Rastaman Vibration

1976 studio album by Bob Marley and the Wailers

Rastaman Vibration

Studio album by

Bob Marley and the Wailers

Released| 30 April 1976
Recorded| late 1975–early 1976
Studio| Harry J. Studios, Joe Gibbs Studio, Kingston, Jamaica
Mixed at Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida
Genre| Reggae, roots reggae
Length| 35:21
Label|

* Island
* Tuff Gong (reissue)

Producer| Bob Marley and the Wailers
Bob Marley and the Wailers chronology
| Live!
(1975)  | Rastaman Vibration
(1976)  | Exodus
(1977)

|
|

Singles from  Rastaman Vibration

1. "Rat Race"
Released: 1975
2. "Johnny Was"
Released: 7 May 1976
3. "Roots, Rock, Reggae"
Released: 25 June 1976
4. "Positive Vibration"
Released: 1976
5. "Who the Cap Fit"
Released: 1976

Retrospective professional reviewsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]
Christgau's Record Guide| B+[2]
Rolling Stone| [3]

Rastaman Vibration is the eighth studio album by Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers, released in April 1976.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Reviewing for Rolling Stone in 1976, Robert Palmer said that on the album Marley consummately performs "a dual role as spokesman for the Third World's disadvantaged and avatar of a highly commercial brand of popular music". While lacking the forceful, intricate quality of the Wailers' past line-up, "the sensitive, careful listener will learn from Rastaman Vibration something of the pain, rage and determination of Shantytown, Jamaica, and perhaps something of the community's political and cultural fragmentation as well", Palmer concluded.[4]

Village Voice critic Robert Christgau said if the record's first side "makes it seem that reggae has turned into the rasta word for boogie—even to a Trenchtown tragedy recited with all the toughness of an imprecation against litter—the unimpassioned sweetness of most of side two sounds like a function of reflective distance, assured in its hard-won calm. Some of it's even better."[2]

## Commercial performance

[edit]

Rastaman Vibration was a great success in the US, becoming the first Bob Marley release to reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart (peaking at number eight), in addition to releasing Marley's most popular US single "Roots, Rock, Reggae", the only Marley single to reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 51. Synthesizers are featured prominently on Rastaman Vibration, adding a breezy embellishment to otherwise hard-driving songs with strong elements of rock guitar. This is one of the three Wailers solo albums released in 1976, along with Blackheart Man by Bunny Wailer and Legalize It by Peter Tosh.

## Songwriting credits

[edit]

Although the album's liner notes list multiple songwriters, including family friends and band members, all songs were written by Marley. Marley was involved in a contractual dispute at the time with his former publishing company, Cayman Music. Marley had not wanted his new songs to be associated with Cayman and it was speculated, including in his obituary in The Independent, that he had put them in the names of his friends and family members as a means of avoiding the contractual restrictions and to provide lasting help to family and close friends.[5]

War audio sample

Vincent Ford, a childhood friend from Jamaica, is credited as the songwriter for "No Woman, No Cry" on the 1974 album Natty Dread, as well as the songs "Crazy Baldheads" (with Marley's wife Rita), "Positive Vibration" and "Roots Rock Reggae" from Rastaman Vibration, along with "Inna De Red" and "Jah Bless" with Marley's son, Stephen.[5][6]

Marley's widow and his former manager Danny Sims sued to obtain royalty and ownership rights to the songs, claiming that Marley had actually written the songs but had assigned the credit to Ford to avoid meeting commitments made in prior contracts. A 1987 court decision favored the Marley estate, which assumed full control of the songs.[6]

## Track listing

[edit]

Side oneNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Positive Vibration"| Vincent Ford| 3:34
2.| "Roots, Rock, Reggae"| Vincent Ford| 3:38
3.| "Johnny Was"| Rita Marley| 3:48
4.| "Cry to Me"| Rita Marley| 2:36
5.| "Want More"| Aston Barrett| 4:14

Side twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Crazy Baldhead"| Rita Marley, Vincent Ford| 3:12
2.| "Who the Cap Fit"| Aston Barrett, Carlton Barrett| 4:43
3.| "Night Shift"| Bob Marley| 3:10
4.| "War"| Allen Cole, Carlton Barrett| 3:36
5.| "Rat Race"| Rita Marley| 2:50

The Definitive Remastered edition (2001) Single discNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Positive Vibration"| Vincent Ford| 3:34
2.| "Roots, Rock, Reggae"| Vincent Ford| 3:38
3.| "Johnny Was"| Rita Marley| 3:48
4.| "Cry to Me"| Rita Marley| 2:36
5.| "Want More"| Aston Barrett| 4:14
6.| "Crazy Baldhead"| Rita Marley, Vincent Ford| 3:12
7.| "Who the Cap Fit"| Aston Barrett, Carlton Barrett| 4:43
8.| "Night Shift"| Bob Marley| 3:10
9.| "War"| Allen Cole, Carlton Barrett| 3:36
10.| "Rat Race"| Rita Marley| 2:50
11.| "Jah Live"| Bob Marley, Lee Perry| 4:16

