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It seems to me that the Marley albums fall into only two categories, the five star and the four star albums, (see my ratings below). Though I am very stingy with the five star rating, Survival easily makes five stars, and it may even be the best Marley album, and quite possibly the greatest album of all time.

How can this be? Well, every song on the album is just irresistible, with great lyrices, impassioned performance, superb orchestration, catchy hooks... just a superb package. I honestly do not believe that anyone who listens to this album will not find it a life changing experience. Well, to be honest, there are probably lots of people who would fall into that category, but my remarks apply to those with discriminating taste and well developed sensibilities.

OK, I am running on, but this is just a great, great album. 'Nuff said.

* A really worthless CD
** A CD that has some good stuff, but some major defects.
*** An OK CD that will please fans of the artist in question.
**** An excellent CD that represents the best work of the artist in question and can be bought with confidence.
***** An absolute classic that is the best, or among the best, of its genre. Your collection should start here.


AN ABSOLUTE, ABSOLUTE MUST FOR MARLEY FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   December 14, 2002
 18 out of 18 found this review helpful

This is one of the very best of Bob Marley and The Wailers' (the first two were originally released under the group name The Wailers) original 11 Island-era albums. Definitely. (Survival and Exodus are probably the two best.) I own all of these albums on CD and vinyl, and my Marley collection in general is very, very extensive. It is so good that if I had to suggest three releases which include material released during the Island Era, they would be Songs of Freedom (the 4-CD career retrospective box set), Legend, and SURVIVAL. It is so good that seven of the songs from this album are on Songs of Freedom, (for one of them they put the 12" mix instead of the original), and there is an additional dub version of one of these songs on the SOF box set. It is such a good album, that if you consider yourself a fan of Island-era Marley, I guarantee that if you do not have this album already and you buy it, you will like it. "Zimbabwe," "Babylon System," "Africa Unite," "One Drop," "Ride Natty Ride," and "Ambush in the Night" are unstoppably awesome songs!! Just as "No Woman, No Cry [Lyceum, 1975]" is Marley's best LIVE recording, "Africa Unite" is arguably Marley's best Island-era STUDIO recording. It's very beautiful and deep. "Zimbabwe" may be the most important song Marley ever recorded. READ THE WORDS from the liner notes AS YOU LISTEN TO THE SONG! BM&tW were invited to play at the celebration of the opening of the independent country of Zimbabwe in 1980(, at which the people knew the words to this song better than the words of their own new national anthem)! What an honor! They were the only non-African-based musical group that played for the celebration. I have heard SO MANY Marley songs, and this is my favorite Bob Marley song! "Babylon System" is also beautiful and deep, including one unforgettable line which you will discover upon hearing it. "One Drop" is almost unbelievably beautiful. You will melt when you hear it. "Ambush" did not make it onto SOF, but is beautiful and deep. Then you have "So Much Trouble in the World," and "Survival," which have great lyrics, So Much is also quite rhythmic. "Top Rankin" also has great lyrics. Even the arguably weakest song on the album, "Wake Up and Live," has great lyrics.
"Africa Unite-Ambush" could be a candidate for the best four songs in a row on any original album, of all time. I own about 32 or 33 copies of SURVIVAL on vinyl, including all four original colored vinyl editions pressed only in Jamaica in 1979 [according to Catch a Fire biography]. By the way, if you own the SOF boxset, that contains the "bonus track," the 12" mix of Ride Natty Ride, which was put on the remastered version of SURVIVAL, so you would only need to get the old 10-track TUFF GONG version of SURVIVAL (although it is currently becoming increasingly difficult to get a still-sealed copy of the ten-track version of the CD). The 12" mix is a bit more rhythmic, as might be expected of a 12" mix supposedly intended for the dancefloor, but the original version is already a great song that needed no help.


Blistering Genius - a sometimes overlooked Bob album   October 23, 2002
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

In the interest of full disclosure, I admit to being a Jamiacan music fanatic, love everything from Mento to hardcore Dancehall.

And this is not my very favorite Bob album (thats reserved for Catch a Fire - you know what they say: you never forget your first)BUT: Survival is an absolute brilliant piece of music-making. From the clarion call of the opening track to "Wake up and Live, ya'll - wake up and live...." to the repeated admonition to "tell the children the truth" in Babylon System, the lyrics on this album are Bob at his very best: passionate, angry, caring, concerned, moving, persuasive, original: with an almost Biblical authority and a heartfelt authenticity that makes you feel as if Bob is speaking directly to YOU, straight outta Yard. Marley's ability to truly connect through these lyrics with everyone (from subarban white Americans to Moari tribespeople and everyone in between) while remaining true to himself and his heritage as a jamaican and member of the african diaspora is on bravura display throughout. For example: 'they bribe us with their guns, spare parts and money... and if you want to get some food, your brother's got to be your enemy..." A more succint and pointed description and indictment of superpower "realpolitik" foriegn policies would be harder to imagine.

