores me, feels lacking until the heavy dub effects and weirdness are pasted on top. The first track showed promise, which I now realise was because my rockist ears had picked up the overdub of Wayne Perkins guitar, transported from a different, funkier scene. This is not a bad record, just not for me right now. Perhaps never for me.

I like Bob Marley but this was boring to the point of it being hard to defend.

Believe it or not, when I was in my early twenties, I had dreadlocks and around five different Bob Marley t-shirts in frequent rotation. I didn’t even know much of his music, but I really leaned into that look. Bid odd that, innit? Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Concrete Jungle, Stop That Train, All Day All Night From the start of the opening track until the closing seconds of the finale, this album brought me happiness. I was swaying my head with a smile of my face and having a generally nice time. The songs all do sound somewhat similar to each other, so if you simply don’t like reggae then you won’t find much here for you, but if you’re open to it then this album is fantastic from front to back. There are catchy hooks everywhere and you’ll find yourself humming along to songs you may have never even heard before. Overall, an essential listen. I loved this.

A classic album...but not my favourite. Concrete Jungle and Stir it Up are stone cold classics and the other songs are not far behind. You can't go wrong rolling up a fat one and putting this great album on the turntable. 4.5 stars

🔥🔥🔥🔥

A moodier, more downbeat Bob Marley album, but absolutely timeless and beautifully done. The songwriting is excellent, as always with these guys, weaving political themes into beautiful, soft melodies. The production is amazing, and these guys were such good musicians. An underrated album and a pleasure to listen to. 5/5

Classic album. Timeless production.

Excellent album(s). I had listened to the original 1973 a few times before. But theres a 2001 version with a different track listing. Both are extraordinary. Greasy, groovy, moody, cool. The music is tight, era defining and unparalleled as far as reggae goes anyway. The lyrics are incisive, precise, enigmatic. Very listenable and there's nothing quite like this album, even in the Wailers back catalogue. A unique, edgy, exciting album I would always always recommend.

the zippo lighter album (which you can open!)cover puts this in the same genre as TLT Scratch n Sniff EP! Love how there is a bit of R&B/Motown in a few songs (High Tide/Low Tide) - also dig Tosh's lead vocals on Stop that Train.

I presumed all reggae sounded the same - I was very wrong, this album is coherent and full of individual crackers. Brilliant rhythms and artistry on display. Lots of complexity in the lyrics. Reminds me a lot of Tabac in Liverpool, they had reggae on repeat but at the stage of the evening we ended up there, I wasn't using my ears. Concrete Jungle, No More Trouble, High Tide or Low Tide - all great. Despite Kinky Reggae being a misstep, 5 stars feels deserved.

Reggae arrives back on the list and demolishes my nitpicks about the other records. There are undoubtedly imperfections to listen for here, but Catch a Fire is my clear favorite Marley project so far. Its genius lies in the constant synthesis of something else by the band, a different something for each track. But the cribbing isn't because the core is bad: Mood comes across the wire perfectly; The album is a gem.

How do these crazy talent-vortices spontaneously form? A bunch of kids get together and shortly are defining some swath of a major genre. And then again tragedy is so often looming over it, and is that some dark part of it. It’s a bad old world.

Always love me some reggae! Bob Marley is the king of cool, the sultan of swag, the regent of relaxation. Him and his wailers are perfect for any outdoor setting or even indoor if your main objective is to relax and feel like you are close to an ocean or beach or beer.

Initially, I thought this record was mediocre compared to his output, and then I realized I was listening to the original studio release. Once I heard the Jamaican mix without the excessive overproduction, I was impressed with the deep groove, liveliness, surround feel, and Marley's ferocity. There were some things I did like in the original studio mix, like the guitar solo in "Concrete Jungle", or the steel guitar(?) in "Rock It Baby", which I think made the less than repetitive and more adventurous than the Jamaican mix. But overall, the original studio mix sounds so much more muddled and less lively, which made me a boring listen, and some of the fluff they try adding in sounds so forced and disjoint from Marley's intentions. This album could be produced better. The Jamaican mix still suffers from some problems that could be improved, but its generally much better. To avoid the repetition, I think they could incorporate some better ideas to spice up the tracks. This would especially benefit the weaker songs. Nevertheless, I usually like the start and end of every track. It's usually the middle that drags on without offering much besides lyrics and a chill groove. Favorites: Concrete Jungle, Kinky Reggae

Classic really. Seriously groovy baselines from “Family Man” and, even though there’s only so much you can do with reggae, the songwriting and production on this album keeps everything fresh - there are 3 or 4 proper ear worms on this album.

