On some RARE occasions in music, sumpin' magical is happening. An' is' not NEARLY as often as people give credit to. Thas' not to say that other artists aren't talented, memorable, innovative an' earth-shatteringly amazing. But we're talkin' MAGICAL; thas' sumpin' altogether different, like the mother ocean jus' completely STOPPING to reflect on it's own vastness an' history.

Bob Marley an' the Wailers is what I consider sumpin' MAGICAL in music. E'ything from the gritty politically-charged sways of 'Concrete Jungle' an' '400 Years' where the land of liberty seems to be jus' over the horizon to the beautiful love an' eternal companionship espoused on 'High Tide Or Low Tide'. In the hook of 'Stop that Train' when he says "It won't be too long, whether I'm right or wrong," you'll realize that it don' require a fat nicely-rolled spliff to get into the groove of the Rastafarian's world (though I'll admit, it don't hurt). Tunes like 'Slave Driver' an' 'No More Trouble' become about more than what maybe they're even intended to be about; these're the Gospel hymns of the proletariat; the commoners; the oft-ignored an' oft-exploited.

If you're only goin' to own one reggae album, then this, er, well, lemme say first I'll slap 'ya silly an' ask what in the HELL is wrong wit' you!?!? But, then once I've accepted that not everyone's gonna have the same opinion as me, I'll point to this album as the ONE. Besides, once you own this, you're gonna end up needin' more anyways.

...and (if you're Babylon) you're gonna get burned. The tables have turned for Bob Marley and the Wailers as they gain international recognition for this fledgling art form called reggae. They ditched the suits and the phoniness, projected their Rastafarian beliefs in their music, and sang about real issues--currently and historically--that (up to that point) was never a moneymaker in hit music. They literally broke the mold with this album and "Burnin'"

"Slave Driver" and "Concrete Jungle" are perfect examples of how these guys literally started reggae music by just slowing the tempo on ska and (with a lotta ganja smoke) began the "easy skanking" era in world music. And now it remains an international phenomenon and it's influence especially on British and American music and fans is still evident more than 30 years after these albums were recorded.

More than that, these songs mean a lot more to people than most songs. They reflect the common man, the struggles of a group of people at the hands of the "privileged". Obviously those in power disliked Bob Marley. The rest of the world loved him...and still do.

This is a great album, what more can I say, also consider buying "Live at the Roxy".