Babylon By Bus [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Bob Marley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 31, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1978
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B00005MK9Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,267 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #35 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > Jamaica

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Bob Marley's second live album, 1978's Babylon by Bus, had to be pretty damned good to match the incandescence of 1975's Live!. But with glorious performances on songs like "Punky Reggae Party," "Jamming," and "Is This Love?" Bob Marley and the Wailers came close to equaling Live!. Maybe there wasn't quite the same amount of inspiration, but the Wailers had matured into a tight unit, and Marley was a charismatic performer, as this set captured only too well. And with Marley still at the height of his writing powers, there definitely wasn't a dud song in the bunch. Not so much bus travel as limousine listening, this specially remastered edition makes the glory of the original release even clearer. --Chris Nickson

Product Description

1978 live album from the Reggae legend. The tracks on this album, with two exceptions, were taken from the Pavillon de Paris concerts over three nights in June, 1978, during the Kaya Tour.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best "live" albums. Ever. August 10, 2003

By Paul Allaer TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

"Babylon by Bus" was, when originally issued in 1978, the second official live album by Bob Marley (1975's "Live" being the first). "Live" of course is best known for the definitive version of "No Woman No Cry", but I will go out on a limb here, and suggest that "Babylon by Bus" is not only better than "Live", but one of the best live albums, ever.

Things immediately kick off with a blaze with "Rastaman Vibration", and the party never stops from there. Bob's backup band and singers are in top form througout. Highlights are many, including "Punky Reggae Party", "Rate Race" (surprisingly, perhaps, a tune written by Rita Marley, Bob's wife), "Concrete Jungle" and "Rebel Music". It also contains the better known "Is This Love" and "Jamming".

If there is one Bob Marley I would recommend to anyone, this is clearly the one. Furthermore, at 73 min. (originally a double vinyl album), this is the best bang-for-the-buck Marley album. Essential in anyone's CD collection.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hidden gem April 19, 2005

By Chris Salzer

Format:Audio CD

Although most Marley fans are more than familiar with Babylon by Bus as an exceptional live album that Marley recorded while on tour in Europe (mostly recorded in Paris) in 1977-78, many of the more pedestrian fans remain completely unaware of its existence. War/No More Trouble, with Marley exhibiting such unparalleled and genuine passion during its performance, makes for undoubtedly the most powerful song on this CD. And, suffice it to say, all of the other 'hit' songs do not disappoint by any stretch. A must own for any true Marley fan -- period.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Live Marley April 6, 2005

By Count Bassie

Format:Audio CD

I rarely give 5 star ratings so take this seriously. I am usually critcal of live recordings due to poor sound quality or unbalanced mixes. This is not only a great performance with great sound quality but my favorite Marley album. In fact, it is my favorite reggae album period. Several tracks are even better than the studio version. You will not be disappointed.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Bob Marley March 15, 2006

By Riley

Format:Audio CD

At least one of the earlier reviews recommends novice listeners start with this cd before going to the greatest hits package. I would say that the novice would do well to buy this package and Legend (the original single disc is recommended here because I do not own the new expanded version and cannot comment on its contents).
I still recommend this cd if you are looking to move beyond the novice level.
So, anyone with any interest in Bob Marley should own Babylon by Bus.
These songs were taken from numerous stops on his 1977/78 tour of Europe but the sequence sounds like one big show. This is not the intimate show that you get on something like Live at the Roxy - it's music festival big. The overall feeling reminds me of reggae festivals we used to have at the beach when I was growing up on the coast of NC.
The atmosphere is big but Marley and the band never seem overwhelmed as they rise to the occasion on each song. The audience is taken along on a fantastic reggae trip.
Don't let any more time pass without these great performances in your collection.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a classic recording that you should own February 20, 2005

By wailerjeffro

Format:Audio CD

This is not an actual live concert, but rather 2 or 3 from the Bob Marley and the Wailers 1977-78 tours of Europe. During this time period the band was gaining much more popularity. The Wailers were much bigger in Europe than they were here in the states, but none the less this is still a record that should be purchased by anyone wanting to start a reggae collection. This was the first Bob Marley and the Wailers cd I puchased, and after listening to it I couldn't stop. If you think the Wailers are good in the studio, they will blow you away with their live performances here. This cd is of very good quality, and the rythm section of the Barret brothers dominates everything. There are some great bass lines, and some even better drumming displayed on this record. I highly reccommend this to anyone who is a fan of the Wailers, and even if you aren't a fan this will make you into a fan.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Live Reggae Album Ever Made February 19, 2005

By Spencer Pennington

Format:Audio CD

"Babylon By Bus" captures Bob Marley & the Wailers in the middle of the European leg of the "Kaya" World Tour in 1978. The album shows the band performing with amazing, spellbinding energy. Nearly every hit from the Marley repertoire up to that point in his career is here from "Stir It Up" to "Is This Love". This shows Marley near the height of his career, having become a musical icon all over the world as he thrust reggae into the mainstream of music just two years earlier with "Rastaman Vibration".

The best song on the album is the closing track, "Jamming," with a stellar guitar solo. Also outstanding with an even more impressive guitar solo is "Heathen". This album is phenomenal, and in my opinion, a great addition to, and better than 1975's "Live!" album. If you buy this, you won't be disappointed in the least.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have reggae CD September 21, 2001

By M. Hilton

Format:Audio CD

I'm just a casual reggae fan, I'll admit, and I much prefer hearing it played live to listening to records (my former home in North Carolina made that possible fairly often). Maybe that's why I love this CD so much. Legend culls Marley's biggest hits, but it's a grab bag and feels like it. However, this CD is a coherent piece that captures the artist's true soul, with definitive versions of many classics that didn't make it onto Legend, like "Lively Up Yourself" and "Rebel Music."

Those who love 20th-century music, not just reggae, should add this to their collections as one of its towering works. Enough said.