This is the first original album by Bob Marley and the Wailers I've heard (aside from "Legend".) While the band don't stray from their formula musically, there's some really strong material here with a broad range of emotion behind it. "Concrete Jungle" shuffles forward, with the clavichord effectively adding to a sleazy atmosphere and searing lead guitar rounding off the mix. Alluding to the slave trade and racism, the lyrical material is much more politically charged than the side of Marley's work I'd heard before. But throughout, the Wailers prioritise a laid back, mellow feel, with Marley's vocal never rising into a rasp, howl or bellow. They allow the strong social conscience of each song to play itself out, coming to the fore with lyrics like "No chains around my feet but I'm not free" and "today they say that we are free; only to be chained in poverty." It's powerful content and sadly hasn't aged a day. In contrast, the middle of the album shows the band at their most romantic: while "Baby We've Got A Date" presents the carefree joy of being in love, "Stir It Up" is the real classic. One of the band's best known songs, it is sublime: a slow burning, slow dancing beauty. Following "Stir It Up", none of the songs really lived up to those in the first half of the album, though I'm prepared to give them more time. It's an enjoyable album, particularly for a certain mood, and has made me keen to explore more of the Wailers' work.

It's 11º outside as I listen to this. This Marley album takes me to the beach for a warm respite from reality. The only song from BMs Greatest Hits whose picture hung on every college student's wall - Stir it Up is one of Bob's better known songs and pairs well with the rest of the album. It's nice to hear some Bob Marley I'm unfamiliar with. 4/5

Enjoyably relaxing vibe to this one; impressive to think it's from 1979 and must be a precursor to so much of what we currently know as reggae. Lovely lyrical content about struggles with oppression and pain, using love and light to be strong in the face of these challenges. Great smoking/relaxing/conversation tunes. Far prefer the second disc with it's more full-band sound to the stripped-back first disc. Many of the same songs gained a whole new colour and character with more players on the track.

Боб Марли - это наш слоняра

I don't like reggae as a rule. Partially because I attach it to some potheads I knew as a kid that I never really understood. And also because I didn't have a terribly struggle-filled upbringing, so I was attracted to darker stuff - or at least stuff that wore its darkness on its sleeve. But also because reggae tends to sound very samesy to me, probably the way hip hop sounds very samesy to someone who doesn't listen to it much. That being said, this album got to me. Stir It Up is a great song.

Ok Bob Marley. As I am a New Zealander, the entire oeuvre of the Wailers are practically the national anthem of this fair country. Yet despite that, the only song I knew prior was "Stir It Up", a conception song. The album was a lot more varied and interesting then I was expecting. The side A songs that delve into slave history were particularly powerful. But there is also the side B reminder that Bob Marley was quite the rooter. I get why this album is on the list. It feels like a record that is both influential but holds up as an artwork, and also enjoyable.

Highlight of this album came when I was listening to the last few tracks while driving two angry cats to the vet, and my partner turns around and says "Oh, are you the wailers?" Otherwise a fine album but indistinguishable from their other two albums on the list.

Robert réussit l'exploit de nous servir un album de Bob Marley ne contenant aucun tube. C'est déjà difficile d'écouter du reggae, alors quand il s'agit d'un projet dont on a rien de particulier à attendre, c'est carrément l'enfer.

Reggae, ugh

Favourite songs- High Tide or Low Tide, Stir it Up

Pot has never been my thing. It doesn't agree with me. Neither does Bob Marley. I'm more of a coke person. Don't judge.

This is music, so I have to allot one star for that but ... really, "I hate reggae music, I hate it..."

Didn't hate this as much as the other one. Still sounds juvenile and boring as hell. Never want to hear it, or anything like it, again

Just supremely chilled and groovy. I was surprised to find this was as late as Bob Marley's fifth album - other than Stir it Up, I didn't recognise any of the tracks. But Bob Marley does what Bob Marley is best at, making awesome reggae

Concrete Jungle and Stop That Train are solid Bob hits, even if they arent the cultural juggernaut that some of his other songs are. Stir It Up is in that pantheon of greatest grooves ever conceived. Midnight Ravers kicks ass.

пушка

I love it! short and beautiful - except for the obvious, I especially enjoyed the guitar playing throughout the album, with interesting chord progressions. Will definitely play this one more often. 4.5/5

Another first listen to a Bob album. Another 5*s for a Bob album

WOOOOOOO

Top tier stuff

Timeless

打开了新的领域

Super chill. Not boring.

I liked this album a lot, surprisingly. The music itself sounded so rich and beautiful. I found it easy to relate and empathize with what they were talking about. All around just a really chill yet moving album.