Deluxe edition (2002): Disc one: Rastaman Vibration remasteredNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Positive Vibration"| Vincent Ford| 3:34
2.| "Roots, Rock, Reggae"| Vincent Ford| 3:38
3.| "Johnny Was"| Rita Marley| 3:48
4.| "Cry to Me"| Rita Marley| 2:36
5.| "Want More"| Aston Barrett| 4:14
6.| "Crazy Baldhead"| Rita Marley, Vincent Ford| 3:12
7.| "Who the Cap Fit"| Aston Barrett, Carlton Barrett| 4:43
8.| "Night Shift"| Bob Marley| 3:10
9.| "War"| Allen Cole, Carlton Barrett| 3:36
10.| "Rat Race"| Rita Marley| 2:50
11.| "Jah Live" (original mix)| Bob Marley, Lee Perry| 4:16
12.| "Concrete" (b-side of "Jah Live")| Bob Marley, Lee Perry| 4:24
13.| "Roots, Rock, Reggae" (unreleased single mix)| Vincent Ford| 3:38
14.| "Roots, Rock, Dub" (unreleased single dub mix)| Vincent Ford| 3:38
15.| "Want More" (unreleased alternate album mix)| Aston Barrett| 5:10
16.| "Crazy Baldhead" (unreleased alternate album mix)| Rita Marley, Vincent Ford| 3:08
17.| "War" (unreleased alternate album mix)| Allen Cole, Carlton Barrett| 4:03
18.| "Johnny Was" (unreleased alternate album mix)| Rita Marley| 3:41

Disc two: Rastaman Vibration tour Live at The Roxy, Hollywood, California, 26 May 1976No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Introduction"| Bob Marley| 0:38
2.| "Trenchtown Rock"| Bob Marley| 4:55
3.| "Burnin' and Lootin'"| Bob Marley| 4:53
4.| "Them Belly Full (but We Hungry)"| Leon Cogill, Carlton Barrett| 4:12
5.| "Rebel Music (3 o'Clock Road Block)"| Aston Barrett, Hugh Peart| 5:54
6.| "I Shot the Sheriff"| Bob Marley| 6:27
7.| "Want More"| Aston Barrett| 6:55
8.| "No Woman, No Cry"| Vincent Ford| 5:18
9.| "Lively Up Yourself"| Bob Marley| 5:44
10.| "Roots, Rock, Reggae"| Vincent Ford| 5:32
11.| "Rat Race"| Rita Marley| 7:46
12.| "Smile Jamaica" (part one, a-side)| Bob Marley, Lee Perry| 3:18
13.| "Smile Jamaica" (part two, b-side)| Bob Marley, Lee Perry| 3:07

## Personnel

[edit]

Bob Marley and the Wailers

* Bob Marley – vocals
* Earl "Chinna" Smith – guitar, percussion
* Al Anderson – guitar
* Carlton Barrett – drums
* Aston Barrett – bass guitar
* Jean Alain Roussel – Hammond Organ on "Positive Vibrations", "No Woman, No Cry" and "Roots, Rock, Reggae"
* Tyrone Downie – keyboards

with:

* I Threes – backing vocals
* Tommy McCook – saxophone on "Roots, Rock, Reggae"
* Donald Kinsey – guitar overdubs on "Johnny Was" and "Roots, Rock, Reggae"
* Neville Garrick – art direction

Source: The Jamaica Observer[7][8]

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1976)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[9] | 68
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[10] | 32
France (IFOP)[11] | 12
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12] | 20
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[13] | 26
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[14] | 14
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[15] | 45
UK Albums (OCC)[16] | 15
US Billboard 200[17] | 8
US R&B Albums[17] | 11

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United Kingdom (BPI)[18] | Gold  | 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[19] | Gold  | 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bush, Nathan. "Bob Marley & the Wailers – Rastaman Vibration". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
2. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
3. ^ Abowitz, Richard. "Bob Marley – Rastaman Vibration". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
4. ^ Palmer, Robert (17 June 1976). "Bob Marley – Rastaman Vibration". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 28 April 2007.
5. ^ a b Leigh, Spencer (7 January 2009). "Vincent Ford: Songwriter credited with composing 'No Woman, No Cry'". The Independent. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
6. ^ a b Kenner, Rob (3 January 2009). "Vincent Ford Dies at 68; Inspired Classic Bob Marley Songs". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
7. ^ Campbell, Howard (24 January 2016). "Rastaman Vibration!". The Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
8. ^ "Rastaman Vibration Trivia". The Jamaica Observer. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 192\. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
10. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4282a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
11. ^ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "Bob Marley & the Wailers" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
12. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Rastaman Vibration" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
13. ^ "Charts.nz – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Rastaman Vibration". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
14. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Rastaman Vibration". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
15. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Rastaman Vibration". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
16. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
17. ^ a b "Rastaman Vibration – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
18. ^ "British album certifications – Bob Marley – Rastaman Vibration". British Phonographic Industry.
19. ^ "American album certifications – Bob Marley – Rastaman Vibration". Recording Industry Association of America.

