Catch a Fire [LP]

by Bob Marley & the Wailers, Bob Marley

Overview

When the Wailers began recording their fifth album, they were in the middle of a contract dispute with CBS, the upshot being that Catch a Fire was their first record for Island under the auspices of Chris Blackwell. The band had recorded a batch of classic songs in Jamaica, then brought the tapes to London, where Blackwell proceeded to remix them, adding rock guitars and keyboards to a handful of tracks (with the band's ultimate approval). No matter how convoluted its creation might have been, Catch a Fire is a hands-down classic album that both defines and transcends the reggae genre while bringing it to a wider audience, and it started Bob Marley on his way to becoming a global star. As much as Marley became the hero over time, Fire is a group creation where the band, singers, and songwriters all worked together to create something greater than its individual elements. Yes, Marley wrote most of the songs and sang them with a pleasing blend of warmth and strength, but without the soothing, empowering harmonies of Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh backing him, and the at once tight and elastic bounce and strut of the band driving him forward, the album wouldn't have been nearly as good. Tosh, too, takes lead on a couple of songs: the deeply soulful, Impressions-inspired "Stop That Train" and the fierce protest song "400 Years," which shovel coals onto the fire that blazes beneath much of the record's laid-back exterior. The album is a good mixture of songs like that -- as well as "Concrete Jungle" and "Slave Driver" -- that make the listener want to shout and fight, and those that are made for times when the lights get a little lower and thoughts turn to romance. "Stir It Up" is one of these, and its echoing guitars, bubbling organ, and shimmering synths pair with Marley's aching lead and the note-perfect backing vocals to create a wonderfully slinky baby-making jam. "Baby We've Got a Date (Rock It Baby)" is a little more insistent, featuring some almost strident female vocals, but the mood is similar. The only hitch is the wandering slide guitar, a slight misstep that could have been avoided if Blackwell had left well enough alone. Another tiny stumble comes on "No More Trouble," which is the kind of vague, sloganeering song Marley became more known for once he jettisoned the other two Wailers and took center stage. It's a pretty good attempt, though, and the funky clavinet gives the song some extra bite. Regardless of these faint faults, the album holds together incredibly well as a listening experience and features the original Wailers at their angriest, toughest, and most romantic peak. Anyone looking to check out reggae at its very best -- or Bob Marley before he became an omnipresent icon -- would do well to give Catch a Fire a spin. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	09/25/2015
Label:	Island / Tuff Gong
UPC:	0600753600689
Rank:	25369

Tracks

1. Concrete Jungle
2. Slave Driver
3. 400 Years
4. Stop That Train
5. Baby We've Got A Date (Rock It Baby)
6. Stir It Up
7. Kinky Reggae
8. No More Trouble
9. Midnight Ravers

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bob Marley   Primary Artist,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals,Lead Vocals
Bob Marley & the Wailers   Primary Artist
The Wailers   Primary Artist
Marcia Griffiths   Vocals (Background)
Rita Marley   Vocals (Background)
Winston Wright   Percussion
Francisco Willie Pep   Percussion
Carlton "Carly" Barrett   Drums
Chris Karan   Percussion
Tyrone Downie   Organ,Guest Artist
Bunny Livingston   Congas,Bongos,Vocals (Background)
Peter Tosh   Vocals (Background),Guitar,Piano,Organ,Keyboards
Wayne Perkins   Guitar,Guitar (Electric),Lead Guitar,Guest Artist
John "Rabbit" Bundrick   Synthesizer,Clavinet,Organ,Keyboards
Aston Barrett   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Bunny Wailer   Bongos,Percussion
Robbie Shakespeare   Bass,Guest Artist,Guitar (Bass)
Chris Karen   Percussion

Technical Credits

Chris Blackwell   Audio Production,Producer
Bob Marley   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Recording Arranger
Errol Brown   Mixing Engineer
The Wailers   Recording Arranger
Stu Barrett   Engineer
Tony Platt   Engineer
Peter Tosh   Composer
Bob Marley & the Wailers   Arranger
Carlton Lee   Engineer
Suha Gur   Mixing Assistant
Lee "Scratch" Perry   Composer