Customer Reviews

The Complete Wailers: 1967-1972, Part 1

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This collection of early Wailers tracks is comprehensively everything the true reggae/ Jamaican music collector needs. A virtually infinite number of Marley cd's have come out with seemingly hundreds of versions of songs unreleased on the major Island recordings, making it impossible to own all the non-Island songs. This box from JAD captures (in much, much better quality) almost every song being sold off on shady labels. I've yet to find any songs on the "All the Best of..." albums that's not on one of the volumes of this series. Another MAJOR added bonus is the collection of never before available Lee "Scratch" Perry "versions" of the original Wailers recordings. (A "version" is the instrumental track of the song, often mixed up a little bit with sound effects and other miscellaneous knick knacks (including beautiful rasta drumming on some tracks in Vol. 2 of the series), which eventually led to the breathtaking genre of dub.) Perry's productions are amazing and essential to reggae, rocksteady, and especially dub fans alike. These version tracks are certainly not filler on the album. They are worth the price of the album alone. This album is far from Babylon capitalism; it is a creative, comprehensive look at the ska and rocksteady beginnings of the Wailers, not only in style, but also in the very same songs they would record as reggae tracks a few years later, as well as a look at the dub production beginnings of Scratch Perry. With the original roots of classic Marley cuts, personal religious non-reggae hymns, covers of classic funk and soul songs, and killer proto-dub, this album is crucial.

I can't fathom the low-star reviews on this set. Maybe some people think Bob Marley only played reggae and are looking only for that specific sound. Actually, he went through the whole spectrum of ska, rocksteady, reggae, roots, etc. Some of my favorite work is from his ska and rocksteady periods. These discs are from the classic rocksteady period, with great beats, lovely background vocals, soulful Bob Marley leads, and a strong influence from soul music.

Some of my favorite tracks:

Rock to the Rock
Rocking Steady
Soul Rebel
Put it On
Don't Rock My Boat
This Train

This is some of my favorite Wailers music of all time. IMHO, you can't go wrong with these 3 discs, especially if you can pick them up for $18 - 20.

This box set contains some classic compositions from all of The Wailers. Many of these songs are original versions of songs which would later be recut. Included in these are Marley's Bend Down Low (Later featured on the Natty Dread Album), Put It On (Recut again for Leslie Kong and then recorder for the third time in 1973 for the Burnin' album), Don't Rock My Boat (Later appears on the Kaya album as Satisfy My Soul). Peter Tosh has many original versions of 70's and 80's hits contained here are Stop That Train (Appears on The Wailers Island Deput Catch A Fire and again on Peter Tosh's Mystic Man Album), Soon Come (Apeears on the Bush Doctor Album), and Can't You See (Appearing on the Mystic Man Album). Even Bunny Wailer has an older version of This Train (Would later appear on his deput solo album Blackheart Man). Apart from these are many classic tracks which are a must have for all Wailers fans. This Box Set contains some of the best rocksteady matierial available. Truly brilliant.

Anyone who gave this set a poor review is not a true Marley fan and does not understand anything about Bob Marley's estate and who is profiting from this box set. THE VAST MAJORITY of the profits from this set GO DIRECTLY TO THE ESTATES of BOB MARLEY, PETER TOSH, and BUNNY WAILER. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. This is one of the few earlier Marley compilations where Bob and the rest of the Wailers are being given PROPER ROYALTIES. I know for a fact that this is the case as I have had an e-mail correspondence with Mr. Roger Steffens, the world's foremost expert on Bob Marley as well as one of the gentlemen who compiled this set. THIS IS AN AMAZING SET - no other Bob Marley collection encompasses his earlier work as well as this one. I would also STRONGLY SUGGEST picking up Part II, which is just as good! One Heart.

This is a terrific set. Many of the tracks are previously unreleased or unreleased outside Jamaica. The mixes are original, not redone with new instruments like some box sets. This is the birth of reggae, folks, raw and uncut. Bob working the whole sound out, including the alternate ways he could have gone.

I look forward to Part 2 of this series. I'll buy it immediately

Just to hear Bob doing James Brown is so great, and "Sugar Sugar" is tremendous. "Selassie is the Chapel" with Bob on acoustic guitar acompanied only by Nyabinghi drums, is simply exquisite, no matter who may be profiting from this. The mastering is as good as possible, all things considered, (using the original 45s) and the liner notes are thorough, giving full credits, even including quotes and interviews from Lee Perry, Familyman and others. This is for serious early Wailers heads who are sick of the poorly produced ripoff bootlegs out there. If you are used to the "slick" Island recordings, this may not be your thing, but if you really love Bob and especially love hearing Peter, Bunny and Bob (and sometimes Rita) do their sweet, early (pre-Scratch) harmonizing, this is the set. Also the two other box sets by JAD records ("Complete...") are equally wonderful. The dub versions of the Lee Perry set (volume 2) are some of the best stuff ever. Yes, Danny Sims has shown himself to be exploitative and disrespectful in general and of Jamaican musicians in particular (this is even alluded to in the liner notes!) but overall, well done on the part of Bruno Blum, the coordinator, and if you are serious about early Wailers, well worth the money.

This album has everything a true Wailer fan wants. I must say that this album is not for someone looking for thier hits or more popular tracks. However, if you want to hear the Wailers before the reggae genre was defined, this is the best buy. The sound is not typical wailers reggae, it is more on the roots side. If you cant afford it save up and get it.

The Bob Marley box set is so relaxing to listen to when you are about to go to bed, or just feel like some nice-paced music. The lyrics are easy to understand, and Bob's voice is so clear. This is probably one of the best box sets ever made, and it makes me appreciate Bob Marley's music more than ever.

To hear this CD trashed by such amateur reggae listeners is an insult to those of us who can appreciate Bob's entire career---not just what appears on "Legend." There is so much depth and musical innovation in this set that I've just purchased Vol. 2 as a natural compliment. Sure, some of the tracks are raw and unpolished, but that's what makes it such a fabulous recording! Alternate versions of "Bend Down Low," "Rockin' Steady" and "Put it On", plus a list of previously unreleased tracks such as "Sugar Sugar," "Rock to the Rock" and "Nice Time" make this collection a must-have for a "true" Bob Marley fan. I would venture to say that these early recordings are even more influential and moving than the later recordings on Tuff Gong. All in all, this was one of the best multi-CD collections I've ever purchased. Don't deprive yourself of this exquisite collection based on these other misguided reviews.

This box set focuses on Marley trying to bring the Wailers to an International scene. Disc 1 is probably the best featuring Marley from 1968, some famous tracks, but alternate, or original. Disc 2 is not so famous, but really good. And Disc 3 features 4 versions and great songs from 1970. Trust Me! Buy this box set if your the real Marley fan. And like work before the Catch a Fire or Soul Rebels album. If your just familliar with Legend and those songs these songs will sound odd. And the Box set is digitally remastered and sound good.