Un disco increible, como todos los que grabó Marley, sin dudas hay que escucharlo antes de morir!

Great classic reggae from Bob Marley and the Wailers. Every track is a great example of reggae.

База

a classic

One of my all time favorites

Классика жанра. Ямайская версия альбома просто супер!

Me ha encantado, con ritmo y tranquilas para trabajar.

Fire Album

this album is too good to rate Bob Marley has gotta be on of my favorite musicians and listening to the deluxe version of this amazing album should make him one of your favorites too I actually enjoyed the jamaican versions more than the originals with my favorite probably being No More Trouble (Jamaican Version) like they really just made a song (an album, really) that slaps as hard as modern hip-hop way back in the early 70’s

love it - the production is so clear and songs are so upbeat and stirring.

Fantastically classic. Bob and Pete have incredible songwriting synergy. Very great.

Amazing reggae album. Bob Marley is a legend, no doubt.

Bob Marley goes hard. Some of these are really good others are mid.

Excellent

Bob Marley feels like home.

Amazing album. Reggae by the master.

A classic. Can't wait to hear it again

Peter Tosh's songs stand out along with "High Tide Or Low Tide" on the expanded version.

Album is solid, with a number of standouts. "Stir it Up" is a top 2 Bob Marley & The Wailers song.

These are GORGEOUS, especially "No More Trouble" and "400 Years"!! The lyrics/melodies are soulful yet foreboding, and the Jamaican rhythms remind me of sunnier days...

Solid Bob album - maybe his best

Me gusta mucho el reggae y Bob Marley es una leyenda por una razón.

Bob Marley, nothing else to say. Legend

Classic album. Great songs -goes way beyond its genre and probably one of the best albums ever made.

Great album. I don't listen to a lot of reggae, but I could definitely appreciate this one.

First 5 star, great listen

- surprising variety of beat / melody - genuinely making me smile - lots of solid songs, this one is going into the rotation

I'd never listened to a Bob Marley album, and I'm glad my first was this one. What a glorious, gorgeous record. I'm going to play it every morning of my vacation next week. Added with pleasure.

My favorite Bob Marley and the Wailers album.

Good stuff. Jsuis pas fan de reggae, d'ailleurs je préfère sa période "rock steady" encore avant 1974, mais ça passe crême.

Loved it!

Best one yet.

I loved this. I love Bob Marley and the Wailers. This is a classic. Something I will listen to again.

As good a reggae record as I've ever heard. The Tosh songs are faves among almost uniformly excellent tracks. Nothing not to like here.

Marley/the Wailers have better albums, but this is still a great collection. Musically it's just so rich and soulful. The mixture of the personal and the political is always interesting in the band's work. They always give you food for thought, delivered so sweetly. Although I prefer political Marley to love songs Marley,, "Stir It Up" is just one of the loveliest songs I've ever heard. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite, "released album"): No More Trouble, Midnight Ravers, Stir It Up, Kinky Reggae, Concrete Jungle, Slave Driver, 400 Years, Stop That Train, Baby We've Got a Date (Rock It Baby)

Essential.

Though my favorite Wailers album is probably "African Herbsman," this and "Burnin'" are really well recorded and have such a rich and spacious sound. An incredibly talented group. I only wish they could've lasted longer together. The Beatles of Reggae.

Bob Marley is love

Excellent reggae classic.

Lendário demais

Absolutely iconichill

Great vibe music

cool

Awesome album

When it comes to reggae, you can't be Bob Marley. Right from the first notes to the end of the album this record rocks. The bass lines and rhythms are infectious and the guitar solos have real feeling, as does the singing. This album also has Peter Tosh, another great talent who died too young.

Very fun to listen to this while getting ready for a New Year's Celebration. It's somehow both upbeat and relaxing. Stir It Up will always be one of my favorite songs of all time.

This is our Hogmanay listening! I really enjoyed this and have added it to my playlist. I can’t believe I’ve never listened to it before.

Mellow and easy to listen to

Love it….saw him live 1979 Honolulu(got pics)…just great feel good music with a message..

All time great!

Un dels millors discos de reggae de la història. He escoltat la versió jamaïcana, no la més comercial publicada el seu dia. Té un toc més chill, més laidback que encara fa més justícia a les cançons. De tant escoltar-les algunes han perdut una petita part de la seva força, i fer-ho un 27 de desembre (2021) sembla contradir l'esperit del disc, però encara en aquestes condicions continua sent un 5 estrelles

Good album

Love Bob. Good music for cruising or hanging out on the beach. High Tide or Low Tide is probably my favorite.

very pretty and cool

One of my personal favorite albums of all time. Can’t wait to re listen.