## External links

[edit]

* Detailed examination of the original album and the deluxe edition on Wailers.co.uk.
* Transcript of Haile Selassie's 1963 speech addressed to the United Nations, which was made into the song "War".
* Sound recording of Selassie's speech, spoken in Amharic, but also interpreted in English.

* v
* t
* e

Bob Marley and the Wailers

* Bob Marley
* Peter Tosh
* Bunny Wailer

* Other vocalists: Junior Braithwaite
* Cherry Smith
* Beverley Kelso
* Constantine "Vision" Walker
* Rita Marley
* Marcia Griffiths
* Judy Mowatt

* Musicians: Aston "Family Man" Barrett
* Carlton Barrett
* Earl Lindo
* Tyrone Downie
* Alvin "Seeco" Patterson
* Al Anderson
* Earl "Chinna" Smith
* Donald Kinsey
* Junior Marvin

Studio albums|

* The Wailing Wailers (1965)
* Soul Rebels (1970)
* Soul Revolution Part II (1971)
* The Best of the Wailers (1971)
* Catch a Fire (1973)
* Burnin' (1973)
* Natty Dread (1974)
* Rastaman Vibration (1976)
* Exodus (1977)
* Kaya (1978)
* Survival (1979)
* Uprising (1980)
* Confrontation (1983)

Compilations|

* African Herbsman (1973)
* Rasta Revolution (1974)
* Legend (1984)
* Rebel Music (1986)
* Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On (1995)
* 21 Winners: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers (1997)
* One Love: The Very Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers (2001)
* Gold (2005)

Live albums|

* Live! (1975)
* Babylon by Bus (1978)
* Talkin' Blues (1991)
* Live at the Roxy (2003)
* Live Forever: September 23, 1980 • Stanley Theatre • Pittsburgh, PA (2011)
* Easy Skanking in Boston '78 (2015)

Remix albums|

* Chances Are (1981)
* Chant Down Babylon (1999)
* B Is for Bob (2009)

Box sets|

* Songs of Freedom (1992)
* The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967–1972 (1997–2002)

Singles|

* "Judge Not"
* "Simmer Down"
* "Guava Jelly"
* "Stir It Up"
* "Get Up, Stand Up"
* "I Shot the Sheriff"
* "No Woman, No Cry (Live '75)"
* "Jah Live"
* "Exodus"
* "Waiting in Vain"
* "Jamming"/"Punky Reggae Party"
* "Is This Love"
* "Satisfy My Soul"
* "So Much Trouble in the World"
* "Could You Be Loved"
* "Redemption Song"
* "Three Little Birds"
* "Forever Loving Jah"
* "Buffalo Soldier"
* "One Love/People Get Ready"
* "Iron Lion Zion"
* "Sun Is Shining"
* "Turn Your Lights Down Low"
* "Slogans"
* "Is This Love"

Other songs|

* "One Love"
* "Rude Boy"
* "Mr Brown"
* "Small Axe"
* "No Woman, No Cry"
* "Turn Your Lights Down Low"
* "Sun Is Shining"
* "One Drop"
* "War"
* "Hammer"

Performances|

* Smile Jamaica Concert (1976)
* Exodus Tour (1977)
* One Love Peace Concert (1978)
* Uprising Tour (1980)

Associated acts|

* The Skatalites
* The Upsetters
* Word, Sound and Power
* The Wailers Band
* The Original Wailers

Related people|

* Chris Blackwell
* Errol Brown
* Allan Cole
* Coxsone Dodd
* Vincent Ford
* Neville Garrick
* Joe Higgs
* Lee Jaffe
* Arthur Jenkins
* King Sporty
* Leslie Kong
* Johnny Nash
* Jimmy Norman
* Lee "Scratch" Perry
* Mortimer Planno
* Karl Pitterson
* Alex Sadkin

Related articles|

* Discography
* Band members
* Outline of Bob Marley
* 1976 assassination attempt
* Marley Natural
* Upsetter Records
* Tuff Gong
* Bob Marley Museum
* Statue of Bob Marley
* Tribute to the Legend: Bob Marley
* Marley
* soundtrack
* Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley's 50th Anniversary
* Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley
* One Love: The Bob Marley Musical
* Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical
* Bob Marley: One Love
* soundtrack

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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