Catch A Fire

What a great way to start the day.

Good vibes

Favourite songs: Stop That Train, Stir It Up, Kinky Reggae, All Day All Night Least favourite songs: Midnight Ravers 4/5

I really did feel like I was on an island.

One of the reasons why I love this project is that I would’ve never found out that I actually enjoyed Bob Marley’s music. I’m 30 albums in, and got two of his albums so far. Both are great stuff.

I didn't used to like Bob Marley cause he was the only Reggae artist known to white people, but this is pretty good stuff and I especially appreciate the songs from peter tosh (without even knowing they were written by him until now). Not so much into kinky reggae

For some reason, I’ve almost exclusively listened to “best of” albums from Marley, which I never do with other artists. Very cool to hear an actual studio album. Great album overall and a lot of killer tracks! Some tracks are a bit generic/very similar though.

Good Bob album. Couple hits and repetitive but still enjoyable

Hard to go wrong here. Great lyrics and smooth fun beats.

cool

Good stuff but man did it make me move slow at work.

Enjoyed this album a lot. Funky reggae guitar riffs and a great beat. I'll be listening to more Bob Marley for sure.

Not a bad album but not Marley’s best. Stir it up was my favourite.

nice

Chill done well

Enjoyed it. I'm more into the hits, but it was good to dive into an entire album.

Muy bueno

Introduction to the wonderful world of Bob Marley. Reggae is so fucking great.

It's just some damn good reggae, not much more you can say about it.

i don’t think there’s a single bad song on this album. not as good as exodus imo, but still a great reggae album

Didn't listen this one, but it's nice music.

impeccable vibes

I'm pretty new to reggae as a genre, but this album gives it a serious boost up my charts. Groovy. Soulful. Funky. Heavy. Playful. Sometimes there's this Bossa Nova ease and charm. Thanks 1001! 🙏

Bob Marley was never my true cup of tea, just something I like to sample. I could listen to bits and pieces here or there, but never an entire album. What do I think of ‘Catch A Fire’, though? I thought it was very good; and I'm glad I finally did listen to an entire Bob Marley LP. However, I also find it hard to really review. Marley had an uncanny ability to apply brutal, raw, and honest social commentary over the most chill, Caribbean flavoured reggae music. This album is absolutely full of examples of this. 'Concrete Jungle', 'Slave Driver', '400 Years', 'Stop That Train' and 'No More Trouble' are particular highlights. Subtle melodies, restrained yet intricate musicianship, and Marley's unique vocals all contribute equally to create an album that just clicks the very second it all starts. I have listened to this twice since it popped up on the list, and enjoyed it immensely both times. Which is why, even if you're like me and not a huge fan of reggae as a genre, I would recommend listening to it. Because it might turn your mind around. I was afraid this would go down as it did with any pure blues album I get; where it's a genre I'm not really into in its purest form, but only enjoy it as a flavour on something else. Yet reggae might now just be something I can explore later on down the road to expand my tastes. 'Catch A Fire' works as both great music and a phenomenal statement piece. The contrast between truthful lyrics and pleasant instrumentation can be a bit jarring. But you really do start to gel with it as the album goes on. 4/5

Who doesn't enjoy a bit of Bob Marley? It's such great, happy-feel-good kind of music! Probably not the sort of album I would play a lot, but it's really fun to give it a spin every now and then. The production on the record sounds incredible and the music itself still holds up today. It's a genuine classic!

Fun album

Steadily good across its 44 minutes. Not filled with hits but an excellent album nevertheless

Reggae!!

Beautiful vibes

Great album with some solid tracks such as Midnight Ravers, No more trouble and of course Concrete Jungle. However, with all its charm it isn’t a perfect album, all day all night for example wasn’t a song I’d put up there with the rest of the album.

Such a surprise! First album offered and an artist I've loved for years! Brilliant songs and great vibes.

Honestly not that bad, i haven't been a huge fan of him, but it was great for study sessions

Great album. Will definitely listen to it again. No specific song stood out for me.

Very relaxing

Bob Marley, schysst ganjamusik. Först trodde jag att denna skivan skulle vara lite långtråkig (hade inte hört några av låtarna innan) men den var överraskande varierad och passade perfekt till att handla på Willyz. Track #10 Kinky Reggae en favorit: "she had brown sugar all over her booga-wooga", boingoingoingoing. 4 stjärnor.

Classic reggae imperative.

Love some Bob Marley. Liked this one more than Natty Dread. Standouts: Concrete Jungle, Slave Driver, 400 Years, Stir It Up, and No More Trouble.

Klassisk Bobban. Gillar Kaya mer, men vafasen liksom.

