Bob Marley & the Wailers - Live!

I was there..

!975.. I was living in London and saw 2 amazing gigs that year.. Bruce Springsteen.. Yes that gig. The DVD reminds of a very younger Bruce and an even younger me..

I also caught Bob and the mighty Wailers on the second night of a 3 gig series at the Lyceum. It was Thursday if I remember rightly and the support was Third World.. I'm not sure which night this record comes from.

The set was quite short, round about an hour and 20 minutes. It seemed to be over in a flash but remains possibly one of the best gigs I've ever caught.

I had this on vinyl and must upgrade soon.

A truly wonderful performance from reggae's greatest star.. August 5, 2008

BOB MARLEY ROCKS !!!!!

Bob Marley And The Wailers' Live! (1975) was recorded during their Natty Dread Tour at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, but it feels like Jamaica. The enthusiastic and largely Jamaican crowd obviously loves Bob Marley and his reggae music, and he gives them what they came for. This album is everything a great live album should be.

There's an exciting balance of love, exuberance and desperation on Live!. You can hear it and you can feel it. The political and cultural vibes are clearly defined, and there's a strong communal spirit that runs through each and every song. This music can make you happy, and it can make you think. It's electrifying. Trenchtown Rock rocks!

The centerpiece on the album is the seven minute anthemic No Woman No Cry. The improvised audience sing-a-long and the wonderful performance makes it so very clear just what this night meant to everyone who was there.

A soulful and rockin' reggae version of I Shot The Sherriff sounds fantastic, and the uplifting Lively Up Yourself is energetically positive and Bob Marley at his best. He gets political with Burnin' & Lootin' and Them Belly Full (But We Hungry), and philosophical with Get Up, Stand Up. Everything here rocks, and the special talent and unique charisma of Bob Marley is not in short supply on Live!. His love for music and enthusiasm for performing is evident in every song.

There is a bonus track, Kinky Reggae, where Marley introduces the players on the stage while the band jams. It fits in nicely here, and wraps things up well.

Live! is a great place to start with Bob Marley. The music is great, and the essence of the man and his legend is clearly experienced when listening to the album. Digitally remastered to sound better than ever, this famous recording of the legendary London concerts really delivers. The lyrics to all of the songs are included along with some great photos from the shows. It's an essential part of the Bob Marley And The Wailers catalog and a must-have for fans, but it really doesn't matter what your favorite music is, this is definitely worth hearing.

Lively Up Yourself...

July 5, 2008

Nothing ever changes

I bought this on vinyl (still have it) when it first came out.
Listen to these songs and picture them in today's context of Darfur, Iraq, Global Hunger! No one has before, then, or now described the plight of the underclass better or with a spirit of hope as Bob M. April 25, 2008

Definitely a great album to start your Bob Marley collection

Bob Marley was to reggae what Bob Dylan was to folk.
This album showcases the best of his talent, with the ghetto-sounds of Trenchtown Rock, the energetic Lively Up Yourself, the burning passion of No Woman, No Cry, the rollicking I Shot The Sheriff, and the defiant Get Up, Stand Up.
Definitely a great album to start your Bob Marley collection. July 16, 2007

The real deal

This live album from Bob Marley and his band The Wailers was my introduction to Bob Marley and reggae music in general. It promptly turned all preconceived ideas I had about reggae inside out. From that moment on, I was a believer. The first time I saw this album, I was thinking to myself, "Reggae, what's so special about that? It all sounds the same, anyway." How wrong I was!

First of all, the sound is spectacular. This performance sounds clean, fresh and lively; as if it were recorded yesterday. Every little thing can be heard clearly. Even so, it's not so clean that it becomes sterile and lacking in character. There's still the energy and authenticity that gives a concert something special.

Secondly, this album has all the classic songs to make it worthwhile as an introduction to Bob Marley's music and indeed reggae in general. Just check the track listing.

Also, the versions of the songs to be found here are fantastic and each musician is really impressive. Anyone who says that reggae is formulated, boring or predictable has yet to give this album a chance. This version of The Wailers has a real western/rock oriented approach to the music and it's really easy to hear why they have begun to appeal to a rock audience. Besides, the playing is fantastic and has plenty of feeling.

You shouldn't any more reasons to buy this album. It is just plain fantastic and made a staunch believer and convert out of me. April 25, 2006

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