Customer Rating:  
Summary: Catch a cold
Comment: 2 1/2
It's just average to me. Debut significance and any innovation credit aside, almost all tracks here are just forgettable compared to his next few years when he and the band hit a creative stride. The traditional sound remains, although mainly butchered beyond stereotype in most cases with luke-warm songwriting and sterile backing vocals. A few tracks that crept out to land on further compilations obviously pointed at deeper melodic strength which was to come. Fans undoubtedly embrace this as early gospel, but those looking around as a starting point would do well to steer clear.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Catch A Fire
Comment: The opening to the first track on the album 'Concrete Jungle' is sort of a metaphor for the groups career with Marley. They slowly gained power and notoriety then exploded for a seemingly long groove then came to a sudden stop. 'Concrete Jungle' sets the pace for the rest of the album which happens to be the groups first. This is the ying to the yang that was the bands second album Burnin.' While that album was much darker and angrier Catch A Fire is more about peace and togetherness.
Songs like the opener, along side 'Slave Driver' and 'No More Trouble' are the kind of classic social commentary Marley became known for in his lyrics. The hit 'Stir It Up' along side 'Kinky Reggae' and 'Baby We've Got A Date' show a different side however, they show the lover that Marley was and his love for women.
The over all music on Catch A Fire is among the best Bob Marley & The Wailers ever released, if not the best. The musicianship of Tosh and Bunny Wailer propel this from just a good album to a masterpiece of reggae music. Sadly those two would leave the Wailers after the next album Burnin' drastically changing the bands sounds forever. The band went on to massive popularity with their later releases such as Uprising and Exodus but it is Catch A Fire that remains Marley & The Wailers' best and most consistent album.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Where is the love to be found?
Comment: In 1973, this album popularized reggae on the world stage, and for very good reason. The guitar and drum work on this album is amazing. My favorite track is the opener, "Concrete Jungle," the solo on steel guitar is incredible. This song is about the slums in Jamaica of which Marley knew first hand. This album has it's share of political songs like, slave driver, 400 years, and no more trouble, and it had the laid back songs. The most popular is Stir it up, which has some great organ work. The singing on this album is also great, with Peter Tosh contributing to a couple of the albums strongest tracks, Stop that Train, and Four-Hundred Years. This was the first reggae album I ever bought, and played it in my car for a good month with few breaks. It blew me away, I was later more amazed to find other reggae albums I liked even more, but this is a great starting place for Marley and Reggae in general. It is very different from later Marley, which I like better, but is great in it's own right, this album is essential to any reggae collection.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Catch A Fire
Comment: Catch a Fire is a CD that I have been looking for for a long time.
Bob Marley is one of my top favorite musicians. It is a used CD, but in very good condition.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Essential album
Comment: For lovers of music, this album, Natty Dread, and Burnin' are essential for your catalogue. Somehow Marley and the Wailers combined organic earthy rhythms with beautiful harmonies in a way not done before or since.
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