Bob Bashing - give it a rest!

[Jah Glu]

"I guess you have listened to EVERYTHING that Bob recorded, and haven't just caught a couple of tunes on the radio and made up your obdurate mind, right?"

Of course.

"but at least offer an intelligent argument as to why he doesn't deserve respect!"

I have done that in a similar thread. I like early marley too. One Love is one of my favorite ska songs. I dont like the Chris Blackwell period. But as mentioned before i have argumented for this in another thread.

[grateful]

"The music on them is, for the most part, far removed from the mainstream of what was being recorded in the Kingston studios in the period 1973-80, but only a reggae snob would find fault in this."

I think this excerpt says it best. I have never heard people "bash" Bob Marley but its clear to anyone that loves Roots Reggae that Bob Marley simply does not fall into the "Roots Reggae" category of music. You can make an argument that the Wailers (Bob, Peter and Bunny) were Roots Reggae and use the Lee Perry stuff and their first album as an example of early Roots Reggae.

But Bob Marley as a solo act simply was not "Roots Reggae" and as the guide stated very clearly, his music didnt even reflect the music of the times which has now been labled "Roots Reggae". He was a thing unto himself and his music may have been good (depending on the listener) but it most certainly was not Roots.

Me, I love Bob and own almost every single he sang on but the truth is that I never listen to him anymore. I listened to nothing but Bob for years. Before that, I listened to nothing but Jerry Garcia. But for the last few years, I have been listening to nothing but Deep, Dry, Heavy, Rootsy Reggae. Which naturally means that I dont listen to Bob anymore.

But Im not bashing the guy. Its like you cant blame Elvis Presley for being donned the "king of Rock and Roll". Sure, others played it before him and better than him but because he was 'marketable', he was sold as the king of rock and roll just like Bob is marketed as the king of Reggae.

What I always wonder about is how much, if any, Bob was into the stuff like Sylford Walkers work with Glen Brown, Burning Spears stuff with Jack Ruby, Johnny Clarke w/ Bunny Lee, Augusta Pablo Produced Jacob Miller, Niney Produced Dennis Brown, Dubbin with King Tubby, or anything related to Yabby U or Ras Michael. 75-80 was the most exciting time in Reggae History, its just ironic that Bob was not involved with it.

Now, if you wanna talk Lee Perry or Burning Spear. Yea, for anyone with ears, it is abundantly clear that they were both extremely influenced and influential in what we know and love as Roots Reggae.

Roots Rockers Reggae


Jah

[irie t]

argumented?

[Rockersmood]

I wonder.Why didnt Bob play with other bands like the Roots radics.I thought we should have something like "Bob Marley meets the Roots Radics at Channel One"I feel because of that the respect he deserves has limits.He was not that innovative enough.

Rockersmood

[Jah Glu]

irie t:argumented?

made arguments

[Rob Strictly-Rockers]

Leggo,

Whether we like it or not, the current fashion with which I have some sympathy, is that you shoulnd't speak well of the dead just because they have passed away. For example, obituaries these days are far more honest than they used to be.

I and a lot of friends personally boycotted Bob's 1975 tour and that was a choice we made. I am happy to stick by the judgement I made at the time based on where I thought he was going musically. This has been well aired in previous threads.

As we know lots of people in JA had issues with Bob and it probably wasn't all jealousy although some of it probably was. I fail to see why they and me for our different reasons have to change our opinion because he's not alive especially when all these matters were aired when he was alive. I don't think it is a question of lightening up but more a question of honesty but I am quite happy to accept that most people might have a different view to mine.

Regards

Rob

[psilomadman]

Bob was a phenomenal song writer and lyricist. Maybe the fact that he transcended the genere of Reggae bothers some people? Why? Did Bob ever dis real roots acts and claim his was the only true reggae? As I remember he took bullets and still played on, died of cancer at way to early an age. WHo knows what he might have done? Listen to the acousic medley on the Songs of Freedom box set and tell me he was not a Great songwriter even without a backing band. Bob caught a fire and was moved so quickly and pulled in so many directions its amazing he stayed as true as he did. The mere fact that white boys like me were able to get into reggae through him and discover the deeper though not neccessarily better roots of the music is testament enought to his greatness. If you want music where the fewest possible know and appreciate it, dont buy a single album ever released to the public and stick with local live bands. As for me i will enjoy everything I find good in the music no matter what its called.

[Ites]

Bob was a huge musical talent as most of us know but in order to reach where he did he had to make those compromises and it didn't suit everyone then and still doesn't. Let people have their respective opinions, they're, in most cases, entitled to it, Bob is not a holy cow, even if it might not suit the biggest Marley admirers

personally I love the man and his music regardless of period, but if people are critical it doesn't bother me at least, let them be

[Jason Allen]

It seems to me some of the "harder" talents in the ghetto still gave Marley a great deal of respect. Prince Far I, for one, has said that Marley never seperated himself or looked down at the struggling performers sitting on the corners outside of the studios in the 70s. MArley travelled the globe and met famous rich people but was still true to his roots. He did make some softer stuff at Island. He also made some great political music and did some great peace-seeking work during this time, too.
It also seems to me that Tosh (whom I also admire) was one of the first to start the whole "Bob's just trying to please the pop/white audience and doesn't make real sufferah music." And, it's been continuing ever since. To each their own I guess.

[Jason Allen]

One last comment.
I believe ultimately it is Marley's popularity that people don't like. Most reggae artists have tried crossing over at one point or another (even the Congos and Johnny Clarke) and I rarely hear people bagging on them.
People talk about how Jacob Miller was more popular and had picked up the reins in Jamaica while Bob was off spanning the globe for a few years but fail to mention that Inner Circle's "New Age Music" and "Everything is Great" were at least as much of a cross-over attempt as anything Bob did at Island.
I say this with absolutely no disrespect to any artist. I just want to point out that Marley is certainly not alone when it comes to making material that is not strictly roots.