Live Forever: The Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh PA September 23, 1980 [2 CD Deluxe Edition]

Bob Marley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: TUFF GONG / UMGD
• ASIN: B0042KZJ46
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,023 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #7 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > International Rap
  • #28 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > General
  • #28 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > General AAS

Editorial Reviews

From the Artist

"Bob's music has always conveyed a message of hope, unity and love. It has brought countless people together as it did that night 30 years ago in Pittsburgh. To hear that music today and to be able to share it with a new generation shows that Bob is as relevant today as he was 30 years ago," says Rita Marley.

Product Description

2011 two CD live archive release. Recorded 30 years ago while Marley was touring in support of his album Uprising, Live Forever is Bob Marley's last recorded concert. This never before released audio collection offers an incredible snapshot of one of music's most influential performers. This unforgettable concert contains unique performances of "No Woman No Cry," "Jammin'," and "Is This Love," to name a few, and depicts a musical innovator and inspiration to people of many cultures and generations. This spectacular audio documentary Live Forever, also immortalizes the last song Marley ever performed live in concert: "Get Up Stand Up," his rally cry for equality.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A GOOD FIERCE EXPERIENCE OF MARLEY AND HIS BAND LIVE February 1, 2011

By Stuart Jefferson TOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

Two discs 49,41 minutes each approximately. The bonus disc contains approximately 28 minutes of music, plus an 8+ minute Marley family interview (enhanced video), from 2010. The audio tracks on the bonus disc (available only from Best Buy for a limited time) are-"I Know A Place", "Punky Reggae Party" (12" version), "Smile Jamaica", "Who Colt The Game", and "Keep On Moving". This set hovers between 4.5 and 5 stars. The sound is very good, taken directly from the mixing board at the concert. The only exceptions are tracks 7 and 8 on the second disc, which are from "secondary" sources due to the soundboard tape running out. These two tracks "Work" and "Get Up Stand Up", are a bit distant and muddy sounding-think fairly good bootleg quality, which is a shame because "Get Up Stand Up" (especially) is a stand out rendition. But the whole concert was originally not intended for general release, rather it was taped so Marley and the band could have a record of this (among others) night from the tour. The discs are slipped inside a tri-fold cardboard holder. The ten page booklet contains information on the concert and a number of good photos of Marley and the band. The band consists of Marley, Carlton Barrett-drums, Aston "Family Man" Barrett-bass, Junior Marvin-lead guitar, Al Anderson-lead guitar, Alvin Patterson-percussion, Earl Lindo-keyboards, Tyrone Downie-keybpoards, and the I Threes, Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths, and Rita Marley-background vocals.

This concert, Marley's last, is a very fine example of Bob Marley and his friends/musicians in concert. Arguably not as fierce as "Babylon By Bus" or the even earlier "Live!" (both from the 70's), it's still an awesome listening experience for Marley followers. Physically collapsing a few days earlier, Marley nonetheless decided to honor his commitment in Pittsburgh in 1980. Marley's vocals are strong with conviction, and immediate, his band equally on the money-heavy and full-sounding, following Marley wherever he led.

The songs are well known to Marley followers-"Natural Mystic", "Positive Vibration", "Them Belly Full", "Crazy Baldhead", "Exodus", "Redemption Song", "Is This Love", and so on. Almost immediately after greeting the crowd, Marley and the band launch into "Natural Mystic" and never let up. "Them Belly Full" is especially fine, with an immediateness and power belying Marley's health problems. There are a number of fine renditions of familiar tracks ("Jamming", "Exodus", "Get Up Stand Up"), and long time fans (like me) will have their own favorites.

If you have followed Marley through the years, this will be a welcome addition to your Marley library. If you're new to this music and/or Marley, this set, along with the previously mentioned live releases will tell you all you need to know about Bob Marley in concert. This is, sadly, a fitting end to Marley's career. Hearing this, you wonder what else we would have been privileged to hear from this great artist.

AS OF TODAY'S DATE, 02-08-11, for anyone in my neck of the woods, the 3 DISC VERSION OF THIS SET IS STILL AVAILABLE at the Mission Valley area Best Buy. The store had quite a few in the racks. Happy hunting!

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just like I remember the show February 1, 2011

By David M. Scott

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was fortunate to have been at this show. With some friends from Kenyon College we drove 4 hours to Pittsburgh in a small cramped car filled with certain commodities to get us psyched up.

Bob put on a terrific show and this album captures it. What memories.

The i-Threes opened and I still recall them swaying in time to the music. I recall they did three songs before Bob came out to thunderous applause. He was dancing the entire 90 minutes except for the acoustic Redemption Song which he performed solo and in a laid back manner.

Nobody in the audience knew that Bob was sick. His energy level was extremely high and he had total command of the audience.

PS - If anyone from the label reads this, I have some great photos from the show. I was shooting with a Nikon Telephoto lens and we were down front for the encore.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must own for Marley fans! February 1, 2011

By David N.

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This new live release is a must own for Bob Marley fans. Recorded on September 23, 1980, this was Bob Marley's last performance. This show was released many years ago on a Japanese import entitled One Day of Bob Marley. The quality of the Japanese import was quite good. However, this new release of the same concert is much better. The import version didn't include Redemption Song, Work, and Get Up Stand Up. This concert was part of Bob Marley's Uprising Tour, to support the Uprising release. Marley performed two shows at Madison Square Garden prior to this show. While in New York, Marley collapsed while jogging. He was told to cancel the remaining part of his U.S. tour, but ended up doing one final show, the Pittsburgh performance. For being over 30 years old, this live recording sounds excellent. This incredible performance is a must have for your Marley collection.

*Super Deluxe Edition Notes*

The Super Deluxe Edition includes a 2 CD set of the concert, 3 180-gram audiophile LP's of the concert, and a reproduction of the Uprising tour program.