Catch a Fire | 
| Artist: Bob Marley & The Wailers
Label: Island
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $9.42
You Save: $4.56 (33%)
New (42) Used (19) from $6.88
Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 4090
Format: Extra Tracks, Original Recording Reissued, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 548893
UPC: 731454889322
EAN: 0731454889322
ASIN: B00005KB9T
Release Date: June 12, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Concrete Jungle | | • | Slave Driver | | • | 400 Years | | • | Stop That Train | | • | Baby We Got a Date (Rock It Baby) | | • | Stir It Up - Bob Marley, Bob Marley & the Wailers | | • | Kinky Reggae | | • | No More Trouble | | • | Midnight Ravers | | • | High Tide or Low Tide | | • | All Day All Night |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 29 more reviews...
 "Burnin' ", "Catch a Fire" stellar "debuts" never surpassed May 31, 2004
SteppingRZA (USA)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful
In The Wailers' "Catch A Fire" and "Burnin'" (both released in the same year, 1973), the group released two instant classics that they never surpassed in terms of artistry, musicianship, rhythm foundation or edginess. And these two albums were also the last two that the original Wailing Wailers (Marley, Tosh, Bunny) made together.
A blend of new and old (such familiar tracks as "Concrete Jungle," "Slave Driver," "400 Years," "Stop that Train" from "Catch A Fire," and "Put It On," "Small Axe" and "Duppy Conqueror" from "Burnin'" were remakes), these albums were the Wailers first releases with the intent to reach an international, mainstream audience. Blending in some rock influences such as the guitar style, and toning down the bass and drum for more treble sounds to reach the rock audiences in Europe and America, the Wailers debut on Island label snuck up slowly on these listeners, just as the intro to "Concrete Jungle" slowly rolls in, opening the "Catch A Fire" album. There may be some lesser, lighter moments on both albums, but no songs are throwaway, no songs are filler.
Sadly, despite being full of gems and instant Wailers classics, original members Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left to start solo careers, feeling they were in the shadow of Bob, and had their own stories to tell musically. It was more unfortunate, because Bob Marley and the Wailers (as the group became known) never surpassed the quality of these albums on later efforts. With Tosh's departure went the edgy, bassy rhythm sounds, and with both Bunny and Tosh went the delectable harmonies they provided behind Bob's lead vocals. If there are only two albums in the Wailers library of music, they go by the names "Catch A Fire" and "Burnin'." They both had a stark, unadulterated emotion and edge that Bob Marley's more pop-influenced efforts lack. With the departures of Tosh and Bunny, it felt as if a light was being extinguished. But listening to these albums again, makes me remember back to a time, when the childhood friends were like brothers, making music together until the sun came up. Listening to these albums is bittersweet, but I can still relive those times listening to the sweet, harmonious music they made together, as family, reminiscing to a time when something truly mystical, magical was happening in the studio. But with the breakup of the original Wailing Wailers, the circle was broken, the fire doused, and what once was one, was splintered into three, to never join back together again. "In the ghetto, bitter was sweet....."
When is a "deluxe" edition not a "deluxe" edition...? June 16, 2001
R. Riis (NY)
34 out of 41 found this review helpful
Don't you love it when a record company puts out a "Deluxe Edition" of an album (such as is the case with "Catch a Fire" some) and then six months later puts out a reissue of the same album with bonus tracks? Tacking on two extra tracks to the U.S. mix of "Catch a Fire" gives Marley fans a dilemma : the "Deluxe Edition" or this edition? I don't think Bob Marley would have approved of such corporate cynicism. I can't help but rate this CD five stars on its historical and artistic merits (even though I prefer the leaner Jamaican mix on the second disk of the "Deluxe Edition" to the organ-drenched U.S. mix), but I feel cheated neverthless.
Reggae Classic May 7, 2006
Elijah Chingosho (Nairobi, Kenya)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
"Catch a Fire" is an excellent debut album by the Wailers. All the original Wailers are there including Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. Their performance here is electric. The album was released in 1973 and it was this album that got me hooked to reggae music. This is the album that popularized reggae. Wailer fans will find this a treat. Listeners will enjoy the excellent instrumentation: the guitar, keyboards and percussion combined with gentle and soothing vocals to complete an exhilarating picture.
The songs in the album address serious social and political issues. Some of the songs include "Slave Driver", "Concrete Jungle", "Stop that Train", "No More Trouble" and my favourite song on the album "Stir it Up".
For me, this is the best and most creative album by the Wailers with its classic roots reggae. This is great music even for those that are not reggae fans. When I need to lift my spirits up, I play this album. I always feel better afterwards.
Spellbinding debut May 28, 2004
brother_ike (L-Boogie)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This 1973 album was the first real album by the Wailers. They hooked up with Island Records who blessed the world by bringing these incredible artists to us with a major record deal. Critics and people like that make a big deal out of `Exodus' but true fans of the Wailers know that `Catch A Fire' is their greatest album. There's a real dusty, down to earth vibe, a thick cloud of weed smoke that hangs over all the material, and combined with the catchy melodies, cool riffs & some seriously haunting vocals by Bob Marley, make this album endlessly playable for people who don't even have to be reggae fans.The grooves here are undeniable, and the final three cuts are straight FIRE! `No More Trouble' and the ominous `Midnight Ravers' are awesome, and the previously removed `All Day & All Night' has one of the wickedest hooks the Wailers ever made. Overall this is the type of album that has staying power. You'll be playing this for years and budsmokers particularly will dig this. Marley was an exceptional talent and his ear for music is incredible.
Catch a Fire - The Classic Island Debut March 2, 2007
D. Wees (Barquisemeto, Venezuala)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
When Bob Marley, Bunny Livingston (Wailer), and Peter McIntosh (Tosh)entered the studio and began recording Catch a Fire in 1972, they had already established an impressive track record on the island of Jamaica. But when they signed to Chris Blackwell's Island label, their music reached a new level. While reggae music had not been tremendously popular at this time, The Wailers proved their style of reggae was strong enough to carry a full-length album.
Not only is this album one of the best by Bob Marley and the Wailers, it is one of the best albums in the entire genre of reggae music, and here's why...up to this point, Bob, Peter, and Bunny have never sounded better. Their vocals and harmonies are suberb, their musicianship is just as impressive, and their song writing (Bob's in particular) is passionate (Concrete Jungle), personal (Slave Driver), and seductive (Stir It Up). Blackwell's production and mixing give the songs a crisper, more rock/dub influenced edge that really enhance the original recordings, and he really helped bring out the best in The Wailers. Any way you look at it, this album is a classic and a must-have for fans of reggae music.
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