Sanctuary Records Group - Trojan

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Bob Marley and the Wailers- African Herbsman

Released on 19 May 2003.

"Originally issued by Trojan as a belated follow-up to 'Soul Rebels' in 1973, 'African Herbsman' gathered the remainder of the group's finest work for Lee Perry, along with their two best-selling self-produced sides, 'Trenchtown Rock' and 'Lively Up Yourself'. Now, thirty years since its original release, the album receives a long over-due make-over. The track-listing has been augmented by 10 bonus tracks, selected by Reggae music historian, David Katz, who contributes further to the release with a fascinating and informative essay on the album and its creators"

This is one of THE great albums coming at the end of the Lee Perry era and before the emergence into cultural icon and superstar. Some of these cuts will be known for earlier workings and some when they were recut in the 'superstar' period. Nonetheless as a piece at the time this is superb. The cuts are real reggae, bass heavy, sparse and unique, and sounding nice and clear here.

All now well known tracks Lively Up Yourself of which this is truly the best version, the biblical and thought provoking anthem Small Axe, Duppy Conqeror with typical Wailer harmony (Bunny and Tosh), when it hits you you feel no pain Trenchtown Rock, the emerging Africanism and Rasta cultured African Herbsman. All of these tracks are faultless, different individually, rhythmically and lyrically, but all absolutely groundbreaking.

Not that the remaining cuts are inferior at all with the joyous Curtis Mayfield's keep on Moving there is no let up. The observant Fussing and Fighting plea and when mellowed down Stand Alone is a great ballad. Don't rock the boat is another slow sparse track with Bob virtually alone.

'Put it on' originally cut at Studio one but this one getting a Lee Perry makeover. Starts off slow and out of nothing but a heavy beat and impassioned chorus builds and builds. Contains a great hidden sax. Sun is shining is a track that has gained a lot of popularity lately with Peter (apparently) on melodica. Kaya later to become an album title track is a melodic and ska derivative homage.

Bunny Wailer has a great soulful voice and I am a great fan and he takes lead on Ridin High and Brain Washing neither of which particularly and unfortunately do him justice. Peter Tosh takes the lead on the pleadinf and fasetr 400 years.

Onto the bonus tracks Memphis contains Peter on melodica. Guava Jelly is referred to in the notes but is not there! A couple of dub versions of Axe, Duppy and Trenchtown with Big Youth on the DJ version of Moving. Kep on Skanking with Bob but typical Lee Perry dubs and unpredictability. Copasetic is the mad Upsetter version mix, and an alternativ take on Kaya.

But hey the Tommy McCook instrumental of Lively is a monster. This one just blew me away for some reason.

A massive masive album enhanced by the bonus tracks.

Tracks

Lively Up Yourself

  Small Axe

  Duppy Conqueror

  Trenchtown Rock

  African Herbsman

  Keep On Moving

  Fussing And Fighting

  Stand Alone

  All In One (Medley, Part 1)

  Don’t Rock The Boat

  Put It On

  Sun Is Shining

  Kaya

  Riding High

  Brain Washing

  Four Hundred Years

  BONUS TRACKS:

  Memphis - The Upsetters

  Live (Lively Up Yourself Version)

  More Axe - Bob Marley

  The Axe Man (Small Axe Version) - The Upsetters

  Zig Zag (Duppy Conqueror Version) - The Upsetters

  Grooving Kingston 12 (Trench Town Rock Version) - Bob Marley & The Wailers

  Moving Version - Big Youth

  Keep On Skanking - Bob Marley & The Wailers

  Copasetic (All In One Version) - The Upsetters

  Kaya Version 2 - Bob Marley & The Wai

 

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