Bob Marley & The Wailers - Legend (1984)

Note: the CD I listened to was not the 2002 Deluxe Edition reissue.

"It is perfect" - Stephen Thomas Erlewine's allmusic review

As the weather heats up, out comes the reggae music. You probably bought this compilation when you were in college. I recently watched the 2012 documentary about Marley and, despite its length, recommend it to you. Most all the lyrics on this album are about politics, Rastafarianism, or Trenchtown culture. But to me, the lyrics aren't nearly as important as the simple but infectious reggae upbeat feel that grooves this entire album. It's the best-selling reggae album of all time and ranked at #48 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time (2020). If you only have one reggae album, might as well be this one. If it is indeed your only reggae album, I hope that it serves as a gateway drug for other reggae music.

Marley is mentioned on the Stuff White People Like blog. Favorite line: "be warned that a white person saying they like 'reggae' what they really mean is 'reggae from 1965-1983.'" Hilariously true and I plead guilty.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Upon its release in '84, it peaked at #54. It returns to the charts every so often and has since peaked at #18. As of this writing, it has spent a total of 265 weeks on the chart and currently sits at #126.
• Billboard R&B: #34
• CashBox: #41
• Rolling Stone: #36

Tracks:  Love 'em all. Today my favorites are Could You Be Loved, Stir It Up, One Love, and Jamming.

For more information on the brief life of the CD longbox,
go visit The Legend of the Longbox.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  My wife and I went on a cruise back in the spring of 2006. There was a reggae band that would play by the pool from time to time. Naturally, their set lists were heavy on Marley tunes and I remember being amazed that all the college kids on the cruise were singing along and knew every word of the lyrics. I don't know why that surprised me.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Uprising (1980)

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Uprising (1980)

In-a-rub-a-dub-style.

Note: this CD is the 2001 "Definitive Remaster" reissue containing 2 bonus tracks.

My friend Krista is currently on her first "real" vacation in 9 years and asked for a little vacation music on the blog. Reggae is always appropriate summer music and, therefore, vacation music. That lolloping Rasta beat is hard to resist. This album, Marley's last studio release, is also Marley's strongest studio release. It is a shame he succumbed to cancer just as he was peaking (and, unfortunately, just as I was discovering reggae music). Nearly every song addresses Marley's Rastafarian beliefs. About 10 years ago, I read a Marley biography (Catch A Fire, I think) and learned quite a bit about the history of both reggae music and Rastafarianism. Anyway, I'm not much of a lyrics guy and just listen for the infectious groove. Most casual fans have Marley's Legend album, but this one is also a must.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "the music is smooth and fluid enough to appeal to diverse audiences"
• Rolling Stone: "Though Marley's vision on Uprising is fairly dark, the sound is full and bright, tinged with a lightness"
• Stereo Review: "though everything on this album sounds rather familiar, it is no less a pleasure to hear."
• Trouser Press: "rhythmically infectious and occasionally uplifting"
• Smash Hits (6 out of 10): "there's barely a musical or lyrical move in the whole album that Marley hasn't made before, and to more telling effect."
• Musician: "both the Wailers best and most commercial album since 1975"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #45
• Billboard R&B: #41
• CashBox: #66
• Rolling Stone: #27

Tracks: My all-time favorite reggae song (at least today) is Could You Be Loved which is track 8 and the 12" mix of that song appears as a bonus track that closes the CD. Other favorites are Coming In From The Cold, Pimper's Paradise, and Forever Loving Jah but I don't skip any tracks because, let's be honest, diversity wasn't Marley's strong suit. The bonus tracks are a band version of Redemption Song and the 12" mix of Could You Be Loved which are both welcome additions to the CD.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Sitting on Jim's back porch in Portland, listening to Marley, drinking Red Stripe, and enjoying something from the humidor.

Various Artists - A Twist Of Marley (2001)

Smooth jazz covers of Bob Marley reggae tunes. The review on Amazon.com says it best: "Purists in the reggae community will be up in arms against producer Lee Ritenour for this 13-track star-studded effort, while the smooth-jazz world will rejoice over one of the year's best albums." Sometimes the artists try to keep the reggae feel, other times they abandon it completely in favor of smooth jazz. One of the nice things about this album is that the artists change on each track so that you're not always listening to vocals or trumpet or saxophone or guitar. It's an easy listen. This is actually the second in a three part "Twist" series put together by Ritenour. The other two are A Twist of Jobim (1997) and A Twist Of Motown (2003). This is the only one I have because the Jobim would be superfluous and the Motown unnecessary.

Tracks: These aren't necessarily my favorite Marley tunes, but instead they're the best tracks on this disc: Exodus, Get Up Stand Up, and Jamming. The covers of No Woman No Cry and Redemption Song are weaker than the other tracks.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: When I was going through a reggae phase around the turn of the century and bought this CD, I had just moved into a newly built office at work, so it reminds me of the smell of cinder block and floor tile adhesive. This is the type of music I would listen to when I wasn't teaching and if students (12-year-old musical snobs) would walk in, they would scrunch up their face and ask, "What is THAT?!?"