Great, instrumentally diverse, fantastic performances and songs.

uhh han glaub nanie es reggea album am stuck glost concrete jungle findi sehr en geile ahfang die nächste zwei lieder sind naja, aber stop that train fühli wieder recht de offbeat isch hslt eifach chli dominierend amigs oah s solo vo baby we've got a date isch mega cute bin chli verpennt und gnüsses gad recht hahahaha STIR IT UP KENNTMER JA seehr geil, und easy catchy hahaha han tüfi erwartige für kinky reggae gha aber ich han gad e gueti ziit seiter amigs auno stinky reggae?? de break bi no more trouble easy cute jaa es isch natürlich nöd s abwechsligsrichste album, zumindest us kinere sicht aber ich han e huere gueti ziit gha. wenns länger gange wär hetti vlt meh müeh geh aber eso hanis mega gnosse

Pretty good, this was my first time actually listening to Bob Marley. This album made for some good background music as I did chores around the house. It was short and sweet, and I don't really have much else to say about it. Low 4.

So, what a great first start to the 1001 album challenge!! I was a bit daunted at first when I saw 20 songs… but then I realised I had got the wrong album 🫣😮‍💨 Overall, I really enjoyed this album - more than I expected to! It really made me want to groove! I can see myself listening to the album both when I want something chill as well as when I wanted something good vibes (which I want a lot haha!) I particularly loved High Tide Low Tide! My one critique would be that some of the songs sounds slightly repetitive and, as a result, slightly boring! In all honesty, I don’t know how often I’ll come back to this album!

Sometimes reggae feels quite samey to me by the end. It's nice chill music though

Although Bob Marley is revered by many I have never been a fan of his music. I recognise the importance of Reggae music but I don't enjoy it personally. I haven't listened to a Bob Marley track in some while and thought at times whilst listening to this album, vocally he sounded quite weak in parts but that is probably down to the nature of the song and my ears. It has to be in this album list because Marley was a major influential figure. The reason I am giving it 4 stars

I won’t Stir It Up. I want No More Trouble, just this album.

Bob fucking Marley.

If I wasn't from Jamaica then why would I wear this hat

All my problems just float away on a blunt

Jah

-Appropriately, I was very drunk and high while listening to this so maybe my review is biased?? but damn this hits hard. the first few songs don’t do it for me quite as much but the second half or so is godly. amazing rhythm -Favorites are Slave Driver, Stir It Up, No More Trouble, Midnight Ravers, and All Day All Night

At this point I am really struggling to think of something new to say about Bob Marley. It's good, okay?

Marley, Tosh and Wailer never failed to produce world class and genre defining music. Catch A Fire is no different.

my first reggae album ever and it was a pretty good intro to the genre! i loved the politically charged lyricism on here, didn't leave any room to sugarcoat the effects of slavery on the black community. hopefully there's more to come on this list :))

I like that one song, where they play that reggae beat? Ok, so I really liked Exodus and was pleasantly surprised at the variety in the music, after expecting an album of the same reggae beat throughout. Well, this album unfortunately met my expectations of every song sounding similar. It's not a bad sound - these songs are all really good and the band sounds great (especially the guitars). But a full album of similar sounding songs is always a minimum of one star off for me. Concrete Jungle was probably the most unique, particularly the first 30 seconds, but then went into basic reggae (with some really good guitar soloing). No More Trouble teased a non-reggae beat for almost one whole minute! Favorite Tracks: Concrete Jungle, Slave Driver, 400 Years.

It's great to hear the Wailers far away from American tourist traps, when their social and political themes shine through instead of being drowned out by bros joking about blunts. Now, this album does have some fun and literally some kink in it too, but there's so much more to their music than not worrying about a thing. This was a great listen and I will absolutely revisit this soon.

Thoroughly enjoyed this album. Brought me happiness, concern, and serenity. Just loved it and I will return. I feel odd saying I appreciated the simplicity because it feels like it dismisses the complexity I know is there. But, really, I enjoyed how it’s deliver in a seemingly simple manner. So soulful.

This album just makes me want to grab a good chair, some cold beers and smoke a joint while enjoying the vibes. This is the first full Bob Marley album I've listened to and I can understand why he was as big as he was. Easy to listen to with some stand outs like Stop That Train. I'm excited to come back to this one and further explore Bob Marley & The Wailers.

I like this era of reggae Tosh and Marley together, and while I hadn't listened to this album through before, I knew a lot of the songs - 400 Year or Kinky Reggae probably my favourites.

It is beautiful and wonderful. It feels like a big Jamaican hug. Sitting on the beach with family and friends, appreciating, love and sharing our current world, life and blessings but also believing we can have more and dreaming of how to change the world so we can get there.

yes! I like this reggae music on a Sunday morning.

I love Bob Marley. He sings of deep cultural experiences and his reggae is perfect for campfires, weed and straight chillin. He has a calming effect on my human spirit, and he really is pure Jamaica. Thanks for the great tunes, Bob.

