Watched "Classic Albums" on VH-1 (UK) last night. It was Bob Marley and The Wailers Catch A Fire LP. Great programme. Fascinating how it was planned as a breakthrough album to hit the American and British rock audience.

The Wailers recorded everything on fairly basic 8-track recording equipment then sent it to Island Records producers in England (who they had just got a deal with) for overdubs and new instrument parts. I believe it said Bob Marley was present with the other musicians giving them guidance etc.

Hearing the raw version of Stir It Up was great, funky guitaring from Bob. Beautiful song.

That series is superb. One of the other standouts was Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life. Does anyone know of they are available on DVD or VHS?

They are out on DVD / VHS - probably the cheapest place to get them (on DVD) is play.com

There's also a deluxe edition of the Catch A Fire album which has 2 remastered versions of the album - one with the original Jamaican versions done by BM&W, as heard in the programme, and the other which is the released album (with all the overdubs). This edition is mistakenly listed as 'Catch A Fire [BEST OF]' on Amazon.co.uk, although it used to be available from Play.com. Definitely worth checking out!

I'm feelin' the raw, Jamaican versions myself...

Thanks deebee, I have an account at play.com so I'll definitely check it out.

KeithyT said:

I have both on VHS and while Songs In Key Of Life is excellent I don't like Catch A Fire. This is due to the influence of businessmen and Chris Blackwell talking on the album they altered and diluted from Bob's original vision.

The Jamaican version is much better and can be found on Catch A Fire 2CD Deluxe.