And that's just the lyrics. The riddims between Bob, Carly and Familyman on this collection are SO hard, SO right & tight, SO in the pocket, it's hard to describe without simply throwing superlatives at it in a lame attempt to put into words what must be heard to be understood. The album makes extensive yet tasteful use of additional percussion (i.e. the african agogo bells in Ride Natty Ride) throughout, musically reflecting and enhancing the albums' lyrical focus on afrocentric concerns.
The saxaphone is also very heavily used, and it comes off great: I don't know who the soloist is, but he makes that horn growl and wail like a slave under the whip.

Another high point of the collection is the general songwriting. The melodies and structures of the songs reflect Bob's place as one of THE PREMIER pop songwriters ever - up there in Lennon/McCartney, Leiber/Stoller, Goffin/King, Rogers/Hart, territory - he drops out the 3-4 minute gem as naturally as breathing. Ever notice how Bob had distinct verse, chorus AND bridge sections in his mature output...? And still maintains the intergrity of the reggae form.

This album is worth repeated listening for Bob fans, reggae fans, pop music fans, and any lover of music with open ears. If anyone ever argues against Bob's place in music (i.e. he ONLY did reggae, his songs are simple, reggae is all the same, his lyrics stink, he was too "pop", he wasn't "pop" enough, etc), throw this on, adjust the bass up a notch or two and CRANK it.
If they don't change their mind, then they don't know anything about music...


Personal and Masterful; a Work of Art   January 8, 2005
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

"Survival," the 1979 album by Bob Marley & the Wailers, is by far their hardest hitting and most sociopolitical album, even moreso than "Exodus" from 1977. The album shows Marley more outright with his brilliant message than ever; even in the song titles.

The album starts off with "So Much Trouble In the World," bluntly stating the decay of the world as it falls into despair, with the government caring more about trying to play God than about caring to play the role of the caretaker. Other songs illustrating similar points in different fashions are the equally millitant tunes "Top Rankin'" and "Babylon System," which sing of government oppression and work towards opposing the unity of the people.

The album's track that stands out most is the song "Zimbabwe," with its love of Africa and anti-apartheid statement. It truly shows Marley's belief that Africa must, once and for all, finally be free. This obviously speaks specifically to the then-opressed (and often still-opressed) people of Zimbabwe, under the tyrannical rule of the British government. This song is a statement for the people of Zimbabwe, and all oprssed people the world over, to fight for their rights. Similar songs such as the soothing "Africa Unite," and the fiery title track "Survival". "Africa Unite" is a heartwarming and beautiful plea to Africans throughout the world to unite under the banner of brotherhood and return to their homeland while "Survival" is the strong, forceful anthem for Africans, and all opresssed people, to fight against the slave drivers of the world, no longer with failing words, but fruitful actions.

The songs, "One Drop," "Ride Natty Ride," and "Wake Up and Live" are a testament to the strength of the Rastaman and his right to be recognized as an equal member of society in all places of the world. They express the Rastaman belief of dismissing the powers of Satan and the truth that they cannot be broken by the forces of Babylon. The bonus track, a 12" mix of "Ride Natty Ride" simply changes the sound around just enough for the listener to be able to recognize a difference, making a delightful remix to add to the original album.

Finally, there is "Ambush In the Night," a song directly recounting the assassination attempt against Marley on December 3rd, 1976. Marley states here that he is protected by the all-poweral God, and that no matter what they try to do, the forces of evil will not defeat him.

Survival's main theme is the plight of Africans, and this cannot be escaped, but its message also transcends to the rights, beliefs, and lives of all opressed people regardless of race, sex, social standing, or religion. Survival is the ultimate album that advocates the equal rights of all people. Survival is unapologetic, unafraid,heartfelt, and life-changing; the most powerful raw sociopolitical album of all time.


wake up and live!   February 21, 2005
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This album was released in 1979, and the most amazing thing about it is how the percussion instruments stand out. On no other Bob Marley and the Wailers album do the percussion instruments stand out so well, they almost take a lead part themselves. This can be attributed to the increasing technology in the recording industry possibly, or maybe a change in musical style for the Wailers. The band is still as good as ever and rhythms here on Survival will prove it, the basslines and other musical harmonies will pleasantly ring throughout your head and bring a smile to your face. This album promotes African unity, and African freedom and is quite possibly the most militant of the entire Bob Marley and the Wailers catalog. All the songs have lyrics that will stick in your head for years to come, and if you are looking for a place to start your reggae or music collection, Survival is a great place to start.