Customer Reviews

Complete Wailers 2: 1967-72

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Don't be put off by the slurs dished out by the New York so-called Reggae fan and the various aliases he uses on this and other reviews of the accompanying CD's in this series. This is not another shady repackaging of Marley cast offs like so many before it. This is finally a decent collection of the seminal Lee Perry originals recorded by The Wailers in Jamaica before signing to Island. Absolute solid gold reggae and true reggae fans know that when they hear/see it. Roger Steffens would never in a million years put his name to another substandard cash-in. Stick to 'Legend' Mr Rhode Island/NYC and leave the really good Marley stuff to people who know what they're talking about!

This box set is a must have for any Bob Marley fan. The music is beautifully produced and engineered to capture that vinyl record feel, from which these songs were remastered. the melody produced by Marly and the original wailers, including Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Family man is exquisite, soulful, and delicate while remaining powerful.

This CD set is absolutely awesome!!! Here is Bob Marley in his formative years, before he became widely known. Here is raw effort and enthusiasm; the product of a hard-working musician working hard. This CD portrays not only the birth of a legendary musician, but the birth of an entire genre of music. Bob's music is uplifting, easygoing, feel-good, and spiritual notwithstanding that his lyrics address primarily the plight of the downtrodden. I would rarely give any CD a five star rating, but I would give this one six stars if I could. I own over a thousand CDs and this is clearly one of my best.

While this volume of the Complete Wailers set offers a nice perspective of the original recordings of the Wailers, it is made much more impresive by the fine tracks of producer/studio legend Lee "Scratch" Perry. Scratch's versions show his true genius at the dials and the inevitable evolution of dub. This album should impress dub fans much more than it impresses reggae fans. It is far from the sleepy spacey dub of Tubby and his disciples (which is amazingly beautiful in its own way, don't get me wrong). Perry's versions show the up-beat dance-able potential of instrumental reggae. Of special note are the versions on disc 3 of Kaya and Small Axe (especially Axe Man which features some seriously killer nyabinghi drumming). Wailers fans, buy Vol. 1 of this series. Dub fans, buy Vol. 2. Music fans, buy both!

This is a great Bob Marley compilation. Yes, the sound quality is mediocre, but that's due to the lack of hi-tech equipment in the Jamacian studios. People need to realize that most reggae recordings (especially in the early 70's) were done on cheap 2 tracks. There was no Electric Lady studios or Sound Factory in Jamacia. Even if there was, most musicians would not be able to afford the studio time. With that said, anybody that cares to delve deeper into early reggae must pick this up. It has some very classic songs (African Herbsman, Fussing and Fighting, Brainwashing). The Wailers and Lee Perry were creating some of the best reggae of all time. Most of the music here was the blueprint for reggae over the next decade. This is a must for any serious collector of reggae music. Anybody that dismisses these recordings does not know reggae music period!!!!!! Take a risk and buy this cd, you will not be disappointed.

This box set is amazing. It contains some of the most uplifting relaxing tracks the Wailers ever cut. Like the other box sets from this collection many of the songs are original versions of later famouse tunes. Kaya was later the name for Bob Marley & The Wailers 1978 album. Its a classic ganja homage. Keep On Moving is another great song. In fact i like the version on this CD more than the version from the late 70's. All 3 Wailers sing lead on it and it sounds magnificent. Every single song is good on this box set i recommend it to all early Wailers fans or any fan of older Jamaican Music.

Out of the 8 cd's of the Complete Wailers 1967-1972 collection, this may be the best set. The Soul Rebels album and the Soul Revolution Part II album showcase 2 of the Wailers best albums ever. And the excellent More Axe cd is a collection of singles and alternate tracks released in 1970-71 including an unreleased take of "Kaya", and the raraties of "Run for Cover", "Man to Man", and the great "All in One", and Curtis Mayfield's "Long Long Winter". All tracks produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry, and all tracks are excellent. Their are also some crucial dubs on this set. "It's Alright", Rebels Hop", "Reaction", "Put it On", "Sun is Shining", "Long Long Winter", and "Nicoteen" are awesome dubs. You dont find much better reggae let alone music than this. This is the best quality you'll find out there of this music, and only Marvin Gaye could relate to the message the Wailers were sending through their music at this time.

The Soul Rebels, Soul Revolution, and More Axe recordings that make up most of the box set are real gems. Early, gritty Wailers finding their way and their sound. But... there is a lot of dub and instrumental versions that I can live without. I am a complete amateur when it comes to dub, Lee Perry, and Jamaican music in general. My only real knowledge of reggae comes from the Wailers Island work, so take my opinion with a grain of salt (with lots of grains...)
For me, the vocals are a huge part of the Wailers appeal. The lyrics, and the voices of Bob, Bunny, and Peter have always moved me. Take them away, and I find myself missing them and filling in the words in my head to complete the sound. This in no way detracts from the original versions of the tracks that make up this set. The sound quality is dodgy is parts, but who cares? The genius of Bob, Peter, Bunny and the Barretts shine through loud and clear. If you want polished, pick up Confrontation.
4 stars, not 5, but only because I usually pop out each CD about half way through when the instrumentals start...

If you want to listen to great old bob marley recordings with the original wailers this is for you. If you only like the late sevendies sold old bob marley, which does deffinatly hold it's own, stay away from this series. This is the true music of the gehto, real, gritty, poor, urban, jamaican, REGGAE.

Bob Marley fought all his days to keep these old studio runnings in the trashbin where they belong, but once Bob was in his grave, the ghouls rose from behind the headstones in the cemetery to make money off Bob's own personal rejects! Yes-I, hear me out! Show nuff respect for Bob and his bredred and buy LEGEND, not this--the stones that the builder himself refused!