Album Review: Bob Marley & The Wailers - Catch A Fire (1973)

Ask anybody if they know of, or have heard an album by Bob Marley & The Wailers, and many are likely to tell you that they've listened to the posthumous hits compilation Legend.  Of course, it's easily the best starting point for getting into the music of Bob Marley and his group, and is easily one of the best hits records ever made.  On the other hand, if you don't want to delve too much into his music, then it's pretty much everything you will need as far as his music is concerned.  But if you're over listening to Legend and want to try one of the studio recordings for a change, then you can't go wrong with Catch a Fire.  A great album, one that you won't regret setting aside time to listen to.  The middle of the album is the sweet spot here - "Stop That Train" is my favorite here, except for the legendary "Stir It up", which sounded great on Legend and sounds just as great on the original album.  "Stir It Up" sits two tracks down, immediately after "Baby We've Got A Date (Rock It Baby), completing the central hat trick of top songs.  But it doesn't end there - indeed the album finishes with "Midnight Ravers", concluding the album on a better note than when it first started.  I checked this album out expecting great things, and I walked away from it not even slightly disappointed.  I hope you find yourself coming to the same conclusion.  A

(Note: The Spotify album is the deluxe version of the album.  CD 2 contains the original recordings, and not the "Jamaican" versions, so if you want the originals, jump directly to track #12).