swaby974 wrote:
my favorite album :rastaman vibration (Have you ever heard a tune like "rat race" in JA music ?) .A lot of people said there's too much Rock music in this lp and it's not my feeling: it's not recording at channel one with the Revolutionaires and mixed by king tubby but it's still 100% roots music.
Totally agree, probably my favorite Bob solo album
I cannot pick a favorite Tosh album for me every solo album of his has outstanding tracks and pretty dire tracks I feel the same about Bob's solo work except that he had less dire tracks than Peter.
As for Bunny I think he has more albums where I like almost every song than albums where I don't. Protest is a little weak and In I father's house has a couple of weak tracks, but over all I still find him the most consistent wailer
But then I guess we would each think that our favorite wailer is more consistent than the others otherwise they wouldn't be our favorite
Sometimes I really can't understand that Bob's pre-Island releases get THAT much more love compared to his Island-stuff. He made 4 or 5 killer-cuts with Perry no doubt, but his strongest material was made after Peter and Bunny left imho. Yes Soul Rebel is better than Buffalo Soldier, but are Lick Samba, Screwface, Guava Jelly really better than Guiltiness, One Drop, We and them?
And I don't get the extreme Bunny-love neither (or either???) But it's all just a matter of taste, right?
Gabranth wrote: but are Lick Samba, Screwface, Guava Jelly really better than Guiltiness, One Drop, We and them?
No they are not
On the whole I'm with you there, but then the Wailers pre Island output was far more reggae and far less pop reggae, so perhaps it depends on which you prefer of those two types.
Also Bob dropped a few Island clangers too I could live without his remake of Kaya and Sun is shinning and Turn Your Lights Down Low
For me none of the wailers ever reached the same heights separately as they did together, bunny came closest with BLackheart man, which to me is the pinnacle of the Wailer's achievements
I guess you're right and it seems I just like Bob's "pop-reggae" more than most of his early 70s stuff. But please don't get me wrong, there's lots of pre-Island Wailers songs that I like very much. I don't wanna "diss" his older material.
Disagree on the Sun is shining (on Kaya album), one of the wickedest Marley tracks for me.
And Blackheart Man better than Equal Rights and Survival??? No way man Discussions about one's personal taste = a discussion without winners/loosers.
I know it sounds like some clichéd snobby pretentiousness but in all honesty I don't even like Bob Marley all that much. Or Tosh or Wailer. I definitely respect their talent, but I think the massiveness of their reputation is way out of proportion to how great they were compared to other artists.
I'm not even that into any particular artist so much as I am the sounds coming out of the Kingston studios that were made with local people in mind.
I think the Wailers moved to an international market before Kingston musicians and producers had fully achieved the golden era reggae sound. The Wailers missed the boat in that sense. I know people hate to hear this but I just don't get excited about hardly any of the Island material. It transcends the genre abit, which helped it become more international but it lacks in the production.
Plus I think Marley had already written most of his best songs by '71 anyway.
I'm sure someone will now feel the need to school me on how wrong I am.
Well your opinion has to be respected. It is true that he has written most of his best songs prior to his Island deal.
At one piont I found an obscure singer on a dirty 7'' with a hard reggae rhythm more interesting and there is something to say for that opinion. Those obsure 7'songs are the true backbone of the jamaican music 70' scene.
But when I put Marley (Island songs) on my TT, nowadays I admire him for still having roots feel in his songs and also been able to crossover to others. That isnt just marketing. The 'roots' that he made nobody else did. They tried to copy it. But or it was too rootsy or it was too popy.
He had the perfect mix and nobody can take that away. If you like him or not.
BTW the Wailers and Perry peaked together before they both went internationaly. That is the only fact in which I disagree. The other stuff is opinion and that cannot be discussed only respected.
Oh yeah, I agree it's not just marketing. He was really different and I think he was genuine and I respect him a lot. His music often just doesn't scratch the itch for me, is all.
But maybe the reason I do prefer his pre-Island stuff, particularly the rocksteady and early reggae stuff is he/they were working with more of a local mindset, less crossover element. And they're just some really strong songs. Gabranth's method of taking some of the most throwaway from that era and comparing them to some of the best of the Island era isn't a very effective way of making a point. Both had strong material.
From one perspective the ability to crossover is part of what made him great. From another, it's what makes the music less appealing.
And to get back on topic, I think Bunny has the best voice for my taste, but was perhaps the weakest songwriter of the three.
Gabranth wrote:are Lick Samba, Screwface, Guava Jelly really better than Guiltiness, One Drop, We and them?
For Lick Samba, Screwface and Guava Jelly, you could substitute Hypocrites, Funeral and Hurting Inside, and your point would not stand, from my perspective at least.
Ah, yeah Congo, I forgot about Rock 'N' Groove. Jammins is such a simple tune, but you can't get it of your head when you listen to it. The whole album is excellent.
Does anyone know if Island ever followed up with the JA release of Catch A Fire with the JA releases of Bob's other Island albums.
Like somebody said it's all about objective tastes. For me Natty Dread was Bob's best on Island and I think his weakest was Kaya, although Misty morning is a favourite of mine.
It would have been interesting to hear how their material would have sounded had they stayed together.
How about favourite Wailers tracks? Mine would have to be Concrete Jungle.
RooticaLee wrote:
It would have been interesting to hear how their material would have sounded had they stayed together.
.
I'm so sad I think about that all the time
Loads of great points in everyone's comments above, I have to say I agree with so many of the views expressed, even though some of the points contridict each other
Fav wailer track is a hard one
Concrete jungle is brilliant
Thank you lord is brilliant
Soul rebel
LSP version of Kaya
If I had my database in front of me I bet I could find 20 or more fav wailers tunes
Discussions about one's personal taste = a discussion without winners/loosers.