Vibes 1000000%

Love some reggae, and this is good reggae

The consensus is swelling: 'Catch A Fire' by Bob Marley and The Wailers - their first for Island Records and first of two records from 1973 - is now considered their best album. When I was a kid, 'Exodus' seemed to be the Big One, but of course, nothing compared to 'Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and The Wailers' as the ultimate collection of songs. To me, I'm still sceptical if the album form is really the way to understanding and appreciating The Wailers since reggae and dub music was mostly presented in singles, EPs, and 12 inch records. But then again, Bob Marley and The Wailers were reggae artists operating in a rock-and-roll framework; on 'Catch a Fire,' it certainly shows. I used to think that people liked the origin story of this record more than the songs itself, with the origin story consisting of big-baller moves from Island Records head Chris Blackwell, breaking new ground for reggae with the album's pioneering use of a state-of-the-art studio, and wildly ambitious and inventive album art. But no, the songs really ARE that good. "Concrete Jungle" is as moody of an album opener as it can get, though I think the live version from 1979 is much better. "400 Years" begins with the type of dissonant guitar drone that would be just at home on any indie rock record from the 80s and 90s. I'll admin that I have a soft spot for that children's toy-like synth tone you hear in the chorus; it basically sounds like tiny icicles forming, which feels insane to see given the very hot climate. "Stop That Train" has tambourine that is panned so far to the right and so off and away in the distance, it makes you think that it's a sound in your natural surroundings. "Baby We've Got A Date" has some of the most unbelievably sounding slide guitar. Is "Stir It Up" the most liquid sounding song of all time? Just pools and pools of warm, teeming energy that you shimmer and ripple throughout the song. I never tire of it. To promote this record, Bob Marley and The Wailers opened for Sly and the Family Stone, who in 1973, released 'Fresh,' their last truly Classic Record. Imagine seeing both Bob Marley and The Wailers during this period AND Sly and the Family Stone on this tour? It makes one reflect on the audience and say, "God, I see what you have done for others..." Iconic album art - both versions. A

Stir it up and concrete jungle are classics

I'd probably really enjoy this on a Jamaican beach. But I think this is not the best of Robert.

Really great reggae album, so bouncy and fun

Awesome. Fun. Some familiar ones some deeper cuts

They’re call but I do admit that it sounds a bit same. A greatest hits would definitely get a 5. Best listened on a yacht in the Caribbean with the wind blowing through your hair

Yeah. The man

Great reggae album.

Ya man

I've heard of Bob Marley and the Wailers before, particularly the song "Stir it Up" from this album. As a reggae staple, they're generally pleasant, and I enjoy the rollicking guitars and meaningful song construction. They sound more involved than what could be pigeonholed as background music, especially with the large lyrical depth ranging from love like "Stir it Up" to political injustice like "Slave Driver". The only problem I have is the similar sound and tempo carried across most songs, though that seems to be par for the course with the reggae genre. I will give them credit for some variance such as the slow burn intro to "No More Trouble" and the slide guitar work done on "Baby We've Got a Date (Rock it Baby)". Overall, Catch a Fire was an enjoyable listen for its style. If you are into reggae or curious about the genre, then give it a listen.

Well-crafted and pleasant to listen to 3.6

Very solid. Well produced. Enjoyable listen. 4.0

enjoyed throughout

An awesome album. It had some great songs all the way through, and I only recognized one or two.

4/5

To have this as your first album... wow. Happy that I voted Natty Dread as a 3 because this is far ahead for me - 4.1. Latter half was excellent, perfect for the heat in London this week.

nice one

4/5

Very solid early effort from The Wailers. Stir It Up is an obvious highlight, but I actually love Peter Tosh’s contributions on this one (especially Stop That Train). I think some of the later albums are better, but it’s still a great album and Marley is always welcome on my speakers.

liked it

Not the most obvious Marley record but a beautiful one with a tinge of darkness and wit, yet still a great reggae record. I mean the evergreen and global omnipresence of Bob Marley is an interesting comment on the Euro / American centric bias of musical culture - and this could easily be as, or more relevant to global audiences than say Abbey Road. Maybe comparing apples and oranges but definitely relegating this to a genre album would be a crime. Try playing ‘Stir it up’ anywhere in the world and just watch a crowd melt. Maybe one exception as sometimes reggae is the coriander of musical genres but man is it amazing if you get past it.

Fun album! Good to hear the early up and coming sound that they had here. Stir it up is a solid track. Concrete jungle was deep. Not much for roots music in my life, so this was neat exposure

I've never really gotten into reggae; I enjoy it, I just don't fully "get" it. Maybe it's just being raised a punk. That said, I am softening towards the genre and it's a record like this that shows me why: solid playing, great lyrics, and good music. Hard to beat, I guess. Favorite tracks: "High Tide Or Low Tide", "Midnight Ravers"

I forget how political this album is, still lots of head boppers

Some lovely moments!

It's pretty good

8/10. Very enjoyable. Calming. Gets a little bit repetitive at times in my head sometimes which holds it back from the 9.

Solid album but not my favorite Bob

Wasn’t sure if I’d have time to get to this today but yayyyy I had time and it was the perfect sorta album to listen to while being in boring meetings all day and finally having a chance to listen to music again while finishing up the work day. Another case of “a couple songs really stood out, but most were just generally nice to listen to.” No real complaints. Really nice.

vibes-oriented

Great album. Reminder of Marley’s real genius. Don’t listen to a lot of reggae but this was fun.

