Blackheart Man [Original recording remastered]

Bunny Wailer

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 30, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1976
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B000068PQ8
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,839 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Blackheart Man

2. Fighting Against Convictions

3. The Opressed Song

4. Fig Tree

5. Dream Land

6. Rasta Man

7. Reincarnated Souls

8. Armagideon (Armagedon)

9. Bide Up

10. This Train

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In praise of the path not taken, May 29, 2003

By	"sacramentoscrivners" (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews

In 1976, Bunny Wailer undoubtedly took stock of his career and his circumstances. In the wake of the release of "Catch A Fire," which would supposedly (and finally) begin the commercial ascendency of the Wailers, Bunny instead saw the Wailers in tatters. The political emergence of the Jamaican underclass, kickstarted by street musicians such as the Wailers, had been paid for in blood: the underclass now were being made simply to choose sides in Jamaica's near-civil war of '76-77, liberation deferred. But perhaps most daunting for Bunny was life in Kingston society as a marked man: police harassement (he did time in Kingston's notorious General Penitentiary) may have been the least of his problems. Sadly, the greatest danger probably came from his own: as Peter Tosh, Carly and Family Man Barrett, and King Tubby (all murdered in Kingston), and of course Bob (who survived when the gunmen came for him), so painfully attest, commercial success in the ghetto simply makes one a target for gangsters and gunmen.

But there was more: a deeply spiritual man, Bunny's predicament, difficult if not impossible in the secular world, would have to reconciled with Rasta doctrine. Unfortunately, this period in Jamaica witnessed the emergence of divisions between more well-to-do uptown Rastas and their shantytown brethren. It was certainly a time of false prophets, and Rasta doctrine was in confusion.

Praise Jah, Bunny Wailer was up to the task. Bunny could have simply ignored the obvious, insulated himself from Kingston society, and rested on his Wailers laurels. But Bunny came head-on. Instead of providing yet another chronicle of the drama of the moment, or choosing sides, Blackheart Man's songs are much more. Bunny sees the moment beyond the here-and-now, as another iteration of a timeless condition, afflicting all, it the burden of being alive. From this perspective, Bunny is able to develop potent, often timeless insights and conclusions, subjects rarely discussed in popular music of any genre.

Certainly another triumph of Blackheart Man is its proclamation and reasoning of Rasta doctrine. Avoiding biblical quotation, Bunny paraphrases the same in a direct, stripped-down style, so plain and heartfelt that his assertions become non-dogmatic. The effect is mesmerizing: even the "non-faithful" must feel the power and wisdom of the lesson.

And check Bunny's courage: after releasing Blackheart Man, Bunny remained in Jamaica (goodness!), and essentially walked away from fame as an ex-Wailer or as a now-important solo artist, releasing no new material until the early '80s. But Bunny Wailer achieved the most precious reward, avoiding co-option by political forces and violence from ghetto gunmen.

An obvious classic, in context Blackheart Man is as amazing in its ambition as it is in its achievement. And make no mistake: the achievement here is of the highest order.

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are You Ready For Bunny Wailer?, December 30, 2004

By	Jabari Adisa (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like most of us, you'll start appreciating Bob Marley as the centralized, most public face of The Wailers. You'll study and love his music and his lyrics and his pop sensibilities. You'll read the various books chronicling his life and lyrics and you'll have a respectable collection of t-shirts and rare tracks. Eventually, you'll become curious about Peter Tosh and learn to appreciate the steadfastness of his Pan-African political perspective and 'take no prisoners' musical approach that incorporates Rock and Blues. You'll learn to understand his deeper contributions to the original Wailers. After a few years, you'll be a learned student of Marley and Tosh. If you are truly devoted to the subject you'll then graduate to Bunny Wailer and learn that he personifies the best of both Marley and Tosh and outshines them both with his spiritual perspective, musical voice, lyrical texture, sense of melody and the absolute 'Jamaican-ness' of the end product. You'll discover that Bunny Wailer was the true, understated ego-less visionary of The Wailers - his desire to stay in Jamaica while Marley was courting the African-American R&B audience, and Tosh was rubbing elbows with British rock stars will reveal itself as a prescient act of well-guided self-determination. Each Wailer was perfect in their own musical right, and it would be foolish to say that any was more or less important than the others. However, as with any creative body, there's the obvious popular exoteric value and only a few will discern the less obvious esoteric qualities. What I've described above is the path to Wailers enlightenment (Bob to Peter to Bunny). Only after considering the Wailers' canon can you call yourself a true student of The Wailers. If you're ready, start with Blackheart Man. Learn to listen to Bunny Wailer, your life will be better as a result and you'll find yourself unable to listen to the music of the original Wailers without hearing his now-obvious influence.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars even if you don't like reggae you need to get this, February 19, 2005

By	"jeffrodesiac" (b-town) - See all my reviews

This is one of the top 10 recordings of all time without a doubt. All the songs have deep meanings, and if you listen quite carefully you will hear what I mean. This is Bunny's first solo effort and it is a must have. A real gem. Bob Marley actually loaned most of his band including the Barrett brothers to lay down "riddims" for this record, so the instrumentation is superb. This is a great great cd, and once you listen to it, you will listen to it over and over again. I have a 5 disc cd changer, and once I inserted this disc into it 3 years ago, it has never left. Check out the positive vibes on this disc even if you don't like reggae.