Dec 09 2005
eMusic Reggae: The Wailing Wailers
Before there was “Bob Marley and The Wailers,” there were The Wailers, the core of which consisted of Peter Tosh, Neville Livingston (aka Bunny Wailer) and Bob Marley. They released two albums in the early ’70s: Catch a Fire and Burnin’. Then Peter and Bunny left, and Bob released Natty Dread with what was left of the band. He rounded off the rough edges and produced reggae music that is more accessible to a general audience but lacks the soulful harmonies and the deep roots sound of the original Wailers.
“Bob Marley and The Wailers” is more accurately just Bob Marley. But it’s a name that sells more records, so it gets plastered on everything — even on the Wailers’ early recordings when they were known as The Wailing Wailers, sort of a Jamaican version of a doo-wop band. Most records sold as “Bob Marley and the Wailers” not released by Island/Tuff Gong are actually The Wailing Wailers. The quality of these recordings is usually pretty dismal, unless it’s an original Trojan release or one of the recent JAD collections. Buying these early recordings from other labels, you never know what you’re going to get.
Most of what is offered at eMusic.com, for instance, is garbage. They’ve managed to snag only one essential collection: The Complete Upsetters Singles, but at least the quality isn’t too bad. Essential tracks from that collection are Duppy Conqueror, Mr. Brown, Small Axe, All in One, Dreamland, African Herbsman, Sun in Shining, Secondhand, Downpressor, African Herbsman Version, Dreamland Version, Dupper Conqueror Version 4, Battle Axe, Second Hand Version, and Run for Cover Version. (”Version” means instrumental, which isn’t necessarily a dub mix.)
Although better quality mixes can be found on the Songs of Freedom box set and the original Trojan releases, the Natural Mystic I and Natural Mystic II collections at eMusic also have a few tracks that might be worth a listen. From Natural Mystic I: Don’t Rock the Boat, Lively Up Yourself, Mellow Mood, Caution, and Natural Mystic (the original and best version of “Natural Mystic” I’ve ever heard). From Natural Mystic II: Do It Twice, Back Out, and Fussing and Fighting.
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“Bob Marley and The Wailers� is more accurately just Bob Marley. But it’s a name that sells more records, so it gets plastered on everything
Wouldn’t just the name Bob Marley sell more? he was nice enough to keep the wailers name attached, because that’s where his roots are, but the popularity was all him, was it not?
No argument here. I’m just pointing out the difference between “Bob Marley and the Wailers” and the original Wailers, so people who know Bob Marley through songs like “No Woman, No Cry” and “Could You Be Loved” realize what they’re getting when they pick up another “Bob Marley and the Wailers” CD that isn’t on Island/Tuff Gong.
Since I recently got satellite radio I have been listening to a lot of reggae. I live in Houston and in April we will have a big Reggae festival. I look forward to it.