Really enjoyable, who knew they had more than 3 songs and they're actually really good. Best song - Concrete Jungle

I wanna smoke week ahahahaha

you must ask yourself how can vibes be so immaculate, stir it up, midnight ravers, and stop that train go so hard

Great album really enjoyed it

A great album for those that love that reggae sound. A bit political, social, and sweet.

18 Junio 2025 cuando escucho actually. Puro reggae, like salsa, difícil que no me gusten temas. Same vibes. Todo cool so far. Slave driver me aburrió un poco, lo demás fire as usual de parte de Marley. Pretty cool, ya quedan alt versions. Solid 4.

Pretty good. Stir it Up especially. This is classic and sounds great.

Sympa au bureau un lundi :) (mais un peu redondant)

Mostly enjoyable, a great vibe, although some of the songs are a little musically repetitive.

Loved it I should listen to him more

Great album !! Very enjoyable to listen :)

Preferred natty dread more but still awesome. I need to pick up

I'm seeing the appeal! I really got into it from 400 years, and then I was vibing out with my homemade strawberry milk

я включил и начал читать регги про работу. Это хорошо.

Ya Mon! It was lit and should’ve burned longer. Classic sound.

Great album. Not a lot of huge hits, but it is consistent and "clean" all the way through. It feels and sounds refreshing, and it is laid back and "cool" all the way through. Definitely a solid album I will put on again.

Just pure joy. It's catchy and relaxed and positive vibes.

Enjoy Marley’s reggae even though I’m not too familiar. I see in the comments that the lyrics have a bit more depth but as usual my ears treat the vocals as an instrument far more than commentary. Easy to zone out and imagine chilling on the beach, drunk and/or high, which is a welcome fantasy on so many days! 3.5/5

Bow down! This really is one of the greatest albums of all time, and Stir It Up is one of my favorite love songs. I've been listening to a lot of reggae on SomaFM's Heavyweight Reggae station recently, and so this really pops up as exceptional work.

Pretty good but not my favourite

I'm not a huge fan of reggae but this is clearly a good album. I love the raw sound; the lyrics are meaningful and impactful.

Rasta Vibrations.

It was pretty good. Reggae still doesn’t resonate with me not matter how many times it pops up on this list.

It’s funny how great albums made by artists at their peaks tend to have these quotidian origin stories. The Wailers were broke and stuck in the UK, so they took a $6,000 advance to get home and gave Island one of the greatest reggae albums of all time in return. These artists, either together or on their own, would go on to make better albums, but this was an incredible record to introduce millions of people to this genre. Everything that makes reggae music great is present here.

This is just a collection of good vibrations. One of the finest voices in music

Always love me some Marley

Just a great album 4.5

Pretty good. There are some better Marley songs out there, but nothing wrong with this.

Good lazy vibes. Stand-out: Midnight Ravers

Great album.

This is the reagge sound of the west. We hears this and it was a genre. This one is good because you get a could hits but it is much more of a Wailers album overall. I love the keyboard.

Even on a rainy day while in a terrible mood, Bob Marley still hits

I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never really listened to a whole Bob Marley album (with or without the Wailers), but this makes listening to this album a great treat for this unwashed member of the masses. I get it why the even-higher rated "Legend" isn't included in this collection, but it's nice to get such a complete album like this, with only a few songs not quite as strong as the others, and to have Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer involved in its creation.

i love me a bit of reggae, especially if its kinky

Stir it up! Nice and chill.

Very fine reggae album, one good hit, but mostly just vibes. Clear meaning in the songs that give this album depth

Could grow to be a 5..

Really good. 8.5/10

Very good listenable album. Fun change from mostly 90s music

“Catch A Fire” is a reggae album by Bob Marley & The Wailers. This album is cool and really grooves. One of the greatest reggae albums, “Catch A Fire” gives newfound appreciation to Marley and the genre.

Solid, not my favorite Marley album but he’s still a legend

If I’m not mistaken there’s 3 Bob Marley albums on the list. This is my favorite. Exodus is too sweet, Natty Dread is too bluesy. This hits the sweet spot right in the middle. Favorite song: no more trouble.

shit

I really enjoyed this. Holds up really well. Just makes you tap your feet.

It makes sense that this one runs a close second in popularity to Legend. The vibes are very much alive here and the two Peter Tosh sung tunes were also a nice standout. Hard pressed to rate any Marley album lower than 4 stars. The fire has been caught and is burning bright.

Enjoyed this one a lot. Immaculate vibes. Gonna go listen to this once more and imagine I’m not working all day…

I enjoyed this much more than Natty Dread. Felt more like the accessible reggae you’ve come to expect from Mr. Marley. Plus it’s how you pick up chicks. You go “Baby we’ve got a date” and then you whisper in her ear in parenthesis “rock it baby.” And you’re in.

