African Herbsman [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster] (CD - 1973)

Producers: Lee "Scratch" Perry, Bob Marley.

Compilation producer: David Katz.

Includes liner notes by Dave Katz.

One of Bob Marley & the Wailers' finest collections, AFRICAN HERBSMAN belongs alongside CATCH A FIRE and NATTY DREAD as an essential Marley recording. There are three reasons why AFRICAN HERBSMAN is significant. For starters, it is a treasure trove of some of Marley's best songs. Though these tunes were written and recorded in the early 1970s, Marley would revisit them--in concert and in re-recordings--throughout his career. The celebratory "Lively Up Yourself," the winsome and wise "Small Axe," the swaying "Don't Rock the Boat," and the escapist dream "Kaya," are only a few of the gleaming gems here.

More importantly, perhaps, AFRICAN HERBSMAN captures the Wailers at their peak as a band. With Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh's high, sweet harmonies prominent throughout, and the Barrett brothers' impeccable rhythms, the Wailers are an unstoppable unit (and provide a focus lost on some of Marley's solo albums). But the most distinguishing quality of these sessions is Lee "Scratch" Perry's remarkable, unique production. Unlike the rock-oriented sound of the Chris Blackwell-produced CATCH A FIRE (released the same year), HERBSMAN has pure Jamaican roots--on top of the fine material and performances--making it one of the defining documents of reggae. minimize