Classic Albums - Bob Marley and the Wailers: Catch a Fire

Starring:Rita Marley, Bunny Wailer, John Bundrick, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Chris Blackwell
Director: Jeremy Marre
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
In the late '60s, the notion that reggae would become more than just a novelty act would have been laughed at. To break into the mainstream, the movement needed a powerful voice of prophetic proportions. This voice emerged from the collective work of three pioneering friends from Jamaica, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Robert Nesta Marley, who sought to bring about an ideological revolution through deeply meditative, hypnotic, and spiritual music. Catch a Fire was the Wailers' and reggae's introduction to the world and turned Bob Marley into a mega-icon of enormous proportions. It was the first album to remain true to the traditions of reggae music while having enough elements that were accessible to popular culture.

Amazon.com

In the late '60s, the notion that reggae would become more than just a novelty act would have been laughed at. To break into the mainstream, the movement needed a powerful voice of prophetic proportions. This voice emerged from the collective work of three pioneering friends from Jamaica, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Robert Nesta Marley, who sought to bring about an ideological revolution through deeply meditative, hypnotic, and spiritual music. Catch a Fire was the Wailers' and reggae's introduction to the world and turned Bob Marley into a mega-icon of enormous proportions. It was the first album to remain true to the traditions of reggae music while having enough elements that were accessible to popular culture.

This documentary, Bob Marley and the Wailers: Catch a Fire, returns to Dynamic Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, shedding light on the development of the album, the thought process of Bob, Peter, and Bunny, and the importance of the music on a song-by-song basis. The story of Catch a Fire is presented through interviews with the band members, studio musicians, and former head of Island Records Chris Blackwell. Throughout are raw studio rehearsal footage, BBC TV footage, and home movies that include performances of "Concrete Jungle," "Slave Driver," "Stir It Up," and "Stop That Train." The documentary wraps up with rare black-and-white footage of the Wailers' tour in Edmonton, London, in 1973 with an electrifying performance of the Burnin' song "Get Up, Stand Up." --Rob Bracco

Description

The songs and story of Bob Marley's reggae music masterpiece. The Wailers, featuring the legendary Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer, became the most influential band in the history of reggae music. Catch a Fire, their first Island album, released in 1973, introduced them to an international rock audience. Here the principal figures in the creation of Catch a Fire tell the story of how this record was designed to "cross over." The DVD features a unique interview and performance by Bunny Wailer, rare archival interviews with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, and contributions from many of those who performed on the record. Featuring home movies of the Wailers in Jamaica, previously unseen footage, and unique performances of many album tracks such as "Stir It Up," "Stop That Train," and "Kinky Reggae," this is a documentary that will endlessly fascinate the viewer. 60 minutes.

Customer Reviews:

RAW!!!!!!!!.......2006-02-20

It is an insite into an arist starting off and having to compromise slighty for the bigger good. In depth on how the tracks were recorded and edited. Video and audio of how mixing and great editing can change an average song into a great song. Good for music lovers library.

A must for true Marley/Wailers fans.......2005-04-24

I just finished watching this fine documentary. (Picked it up for only $4.99 in a bargain bin!) The content is priceless - interviews with Bob Marley, Rita Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer are quite rare. The interviews with Chris Blackwell, the recording engineers and studio musicians from Jamaica, England and U.S. who helped to produce the groundbreaking album "Catch A Fire" are enlightening. I've been a Marley fan for 30 years and I learned a lot from watching this DVD. It illustrates, in a somewhat disjointed fashion, the Jamaican culture that gave birth to reggae music and it's ambassadors to the world, The Wailers, while recording the development of "Catch A Fire" which brought reggae to mainstream British and American rock fans. Marley fans owe a great deal to Chris Blackwell and Island records. I attended Bob Marley's last concert in America in 1981. Every week, it seems, I see another young kid wearing a Bob Marley T-shirt. Whether you're an old Marley fan or a young one, there is plenty in this DVD for you.

Great Insight.......2002-05-14

This is a wonderful video for anyone interested in the technical aspects of the creation of a classic album, and the efforts of the production team to translate a "new" musical style to the masses. With a strong focus on the music-- especially the drum and bass-- and indispensible interviews with the original Wailers as well as the session musicians who contributed to the album. Bass Players will love the priceless interviews with "Family Man" Barrett and Robbie Shakespeare. This is not a concert video, but a great look behind the scenes at the making of a breakthrough record, including a track-by-track breakdown of some of the original studio tapes. Highly recommended for musicians. May bore the heck out of non-musicaians.

Amazing DVD.......2001-10-10

As a fan of music, but knowing little about its technical aspects and production, this documentary/concert dvd was a godsend. Interviews with people who made the album. The rastas who knew bob tell stories and history. Home videos of bob with his family are priceless. I think the music is amazing and I learned something about creating an album, and about bob marley and the wailers. If you like Bob, get this.

Too Lousy.......2001-09-04

I was thinking about a live concert no a loudsy sound engineer saying who he mix the songs and those stuped terminology, I want Bob Live not that kind of stuff.

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