In my review of Natty Dread I said I would never rate a Bob Marley & The Wailers album less than 4*...so that makes this exercise pretty easy. Not quite sure if I like this album more or less than ND, but the vibes continue and I'm here for it. 3.75/5

This might be THE Bob Marley & The Wailers album. It's already the second one I've received on this list and I think I slightly prefer it to the only other one I've previously listened to (Natty Dread). Politically charged and also a little tender at points. 'Concrete Jungle' is a great opening track indicative of what's to come for the rest of the album.

I’ve never been big into reggae, not because I don’t like it but because it’s never been something I’ve had a lot of exposure to. But listening to this, you can tell why Bob Marley is the most well known - it’s reggae through and through, but with some really poppy hooks that make it more memorable. Very enjoyable listen on a Friday.

Ja very fun en easy! Leuk om ff niet de hitjes te luisteren

Silid album that was easy to listen to.

This was a very sweet listen. I feel ashamed to say that I've never tapped into the albums of legendary Reggae artist Bob Marley. He was given the unfortunate fate of being stuck in my endless backlog. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've dived into Reggae too heavily in general. I've certainly heard Reggae before, and this album fits the exact image I had of the genre in my head. Most of these tracks contain pretty "generic" Raggae-type grooves with thick basslines, a slow and varied set of stuttering drums, and skank guitar strumming. It's really what's on top of those pieces that sort of "fill in the blanks" and adds a discernable texture to these songs. I love the electric guitar on the song "Baby We've Got a Date" for instance, it's psychedelic-esque and ends the track off beautifully; it feels like sailing into a sunset. I love the synth closing up the following "Stir it Up". The clav and organ add a subtle dramatic edge to the song "No More Trouble", one of my favorites here. The common theme between all these instruments is how easy-going they are. They're textured, wide, and filling. I sort of dismissively mentioned the other instruments earlier but that wasn't my intention; the backing band does exactly what it needs to do. The bass is incredible, comprising entirely of the lower end, it sounds so clean in the mix and is incredibly melodic. It's what drives the heart of all these songs. I also enjoy those little drum fills which are, again, a pretty common Reggae staple. Marley himself is an incredible vocalist. He's a powerful but lowkey singer, saying so much with a relatively restrained and held-back style. He's also accompanied by backing vocalists on quite a few of these songs that help fill the large gaps left by the sparse instruments. This album is dubbed "Roots Reggae" due to its focus on political messaging. I'd say that's surely the case on the first few tracks, especially on "400 Years", one of the many songs referencing Marley's Rastafarian alignments. I interpret "No More Trouble" as a yearning for something simple, or a return to form and a call for passiveness. With that said, a few of these songs take on topics of love and playful intimacy, like "Stir it Up" and "Kinky Reggae". I think more than anything, I love how chill this album is. Maybe that sounds stereotypical and shallow, but there's something so satisfying about the way the instruments groove so patiently and calmly. It feels like a breath of fresh air.

Chilling

Overall, great album that I have heard some of the more popular ones but never listened to the whole thing. If I was high at the beach it would definitely be a 5, at my desk at work it is only a 4.

I'm a sucker for the fat and dubby bass tone on this record. The instrumentation, especially for the guitar, drums, and bass were nice. I don't really care for the lyrics but its a nice-sounding record.

Mellow reggae that captures the roots and of Jamaica and tells a political message, far from the commercial releases of around that time. Brought reggae to the mainstream.

pa estar full chilling d locos

Fantastic, wish they used the spliff cover art.

3.6 Having heard Stop that Train so many times by JGB...I forget it's a Wailers song ..and technically a Peter Tosh song. Sweet gospel sounding reggae infusion💕 Here we are in 2024 and still in love with Bob Marley. With the release of One Love, his story and history are still alive. Here is a prime example of why. Reggae isn't for everyone, but you can't deny the simple soulful rhythms and songwriting. This music gives me relaxation and groove like no other outlets, and I think I do in fact smell ganja exuding from every note. Does it make everyone's shoulders move back & forth like mine upon hearing it? More kinky reggae please!

Good music and vocals. Will definitely listen to again

It's great! It is such a chill relaxed album. Listening to it immediately makes you feel like you're on holiday on a beach somewhere tropical. 4.25 stars

Not Bob Marley's best album. It's still Bob Marley though. Truly a visionary artist whose music has inspired generations. What makes his music great for me is its versatility. If you want something to throw on in the background, Bob Marley. If you want to listen to some emotionally impactful music, Bob Marley. If you want to smoke, Bob Marley.

kinky regge hehe

solid 4 stars.

Reggae. Algún megahit. Venga, un 4.

Pretty cool record. I've never really been into reggae so it's hard for me to be critical of this record. I do love how they're able to put political messaging into music that sounds so light hearted. Overall it was an enjoyable, easy-listening record that I will likely revisit.

