Licensed from its original label (Trojan Recordings), this release on Receiver is a reissue of the original 1970 Bob Marley and the Wailers album produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry. The disc is the same, from the track list right down to the sexist commando cover art, and these imminently groovy, R&B-flavored pop gems show no signs of wear.
Marley's compositions from this period, though often overlooked, are excellent. Such tracks as "Try Me," "It's Alright," "Soul Almighty," and "No Water" give off such a unique stylistic charge that they seem particularly fresh in the light of the overkill in Marley's later catalog. Close, sweet backup vocals by the Wailers, tight, propulsive playing from the Upsetters, and Perry's inventive, psychedelic production make this one of the truly great "lost" albums. A must for collectors and a superb introduction to Marley's early, mature work, SOUL REBELS is a keeper.
Professional Reviews
Q (12/02, p.126) - 5 out of 5 - "...These tracks are a watershed in reggae: spare, thunderous, gorgeously melodic and a blueprint for the deep 'roots' sound that would dominate the rest of the decade..."
Mojo (Publisher) (3/01/04, p.53) - Included in Mojo's The 67 Lost Albums You Must Own! - "It's fantastic stuff, bridging rocksteady and the later, more evolved AFRICAN HERBSMAN material."
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