Mandatory (Non Legend) Marley
If you own just one Bob Marley album chances are high that it is the 1984 greatest hits album Legend. Legend was released the year after Marley’s death and is the highest selling reggae album of all time (by a wide margin). And with good reason. Legend is an aptly named masterpiece that combines 14 of the greatest songs of the truly legendary Marley. The album is as good today as it was 26 years ago.
But of course the Marley catalog is much larger than the 14 songs on this one greatest hits album. In this post I want to discuss the best of the rest. Here are some of my favorite non Legend Marley songs:
“Trenchtown Rock”. The first line in this one can’t be beat. “One good thing about music; when it hits, you feel no pain.”
“Johnny Was”. I find this song from Rastaman Vibration heart wrenching.
“No More Trouble”. This one was often merged with “War” but I like “No More Trouble” more than I like “War”. (You’ll remember “War” as the song that Sinead O’Connor infamously covered on SNL prior to tearing up the picture of the Pope.) Anyhow in this live clip “War” goes for about 4:00 and “No More Trouble” picks up at that point.
“Lively Up Yourself”. I just like this one. There are some cool live versions I could link to but here is the studio version.
“Iron, Lion, Zion”. Starts running through my head on occasion. Here is the album version.
“Night Shift”. Another catchy tune that starts running through my head at times.
So do you have any non-Legend favorites by Marley? (I have others I could include but I don’t want to hog all the good ones.) Include YouTube links to your favorites in the comments.
Posted on September 16, 2010, in Music. Bookmark the permalink. 12 Comments.
Great subject. Ever since I heard the following, I thought, “Why wasn’t that on Legend?” My fav Marley song of all time.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_eFFmxvQH0&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D
Good call DH.
Someone mentioned “One Drop” to me. It deserves a mention I think:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74NCfS3h2JY&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D
I only know the big time hit reggae songs. So, Legend, one Jimmy Cliff song, and UB40.
*shame*
Based on the lack of additions in this thread so far I’m guessing that is not unusual Johnny.
Dupey Conqueror
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnBcFZZowAI&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGZo28IAv4o&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D
Spot on with “Johnny Was.” On par with “Redemption Song.”
Bob Marley’s voice is nicely suited for the blues, and the upbeat reggae backing him is a good contrast—as illustrated in “How Many Times”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_8ZLjMS_QI&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D
I had to add a few more:
“Rasta don’t work for no CIA” in “Rat Race”:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCE3Ge4bCLk&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D
Great backing vocals and instrumentals in “Coming In From the Cold”:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUdUmLmNQis&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D
“There She Goes” for an almost 50s love song sound:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Fym1x2k3A&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D
Nice choices Brian.
Roots Rock and Reggae.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDvdBgJdEzU&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D
Lyrically, “Kinky Reggae” has a rather unusual and unforgettable opening:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCKf0i_moOg&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D
Good calls also Danithew and Mark. Mark’s was our 5th song from the Rastaman Vibration album. I’ll make it 6 with the opening track “Positive Vibration”:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPOWgfA0zAo&fs=1&hl=en_US%5D