What a gem! Bob Marley has been in my life for as long as I can remember. I've listened to so much of his music, but I'm ashamed to say, I've never gone through this record. I listened to the Jamaican version as well as the studio version. It was fun to compare and contrast, with the Jamaican version being more stripped down and Ska-like. The original studio version has that more classic full Bob Marley sound that we all love. I'd love the social / political / historical nature of the songs and concepts in this record. I think people often forget about the political nature of Bob Marley's music. Even though this is a good example of the evolution of that classic Bob Marley sound, I really like the R&B / Soul influences in this record. He's really leaning into American R&B, but then taking it a totally different direction with the reggae / ska / dancehall sound. One Love! 🇯🇲 ✊🏼🦁

The sound of a whole genre going overground. Also the sound of a rough and ready local music scene being given a very well judged polish to help it on it's way. I often complain about over-production and commercial sounding albums, but sometimes just knocking off a few rough edges and warming the sound up a little with some accompaniment goes a long way. As here. You can listen to the "Jamaican" version of this album, i.e. without Island Records interference, it's still great due to the strength of the songs and performances, but this version is just perfect. This is still truly 'The Wailers' as Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh are still here and Tosh in particular as musician and song writer, before it became the Bob Marley show. So many great songs, and the influence of the band’s visits to London can be clearly heard. The perfect starting point for new reggae fans, and a milestone for those already on the journey. Ideal balance between rootsy Jamaican music and world wide pop success, with simply stated political points too.

This is a pretty significant improvement on Natty Dread for me. The arrangements are a lot more varied throughout this album, and the content is a lot more, um, comfortable to listen to from an icon such as this. Favorite track: Concrete Jungle

I could just listen to this all day. Lovely.

Bob didn't invent reggae, but this album helped refine it. Excellent groove throughout, with luscious bass.

A classic.

First timer. I was dreading this a bit because 1. Its a double album(where half the songs are just different mixes(?) of the same song. And 2. Because Ive never really *gulp* enjoy3d reggae. But about 3 songs in and I was really enjoying myself. I think the wide ranging textures and the beautiful sultry and playful basslines sucked me in. My favorite track besides all of the other standouts was 400 years. There was something so haunting to how it begins with that minor chord and the immediate slow down that just grabbed my attention. Great one. Will definetly throw this on again!

Good beach music!

Fun stuff. 3.5/5.0: Very Good

started off rough with the songs sounding way too similar, more variation toward the end which made the songs much more enjoyable

Not a huge reggae fan, but I like this record quite a bit. Reggae can start to sound the same, but this one had some great songs and some very good ones that held my attention.

Rustagh

stimmige hintergrundmusik mit botschaft. und Stir It Up, kennt man!

This sounded like a precursor to the bigger Bob hits I’ve heard. I prefer the production on the later stuff but this was pretty good.

I still don’t get it

Solidno, poslusao bih opet, tesko ljeto

Bop Marling :)

Love Bob Marley

Годнота. Понравилось. Пришлось по настроению.

3.5/4 I'm rounding up because it's Bob. 😅

I mean, it's Bob Marley.

I've gotten the greatest hits of BMATW, so this is my first listening to a studio album. It's exactly what I've expected from the artist. I wouldn't say no to listening to it again, but it wouldn't be one of my top 100 if I had to pick an album to listen to.

Hypnotic. Intriguing. Expanding. An incredible moment in time that transcends easily to today.

Liked Jamaican version better than other

Bob Marley but bluesy? Sign me up.

Very comfy listen. Reminds me of a pub I used to hang at.

Bob and his group brought with them that Jamaican Reggae sound that was the basic template of all other Reggae based tracks. There is a sameness to a lot of the tracks, which is the only negative thing I found with the album... so I debated with myself how to award a 3.5... but conceded that they still changed the reggae for all following artists.

The hits just keep on coming. I watched a documentary on Marley the night before getting this, which meant I was very in the mood for this. It's just brilliant. Darker and moodier than the cliché of reggae that people cling to, but still with some beautiful moments of lightness (it's clinically impossible not to feel better within 3.4 seconds of Stir It Up). Most importantly, it gave me a chance to get on my soapbox about the novel A History Of Seven Killings and sound terribly clever. So thanks Bob.

Bob is always some feel good music

Great Reggae music! The best!

I think this was the best from Bob Marley that I got from the list. It's a bit repetitive, but it's a must.

ganske chill, glemte å rate det når jeg hørte på det så ikke helt valid å rate nå men

nice... hadn't listed to this album before.

This is reggae. I enjoy reggae

Enjoyed the sound of the album and the vibes. On first listen all the songs sounded the same, but it's a good sound.

классическое регги в исполнении Боба Марли. ты на пляже, яркое, жгучее солнце, ты лежишь на лежаке, а рядом море или океан, ты заказала себе пару коктейлей и их вот-вот принесут, а пока пляжный зонтик создает тебе тень и все ощущается лучше, чем всегда. скоро на обед. Бодрум.

Quite good overall, will have to listen again to choose a favorite track.

I mean, it's Bob Marley

Mellifluous, political, bouncy

Loved it. Great voice. Stir it up is the stand out.

Bob Marley always sounds like the right music to be playing in any given situation. I've listened to Uprising a lot and was only familiar with one of these songs (Stir it Up) but I liked all of them. They are dealing with some heavy subjects here, but in ways that are somehow uplifting.

