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Bob Marley - Songs of Freedom |
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ALBUM REVIEWSPick of the Chick: Our Favorite Releases, 1999-Present |
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Worn out that Bob Marley Legend CD yet? Looking for more Marley to beef up your collection? You're in luck. Island Records has just reissued Songs of Freedom, a four-disc box set spanning Marley's career. The set has been out of print since 1992, and used copies were fetching high dollars from collectors. That's not surprising, considering how special this box set is. Disc One covers Marley & The Wailer's ska years and features great cuts like "Simmer Down" and the erotic "Bend Down Low." This is first wave ska that laid the groundwork for both the 2-Tone movement of the late '70s and the current ska revival. The first disc also highlights the band's "rock steady" period, where their songs shifted from upbeat ska rhythms to softer, mellower grooves. Many earlier versions of Marley's classics appear here, including "Stir It Up," "Satisfy My Soul" (originally titled "Don't Rock The Boat"), and a punchy "One Love" that tends to induce uncontrollable dancing. Disc Two marks a crucial thematic transition for Marley, whose songs took on more of a political and social slant in the early '70s. This disc also marks the musical transition that occurred when Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left the band in 1973. The most audible result is the addition of the I-Threes, a female trio of backing vocalists who sweeten up many of Marley's tunes. The previously unreleased track "High Tide Or Low Tide" appears on Disc Two as well and stands as one the greatest Marley songs ever to emerge from the vaults. The last two discs of the box set are loaded with classic cuts from Marley's later years and include 12-inch versions of Marley standards, such as "Exodus," "Could You Be Loved," and "One Love/People Get Ready." One of the highlights is the 12-inch version of "Jammin'," which lives up to its title in this extended format. Songs of Freedom comes with an informative booklet that details Marley's history and provides great notes on each track. The set's chronological song sequencing also helps to give his influential music a historic perspective. There are enough goodies on Songs of Freedom to satisfy the soul of both the Marley completist and the novice looking beyond Legend. PIGEONHOLE:
Groundbreaking ska and reggae from a music legend.
Andrew Helminger |
BOB MARLEY
