So I was watching VH1's Classic albums show the other night about "Catch a Fire". I forgot how amazing that album is and it made me want to listen to some Wailers. I realized that all I own is Catch a Fire, Legend, and the Live album.

I didn't discover Bob Marley until around my Jr/Sr year of high school (around the time I discovered weed coincidentally).

It's easy to view him as this mythologized figure that somehow happened organically and that he just became this international revolutionary.

Watching that documentary was cool because it showed a band that cared very much about commercial success. They didn't just sit in some tiki hut, smoke some spliffs, and put out an album. They were technically gifted and experimental in the studio and they toured/promoted each album just like any other band.

They had played all the small reggae places everywhere during the 60's and when they got their deal with Island records they really went for a crossover album. They succeeded with Catch a Fire. The cult of Bob as rastafarian icon all came later with success.

So my question is what is his best studio album in your opinion?

I vote Catch a Fire but then again that's all I own, hence the poll.

Hard for me to pick, but I ended up going with Catch a Fire. To me, though, the earlier albums are head and shoulders above the later ones (although I'm really a fan of all of them). Since you already have Catch a Fire, I would say get Burnin' next. If you want a more raw sound, go with Soul Rebels.

Shit, I just realized that "Uprising" isn't on the list. I had it on there. Not sure what happened.

won't be a popular choice at all, but i have a sentimental attachment to Kaya.

That's a big omission. Its my 2nd favorite of his. Unfortunately, my favorite, Survival, also isn't in your poll. I haven't voted but Rastaman Vibration is probably the best of the ones you listed. And I personally think Catch a Fire would be pretty low but that's the critic's darling. You can't go too far wrong with any of his albums though.

This might surprise some people but I actually only have one Marley album (Burnin').

I guess that's because whenever I tell people I like reggae they say "oh! Bob Marley" and it starts to piss you off after a while...

Plus I really got into Jamaica music from the dub side of things.

Rastaman Vibration

Uprising then Kaya.

Hard to say...pretty much not a dud in the bunch, but I can say I tend to listen to Burnin' and Exodus the most.

Anybody else listen to Sizzla's new Waterhouse Redemption album...not at a Marley level but one of the best roots style albums I've heard in a while.

I only own Legend and the Songs Of Freedom box set.

Satisfy My Soul (ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED)

I Shot The Sheriff often hits home too.

no, but i'd love to.
wink wink
nudge nudge.

While I prefer most of the individual tracks on Catch A Fire more than any other Marley studio release, I've gotta go with Exodus as his best studio album.

I just can't get passed the fact that he pulled that damn thing together just a couple of months after an attempt on his life. I mean, dude gets hit by a richocheting bullet standing in own damn kitchen, gets the hell outta Jamaica, takes his band to London, and records Exodus over the next few months. Epic shit.

IMO, outtakes from those sessions (Punky Reggae Party, Roots) are as good as anything he ever recorded.

As said before, not a dud in the bunch. It's not a studio album, but I listen to Babylon By Bus more than any of the studio albums. It's incredible. I love Bob. I've got a huge poster of him right here above my desk.

Anyone ever heard of any Bob Marley Dub album? I know it's not really his style but possibly remastered/studio remix?

Dreams of Freedom: Ambient Translations of Bob Marley in Dub

I've got that but don't particularly care for it. I suppose I could upload that if anybody is interested. Let me know.

Yeah. please do, I'm interested. You using Sendspace? Thanks.

I got a Sly & Robbie 2 CD compilation that has a couple dub versions of Marley songs...Crazy Baldheads and Buffolo Soldier for sure, maybe a couple more, but don't remember off hand.

Don't know who did it, but I heard a really good version of Concrete Jungle that sticks in my head.

I know Marley did get together with Scratch a couple times anyway...not necessarily full albums of dub but he did a few tracks here and there...I think there's probably a Marley album out there containing all his work with Perry.

And, yeah that Laswell thing is pretty good...much better than his ambient Miles Davis album.

There's been lots of dubs of Marley tracks, really. Not sure though if there's a good definitive collection of them all.

But, really, if you're looking for dub...get over the Marley fetish and get into some Lee Perry...King Tubby...Agustus Pablo...Mikey Dread...Scientist...or any of the many people who were more oriented to making great dub.

Oh I got them and those are some serious dubs too. But my curiosity peaked when my friend came back from NY and told me 'bout a 12-minute long dub version of Exodus with Rasta chants, chorus and all. Said he heard it at a club scene. Checking out Sly & Robbie 2 CD compilation. Thanx man, lots of good info.

There is a dub version of the whole Exodus album by a group called Chalawa.

Gentlemen, so much gratitude. Thky.

Yes, I'll send you a PM.

Link Received. Thnx.