Riktig hit! Inte lyssnat på Reggae innan men damn det är soft

Nice pop reggae init

Groovy - pretty underrated Marley album

More please and thank you

Chill ass album. Really enjoyed each track even if they faded into the background. I think thats what this music is supposed to do sometimes. Stir It Up is still the highlight but I loved every song that followed. Super strong back half with High Tide or Low Tide being the stand out. Great album.

Great album! Didnt finish got halfway

Please no more Sonic Youth!

I really like this. Easy to listen to, with a couple standouts for me. (Concrete Jungle, 400 Years) Only one I recognized is Stir it Up.

Obviously "Stir It Up" was the best song on this cd, but in my opinion this isn't his, and The Wailer's best CD. Still a solid listen though!

Reggae

Yeah great album, a bit repetitive though

Great reggae album, even though I didn't enjoy this one as much as Natty Dread

Even though it’s not a style I get into, I enjoyed it.

If it weren’t bob I don’t think I would’ve liked it as much but he’s the goat.

Don't think I had ever listened to this whole album before, I got into Bob Marley on his next album, Burnin', and his 'Live' album. This was good to listen to, some familiar songs, and some new (to me) that was really good. I had the pleasure of seeing him at the Music Hall in Houston, Texas, and his show was one of the best I've ever seen. Such energy, and he was ... remarkable!

Never can really go wrong with Bob Marley. While the songs aren't all that diverse, such a great vibe...always feels sunny. 3.5/5

This isn't a stellar stellar record but it gets a whole extra star for just being chill and enjoyable. I actually liked both version with and without the added 'American rock guitar'. Bob Marley and his people just really knew how to find a groove.

Tiene éxitos familiares que no sabía que eran originalmente de este album. Entre esos, Stir It Up.

Really enjoyed this, great laid back vibe, kinky reggae stood out amongst many highlights

Slow and relaxing

Excellent album great lyrics.

nice

A classic. Love Marley. Reggae as a genre is not my favorite. All the songs seem to meld together after awhile. It’s still hard to deny the impact Bob Marley had on this genre and the influences he has brought forward to artists currently.

Soothing and calming reggae, from the best. What else

4.25

Excellent - mellow and relaxing without feeling repetitive

Added 3 songs to my playlist.

Never listened to a Bob Marley album all the way through. I get it now.

Really liked this! Great both as background and to directly listen to!

Es fehlen die Hits. Sonst aber ein hörenswertes Marley-Album.

Not my usual genre, but an easy office listen.

Very feel good album. 3.72

I've never really given Marley a chance before besides the odd track here or there in the background. Really good stuff.

Lots of songs I never heard that really makes you appreciate Marley outside of the mainstream songs that are always on rotation. Excellent, no notes.

4.5

Nice listen

First Bob Marley album I've ever listened to, and it's obviously really good, his status as a legend is as clear as can be.

Nearly 5 stars 9/10

Great

Reggae. Algún megahit. Venga, un 4.

12/22/23. Essential reggae listening right here. I always thought reggae was a bit of a repetitive genre, but this one keeps you engaged. Bob Marley was the truth.

Easy listening

Gewoon lekker

really liked this, super chilled as expected and just really listenable

I quite liked this. Was a nice relaxing easy listen.

An artist I had only known through best of records. Listening to full records through this list has been a great joy.

All day all night is new to me and a particular highlight, it almost suggests a what could have been for reggae. But it’s hard not to wonder what that song would’ve sounded like in a group that could really sing, the Temptations as a recent example from this list comes to kind. What is undeniable is that the Wailers had tunes, much more so than most contemporaries. Good shit, better than the hits.

great album, felt the flavor of the time and the place, always makes me happy to hear Bob

Hadn’t listened to this album before; very good

Reggae

Toots, Tosh, Nancy, Marley, hell Mighty Diamonds. Come one come all, I ❤️reggae

A pleasant listen on a shitty November day. At times too preachy for my taste, but alright overall.

album filled with hits. I've listened to it a lot when a teenager, my father would put this on loudly on huge soviet speakers in the living room and the walls would rumble in contrast to other albums here, sounds quite political and psychedelic at the same time: that's reggae for you

Such a great album. Stir it Up is my all time favourite Marley track. This album shaded by their later work, but brilliant nonetheless

This was a great album. Bob Marley is a fantastic songwriter who manages to infuse social commentary into songs that show great musical knowledge and vocal dexterity. The production on this is super clean. Every instrument can be heard clearly giving the album a very open but textured feel. Bob Marley’s consistency across albums is phenomenal as well.

A reggae album that even those, like myself, that don't like reggae will enjoy. Rastaman Chant is a belter.

Bob Marley always puts me in a relaxed mood and transports me to Hawaii. Ultimate chill album.

Not an album I thought I would get into on a cold, cloudy day, but it was very chill and kind of made my day better : )

Would I listen to this album again? No. Did I enjoy listening to the album? Yes. Were there any songs I skipped? No. Favourite Song? Kinky Reggae / Stir It Up.

Lovely album to listen to the morning before Thanksgiving while I pretend to be working. No More Trouble was a song I haven't heard before, but certainly enjoyed. Nothing too crazy going on with this album, but really great for what it is. I'm rating this before the Jamaican versions of songs on the 50th Anniversary edition of this album.

Concrete Jungle kind of rules with the prominent bassline and shredding guitar solo to go along with Bob singing. Wailers albums always put me in such a good mood with the slow instrumentals and calm singning. Stir It Up may be the most chill song of all time. In Kinky Reggae I really need to know what a booga-wooga is and why it had brown suga on it. Classic Wailers album that I could listen to all day if I didn't have 4 other albums to catch up with.

Some good ol classic kinky reggae. Great morning listening while cleaning my house. Not a lot of classics but it all goes well together.

4-4.5

Very solid album. Probably one I'll need to be in a reggae mood to put on, but the standouts really standout!

Great stuff. I think this is some of the first mainstream reggae in America.

Reggae is one of my favorite genres and Bob Marley is the king.

Influencisl

i enjoyed this album, though i didn't know any of the songs on it beforehand. like most people (i presume), i'm mostly familiar with the greatest hits collection and a handful of other tracks. this album was great music to have on in the background while at work and i liked the message of the lyrics i heard. also i kept thinking Baby We've Got a Date was like the reggae version of Ring of Fire. cool stuff, definitely need to listen more in the future. favorites: Concrete Jungle, Baby We've Got a Date, Stir It Up

Heel fijn, wat Bob Marley op de maandag. Ik vind dit eigenlijk zulke fijne muziek maar draai het echt niet genoeg. Hier heb ik dus ook echt van genoten! Moet er wel echt voor in de stemming zijn dus ik denk dat Bobberd vandaag ook een beetje mazzel had. Ja, ik ga heel erg lekker op dit album, review is wel een beetje kort want ik heb al iets van 3 of 4 keer per ongeluk mn tabblad met de review reop gesloten en genoeg is genoeg verdorie. FAVO: Stop That Train, Baby We've got a date, Stir it up, Kinky Reggae

We listened and danced to this with Nora and Hank in the living room on a Saturday morning. Immaculate vibes.

Classic

Nice raggae, soulful singing, catchy bass and overall good

I actually enjoyed this album more than Exodus, which was kind of surprising since I knew more of the songs on the latter. "400 Years," "Stop the Train," and "Stir It Up" were my favorites. I don't love reggae, so some of this was a bit of a slog to get through, but overall a solid album. Plus it's Bob Marley.

"High Tide or Low Tide"

Solid Bob Album.

Brani Preferiti: - "Concrete Jungle" - "Stir It Up" - "400 Years" Note: Anche se Bob e i Wailers riescono a mantenere un buon standard, ho la percezione che la prima parte dell'album sia fatta meglio della seconda. Se piace il rock, questo album è la perfetta introduzione alla musica reggae di Marley & dei Wailers e fra tutti per me "Catch a Dire" è il migliore album pubblicato da loro.

I'm not a huge reggae fan, but geez, Bob Marley. He's an icon for a reason.

First time Bob Marley listener, definitely a fan. Super chill vibes. Favorite was Baby We've Got a Date.

Not into reggae but this album is so smooth and listenable end to end. Recommended songs: Concrete jungle; High tide or low tide; Stir it up

"Stir It Up" is and always will be a classic, wonderful track!

One of the truly great reggae albums. Love the early mix with Tosh, Wailer and Marley. It is easy to forget just how great they were and how polished Marley became as an artist. 4/5 Will listen again

Good stuff. Bit of joy, bit of protest, lot of talent & greatness.

Chill af.

Made me feel like I needed to be on a boat with 10 of my best friends. Didn’t like it as first but as the album went on Iit vibed.

First few cuts feel a slow start, but then it’s 10 straight excellent tracks – mellow and thoughtful, introspective and infectious. The melancholia of “High Tide or Low Tide” and “No More Trouble” is as engaging as the happy-making “Baby We’ve Got a Date” and “Kinky Reggae.” The Tosh-sung cuts are – no surprise – totally great. 4.4 for 4.

It’s impossible to overstate the influence and reach of Bob Marley & The Wailers. This record was the flashpoint of a brilliant and all too brief career. And like most of their records, the track listing sounds like a greatest hits.

Very chill album, I haven't ever given Bob Marley the attention he deserves before this. Incredibly chill, the kind of music that I could listen to forever and never get tired. Not something that I would listen to every day, but something I'll definitely be coming back to from time to time. 8/10

great album

Really quite brilliant and I never though I’d be saying that of a reggae record, a genre that has eluded me. Marley had real skill interweaving political commentary with mellow, soulful orchestrations and the result is a warm, poignant and rich record. Eye opening and significant.

Crunchy opener

Lots of songs I’ve never heard before. Some deep, soulful lyrics. Really nice album. 8/10

Fuckin no

Stir it up is een classiccccccp

Lovely

mm nice

I dig it. Makes me want to go hang out at the beach.

3.5/5

Hyvää musiikkia kotona oleilun taustalle