Bob Marley : classic or dud?

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Hey, JACK-FM just played "Stir It Up"!

My own personal opinions regarding Marley (don't like him, much) and vocal-dominated reggae in general (ditto) are particularly unilluminating. One thing I'm curious about that may be worth discussing, tho, is: How did Bob Marley become THEE reggae musician in North America, the one with the Top Ten albums and fratboy-popularity? Is it because he wrote stuff with more "melody" (in the Hongro sense) like "No Woman No Cry" or "One Love" - the stuff that gygax called 'pop-reggae'? Or do such songs merely SEEM more accessible & commercial due to their longtime overfamiliarity? (A chicken/egg conundrum.)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 13 March 2006 16:12 (twenty years ago)

I think the answer is these songs connect with anyone, like beatles songs - even with a crusty old reactionary like teddy taylor (less a trustafarian poser than his deeply uncool grandad)

― dr x o'skeleton, Monday, 13 March 2006 16:22 (twenty years ago)

trustafarianism is the stupidest religion of all time.

― o -- (eman), Monday, 13 March 2006 16:42 (twenty years ago)

classic, though I'll agree with the "over-iconicized" charge from upthread. I've been really enjoying the early ska and rock steady (1st disc of the Songs of Freedom box set. "Simmer Down", "I'm Still
Waitning", "Bus Dem Shut", "Bend Down Low", etc.) I had grown rather bored with Bob, but this stuff has renewed my interest.

― Will (will), Monday, 13 March 2006 16:53 (twenty years ago)

How did Bob Marley become THEE reggae musician in North America, the one with the Top Ten albums and fratboy-popularity?

I think his ascent to What I Mean When I Say "Reggae"hood in the U.S. had a lot to do with the fact that he toured here, and toured hard, and that he did so at the exact moment when both punks and rock geezers (Keith Richards especially) were name-checking reggae. Also, by all reports (and on the recorded evidence), he was incredibly charismatic live, and his band was just murderously good. So he got a running start on everybody. Plus, he had a very sweet singing style, sort of in a Lovers' Reggae mode but more wistful, less treacly.

I think too, yes, that the tunes themselves are ace pop songs - even the earlier stuff ("My Cup" for example) shows he's got a real gift for hooks.

― Thomas Tallis (Tommy), Monday, 13 March 2006 17:37 (twenty years ago)

I'm under the impression that most Americans hadn't even heard of reggae til Clapton covered Marley.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 01:04 (twenty years ago)

From what I've seen, 1972 was the year in which the term began to enter the national consciousness, thanks to that year's smash hits "I Can See Clearly Now" and "Black & White" (Three Dog Night). Or possibly it was only the music press who were hip to it. (And occasionally NOT hip: Greg Shaw repeatedly referred to Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll Part II" as reggae!)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 07:50 (twenty years ago)

It's not so much a case of Marley ripping Perry off as of Perry coaching Marley musically and vocally.

I'm standing by this statement! And I don't hate on Diana Ross and Bob Marley, I quite like both of them (esp. Diana Ross).

― Rotatey Diskers With Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 11:24 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

What is "Bob Marley Anniversary Programme"? It is on at the pictures tomorrow, and me wonders if it is worth the effort.

― PJ Miller, Monday, 25 June 2007 14:49 (eighteen years ago)

Is this what you mean? http://www.odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_info/s81/Covent_Garden/m10733/Bob_Marley__Anniversary_Programme/

― Daniel Giraffe, Monday, 25 June 2007 15:17 (eighteen years ago)

Yes, that's it, only without the Q&A.

― PJ Miller, Monday, 25 June 2007 15:39 (eighteen years ago)

On the hypothetical premise that one owns little to no Marley, and wants to own everything worth playing more than once, what does one buy?

I thought about the boxed set (which is still in print, I believe, or at least track-down-able) but worry about redundancy. I particularly love all the early songs from the '60s, and the live version of the band in the '70s. But what's with all these reissues in recent years?

― Pete Scholtes, Monday, 25 June 2007 22:14 (eighteen years ago)

I don't know much about all the different reissue and boxed set configurations, but the first five albums are all really good.

― Hurting 2, Monday, 25 June 2007 22:21 (eighteen years ago)

This looks pretty great. I've got a few of these from the box set but have always wanted more from this era.

― will, Monday, 25 June 2007 22:26 (eighteen years ago)

I have a soft spot for Rastaman Vibration. The Marley website contains some sound samples, which is nice and helpful: http://web.bobmarley.com/catalogue/index.jsp?catpage=albums.

― Daniel Giraffe, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 15:29 (eighteen years ago)

Has there been a Marley poll yet?

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 16:04 (eighteen years ago)

what a depressing question

― J0hn D., Tuesday, 26 June 2007 16:23 (eighteen years ago)

does momus like polls?

― Tim Ellison, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 16:25 (eighteen years ago)

three months pass...

forget exodus, catch a fire (the non blackwell-interfered version) is the best album he made.

― titchyschneiderMk2, Friday, 5 October 2007 18:34 (eighteen years ago)

I just got out Exodus and Catch a Fire (deluxe edition) from the library this weekend. Like most folks, I've never actually heard Exodus straight through. I listened to Catch a Fire (the Jamaican version) two nights ago and it was a revelation. I'm trying to be proactive about actually learning something about reggae - a genre I've never given close enough attention to. I also picked up records by Culture and the Congos, which are really pretty amazing. i'll listen to Exodus tonight, but it'd be hard to top Catch a Fire.

― kingkongvsgodzilla, Friday, 5 October 2007 23:06 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

BBC sessions = what. a. fucking. awesome. band.

― J0hn D., Thursday, 18 December 2008 06:12 (seventeen years ago)

"I songs was about the plight of the brothers and sisters in Jamaica, mon," Marley said. "But right now, it is the frata mon who need it more."

― mystery girl Pappa found on some random pervy blog (PappaWheelie V), Thursday, 18 December 2008 06:34 (seventeen years ago)