subject: Catch A Fire - The World Meets Bob Marley [print this page] Reggae music was once not well known outside of Jamaica, but all that changed on a fateful day in 1973 when Bob Marley released his first, and quite possibly best, album to an unsuspecting public. It is actually not completely accurate that it was his first album, as he had release four previously in Jamaica, but it was his first album to get international distribution via new label, Island Records. Though a slow seller, Catch a Fire opened the door to the rest of the world for Bob, and it was not long before the world took notice of this undeniable musical force.
Recording for Catch a Fire began in the early months of 1972, at the Dynamic Sound and Harry J's studios, located in Kingston, Jamaica, and included an all-star cast of musicians. Bob Marley may have been the star of the band, but, The Wailers, were no slouches themselves. They were, in fact, a crack band with an additional song writer who could sometimes rival Bob, himself. That man is the legendary, Peter Tosh, who contributed two original songs to the album. In fact, it should be noted that the entire album is original songs. A very unusual event at the time.
Though Catch a Fire is a political and socially fueled album, it is played in such an irresistible way that it is near impossible to resist, which cannot be said of a lot of music of its ilk. Some of the most endearing love songs ever produced are on the album, and it is not all dark and tragic. Even when the music switches to more serious topics, it is never presented in a preachy or confrontational manner. The songs come across as very matter of fact and have some of the finest playing ever heard in reggae.
Although sales were initially slow for the album, the music press and critics were quick to pick up on it and laud it as a masterpiece. Some praised it with such reverence that one would think it was scripture they were discussing. It is widely agreed today, that Catch a Fire is one of the greatest reggae albums ever created. Rolling Stone went so far as to place it at number 121 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Such was the power of Bob Marley's music that it even found appreciation in the world of rock music.
So profound was the impact Catch a Fire had on the world of music that a documentary has been made about the making of the album. It's an interesting window into the behind the scenes process of how this great album was recorded. The documentary, called, Classic Albums - Bob Marley and the Wailers: Catch a Fire, uses archival footage, original master tapes of the recording sessions (so that specific tracks on songs can be isolated so that one can get a better appreciation of the musicianship) and interviews with surviving members and contributors, to give fans the complete picture of the recording sessions that produced this record.
