Heroes of Classic Jamaican Ska and Reggae Pay A Startling New Tribute To Bob Marley
In the near-45 years since Bob Marley’s death, just 36 years old, on May 11, 1981, the Jamaican reggae superstar’s influence and impact has only ever grown more pronounced.
No longer bound by the strictures of the music industry; nor competing with successive younger generations for relevance or hits, Marley’s music stands encapsulated as an unimpeachable testament to the genius, awareness and above all, consciousness that hallmarked so much of his music. From the earliest days of the ska-fired Wailers, to his ultimate coronation as reggae’s greatest star, Marley’s music spoke loudest to the people who most needed to hear it, regardless of race, creed or nationality.
There have been many musical tributes to Marley in the past. December 5, however, sees the release of One Love – A Tribute To Bob Marley, and it is truly one of the most significant of them all, as the cream of his 1960s and 1970s contemporaries come together with their own newly-recorded vision of some of his greatest compositions.
Across 15 tracks, Marley’s entire career is represented, from “Simmer Down,” a Jamaican hit back in 1964, and given a fabulous work-over by Josey Wales; through to Jah Mason’s supreme take on “Buffalo Soldier,” a song Marley recorded in 1980 but which remained unreleased until 1983 – when it became one of his biggest hits of all.
In between times, another ska era smash “Ska Jerk” (granted new life by fellow ska superstar Roy Panton), “Stir It Up” (roots legend Johnny Clarke), “Could You Be Loved” (Junior Kelly), “No Woman No Cry” (the mighty Stranger Cole), “Roots Rock Reggae” (Eek-A-Mouse), “Redemption Song” (Admiral Bailey) and “Iron Lion Zion” (delivered by Pam Hall, herself a latter-day member of Marley’s I-Threes backing singers) flawlessly illustrate Marley’s songwriting at its finest.
Given especial attention, too, is Marley’s epochal 1977 album Exodus – widely acclaimed as the greatest of all his records, and the home to some of his most memorable hits.
No less than four tracks here are pulled from that record, among them Prince Alla’s breathtaking opener, “Natural Mystic,” Horace Andy and UK dub master Jah Wobble’s “Three Little Birds,” Errol Dunkley’s “Waiting In Vain” and reggae-gospel supremo George Nooks’ “One Love.” In these hands, as much as they were in Marley’s own, the majesty of the music rings out.
Available for pre-orders from today, One Love – A Tribute To Bob Marley will be released on CD, vinyl and digital on December 5.
But if you cannot wait that long, visit
cleorecs.com and search out brand new albums from many of the artists featured on this remarkable album, including
Prince Alla, Junior Kelly,
Eek-A-Mouse,
Jah Mason,
Johnny Clarke,
Horace Andy & Jah Wobble, Errol Dunkley, Stranger Cole,
Josey Wales,
George Nooks and
Roy Panton.
Track listing
1. Natural Mystic – Prince Alla
2. Could You Be Loved – Junior Kelly
3. Roots, Rock, Reggae – Eek-A-Mouse
4. Buffalo Soldier – Jah Mason
5. Stir It Up – Johnny Clarke
6. Three Little Birds – Horace Andy & Jah Wobble
7. Redemption Song – Admiral Bailey
8. Iron Lion Zion – Pam Hall
9. Waiting In Vain – Errol Dunkley
10. No Woman No Cry – Stranger Cole
11. Is This Love? – Carl Dawkins
12. Simmer Down – Josey Wales
13. One Love – George Nooks
14. Ska Jerk – Roy Panton
15. Crazy Baldhead – Johnny Clarke
