Collections

The ten songs compiled on the Bob Marley & the Wailers entry in Sony BMG's Collections series date way back to the early to mid-'60s. The Bob Marley of those years was a good decade removed from the exponentially better-known Bob Marley of such classic albums as Catch a Fire, Natty Dread, and Exodus. This isn't to imply that these songs are poor or that this collection is a ripoff. It's just that Sony BMG makes no effort whatsoever to signal the vintage of these recordings, so it's understandable that some consumers may be lured in by the inexpensive price tag, only to be disappointed when the music isn't what they might expect. As for the music, it's rudimentary ska typical of its early- to mid-'60s vintage -- again, not necessarily bad in and of itself, but certainly not in the same class as Marley's later work in the '70s, particularly his Island recordings. Chances are, these recordings will interest only those curious about or in search of Marley's earliest recordings, and in addition, looking for them in an affordable package with 21st century mastering standards. These songs have been compiled time and time again, initially in the 1977 collection Birth of a Legend, which includes twice as many songs, and typically they're marketed in a misleading manner. ~ Jason Birchmeier|