Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be the 50 Greatest Live Albums of All Time, representing a varied cross-section of genres, styles and time periods. Click “Next Album” below to explore each album or view the full album index here.
BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS | Live!
Island/Tuff Gong (1975)
Selected by Daryl McIntosh
There may have never been an artist with the gifts to blend rock, reggae, and spirituality together to craft unforgettable music like Bob Marley, so it is particularly interesting to observe how this formula captivates a live audience. Embarking on a major international tour on the heels of Natty Dread (1974) and the band’s slew of other previously released hits, Bob Marley accompanied by the I Threes’ stop at the Lyceum Theatre in London has become legendary.
Most notable is the live rendition of “No Woman, No Cry” which for many eclipses the studio version. Other high points of the now iconic musical experience include “Get Up, Stand Up” which was co-written by Marley and the brilliant mind of Peter Tosh, who was absent for the performance but was inspired to construct the powerful lyrics while touring through poverty stricken Haiti. Many of the songs that made the track list, accentuated with the crowd response, have well-deservingly become anthems for activism that help set the tone for political discourse.
LISTEN:
