Summer is in full-swing - at least it is here in Portugal - so with clockwork seasonal regularity I turn once again to Mr. Bob Marley to provide the soundtrack to my sunshine. Here in my extremely qualified and entirely definitive opinion are the best ten Marley tracks each with some kind of vague subjective justification...
# 10 - Cry To Me (Rastaman Vibration 1976)
Interesting fact - The songs on this album were credited to various friends and family members because Marley was involved in a contractual dispute with his publisher Cayman Music. Thus this beautiful track was credited to Rita Marley.
# 9 - You Can't Blame The Youth (Talkin' Blues version 1973)
This is actually sung and written by Peter Tosh, but it showcases the original Wailers at their prime with a true simplicity and collaborative spirit and some of the band's quirkiest lyrics.
# 8 - Soul Shakedown Party (Songs Of Freedom)
Many prefer the 'Soul Shake-Up Party' version from 1979 studio demos, but this is mainly the opinion of hipsters who's only real qualification for this is that it's a 'rare' recording. It's cool, but is poorly mixed - bass far too loud - and is missing the fantastic harmonies that are present in this 1970 version. The definitive version of the ultimate Marley party-song.
# 7 - Chances Are
Marley marries reggae and 'Doo-Wop' with this beautifully sweet stripped down ballad showcasing him at his most romantic and simplistic.
# 6 - Hammer (Songs of Freedom)
There are many versions of this song out there, but this early version was never really better inspite of much studio tinkering. The divine intro guitar lick slowly evolves and is joined by some of the best Wailers (boy) harmonies put to record, and of course the lyrics about 'hammering them down' never fails to provide amusement...
# 5 - Nightshift (Rastaman Vibration 1976)
As a bass player this song has to be included as it is perhaps the best example of the groovy lead-bass style of Family Man Barrett and his uber-sexy sounding Fender Jazz bass which gets this classic Wailers format song off to a flying start...
# 4 - Coming In From The Cold (Uprising 1980)
Marley's voice is getting pretty weak by this stage of his life but this song wins in all aspects and is, for me, the best track on their last studio album...
# 3 - Nice Time (Songs Of Freedom Boxset)
The influence of Marley on one of my other all time favourite songwriters, Lee Mavers, is clear again on this rare recording with this song clearly being the lyrical and melodic inspiration for Mavers' own rare 'legendary' track 'Our Time'.
# 2 - Corner Stone
This song should be "anthem" of all builders, Marley shows his insane talent for writing lyrics about seemingly odd subjects and making them sound like folklore for everyone from any walk of life...
# 1 - Slave Driver (Talkin' Blues version 1973)
The 'Clav' is mixed way too loud on this awesome live radio set from 1973 for San Francisco station KSAN and the result is simply divine. Keyboardist Earl "Wire" Lindo bouncily chops his way through this classic Marley composition with frightening potency and gives this version a unique drive that is sadly buried on the official studio version...
