Bob Marley |
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Bob Marley and the Wailers : The Ultimate Illustrated History
By Richie Unterberger ( Quarto )
This vivid 208-page hardback chronicles the ascent to global influence of Bob Marley and the Wailers , rising from humble beginnings in the early 1960s as a teenaged ska band in Kingston , Jamaica . Ultimately , the band brought reggae music to the masses . The sound was ideal for mellow good times , but the Wailers also introduced the world to Rastafari culture and Jamaican pride while wielding music as a grassroots tool for revolution and justice .
Educator , rock historian , and Mojo journalist Unterberger catalogs the full experience accompanied by photographs , clippings , and memorabilia . Following the formative ska years , Unterberger delves into the band ’ s transition from rock steady to reggae . He documents the band ’ s international breakthrough and Marley ’ s status as the “ first third-world superstar .” The last major chapter covers Marley ’ s final tour and declining health .
Triumphs include the release of Marley ’ s 1962 debut single “ Judge Not ” at age 16 and the Wailers ’ early recording career in partnership
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with Neville Livingston ( aka Bunny Wailer ) and Peter Tosh . The book includes sidebar reviews of the Wailers ’ albums placed chronologically alongside the surrounding events in Marley ’ s personal and professional life .
“ Stir it Up ” marked an early international success as a single for “ I Can See Clearly Now ” singer Johnny Nash . Significant events include meeting Chris Blackwell and working toward Tuff Gong / Island Records debut album Catch a Fire . Eric Clapton describes feeling that he hadn ’ t done justice to 1973 Burnin ’ track “ I Shot the Sherriff ,” even though his single shot to the top of the charts . Co-written with Tosh , the album ’ s “ Get Up , Stand Up ” would also become a signature track for Marley and would be the final song he performed onstage in 1980 .
Pitfalls include the original Wailers ’ 1974 splintering in 1974 , with Bunny and Tosh pursuing solo careers . Marley rebounded with a major hit in 1975 with a live version of “ No Woman , No Cry .” It ’ s a dark testament to the band ’ s galvanizing influence that Marley faced a politically motivated assassination attempt at his home in 1976 . The determined Marley played for nearly 100,000 fans only two nights later at the Smile
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Jamaica event . Marley would pass away due to cancer at the age of 36 , following the release and truncated support of his 1980 album Uprising ( featuring timeless single “ Redemption Song ”).
Unterberger covers the Wailers ’ foundational influences like the Platters , the Drifters and “ father of reggae ” Joe Higgs , in addition to the band ’ s own influential arc and those of
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key collaborators including Lee “ Scratch ” Perry . Perry produced 1977 ’ s Exodus , with singles including the title track and “ Jamming .” The story of Marley ’ s enduring impact extends to the posthumous landslide success of the 1984 Legend compilation and continues into the present with coverage of 2024 biographical film One Love .
– Jeff Elbel
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