As we continue to share with you articles documenting the life of Bob Marley, I am pleased to report that I finally got my hands on a near-mint copy of the Smash Hits issue which was published on August 7, 1980.
The interview occurs just one month prior to The Wailers’ two-night billing with The Commodores at Madison Square Garden in New York City. As many of you know, it is reported that The Wailers draw a larger crowd as an opening act than do The Commodores as the headliner. An audio recording and review of one of the shows can be found HERE.
I will continue to share rare interviews and press clippings throughout Bob’s birthday week. Check back tomorrow for another gem! Enjoy!
Included is a very rare demo, probably recorded around 1978 with Lee “Scratch” Perry’s involvement. Only a handfull of collectors own this tape, however, it was leaked this morning. Many thanks to whoever leaked it.
Here is an excerpt from Stephen Davis’ biography on Bob Marley:
Many thanks to MIDNIGHT RAVER BLOG Co-Editor Fred “Reggaelover” P for his crucial input.
Today I’m sharing a couple of press clippings shared by the Midnight Raver Blog’s own Joe Jurgensen. They discuss Bob Marley and the Wailers’ return to the UK in the summer of 1980. For those who missed it, I have also included a link to an older post which includes the audio recording from one of the shows: Deeside Leisure Centre, June 12, 1980. This is one of the best recorded Marley shows in circulation. It also includes a concert review.
New Musical Express June 14, 1980
Bob Marley and the Wailers Deeside Leisure Centre Connah’s Quay, Wales June 12, 1980
1. “Marley Chant” 2. “Natural Mystic” 3. “Positive Vibration” 4. “Revolution” 5. “I Shot The Sheriff” 6. “War” “No More Trouble” 7. “Zimbabwe” 8. “Zion Train” 9. “No Woman, No Cry“ 10. “Jammin’” 11. “Exodus” 12. “Redemption Song“ 13. “Coming In From The Cold” 14. “Natty Dread” 15. “Work” 16. “Could You Be Loved?”
Tuff Gong is a record label that was formed by The Wailers in 1970 and named after Bob Marley’s nickname, which was in turn an echo of that given to founder of the Rastafari movement, Leonard “The Gong” Howell. The first single on the label was “Run For Cover” by The Wailers. After 1973, the Tuff Gong headquarters was located at 56 Hope Road, Kingston, Jamaica.
Bob Marley and the Wailers entered the newly refurbished Tuff Gong Studios on May 1, 1980 to rehearse songs for the upcoming Uprising tour which starts June 1, 1980 in München, Germany. A film crew is at the rehearsal to film footage for a JBC documentary on Bob Marley and Tuff Gong. Much of the rehearsal was captured on film, and it has become legendary footage. I have included much of the rehearsal session here in a You Tube playlist.
If you haven’t already done so, you may download the You Tube Downloader® which allows you to download You Tube videos.
I have also included lossless (m4a) audio outtakes from the rehearsal session. These outtakes include 10 tunes, each in several rehearsal versions.
*I apologize. There was no info.txt file with these recordings. Some of these files may be lossy as I cannot verify the source with no info.txt file. Also, there may be duplicates. Still worthwhile if you don’t already have.
I converted the FLAC audio to Apple lossless (m4a) for better compression. You may convert the files back to FLAC or WAV without losing any audio quality.
Bob Marley and the Wailers Tuff Gong Studio Rehearsal May 1, 1980
01.Revolution Revolution cut(KR).flac Revolution cut(NSC).flac Revolution cut(Up-Reh).flac Revolution(GD-2).flac Revolution(TGR).flac Revolution(Up-Reh).flac Revolution(Up-Reh320).mp3 Revolution(WLS3).flac 02.Real Situation Real Situation(FWT).flac Real Situation(TGR).flac Real Situation(Up-Reh).flac Real Situation(Up-Reh320).mp3 03.Zion Train Zion Train False Start 1(TGR).flac Zion Train False Start 1(Up-Reh).flac Zion Train False Start 1(Up-Reh320).mp3 Zion Train False Start 2(TGR).flac Zion Train False Start 2(Up-Reh).flac Zion Train False Start 2(Up-Reh320).mp3 Zion Train(DSM-UpReh).flac Zion Train(FWT).flac Zion Train(INL320).mp3 Zion Train(NTL).flac Zion Train(TGR).flac Zion Train(Up-Reh).flac Zion Train(Up-Reh320).mp3 04.I Shot The Sheriff I Shot The Sheriff(DSM-UpReh).flac I Shot The Sheriff(INL320).mp3 I Shot The Sheriff(NTL).flac I Shot The Sheriff(TGR).flac I Shot The Sheriff(Up-Reh).flac I Shot The Sheriff(Up-Reh320).mp3 05.Bad Card Bad Card(DSM-UpReh).flac Bad Card(FWT).flac Bad Card(KR).flac Bad Card(NSC).flac Bad Card(TGR).flac Bad Card(Up-D3).flac Bad Card(Up-Reh) (2).flac Bad Card(Up-Reh).flac Bad Card(Up-Reh320).mp3 06.Work Work(DSM-UpReh).flac Work(FWT).flac Work(TGR).flac Work(Up-Reh320).mp3 Work(UpReh).flac 07.Pimper’s Paradise Pimper’s Paradise(DSM-UpReh).flac Pimper’s Paradise(FWT).flac Pimper’s Paradise(KR).flac Pimper’s Paradise(NSC).flac Pimper’s Paradise(TGR).flac Pimper’s Paradise(Up-D1).flac Pimper’s Paradise(Up-D3).flac Pimper’s Paradise(Up-Reh) (2).flac Pimper’s Paradise(Up-Reh).flac Pimper’s Paradise(Up-Reh320).mp3 08.Forever Loving Jah Forever Loving Jah cut(FWT).flac Forever Loving Jah cut(KR).flac Forever Loving Jah cut(NSC).flac Forever Loving Jah cut(Up-Reh).flac Forever Loving Jah(DSM-UpReh).flac Forever Loving Jah(TGR).flac Forever Loving Jah(Up-D1).flac Forever Loving Jah(Up-Reh).flac Forever Loving Jah(Up-Reh320).mp3 09.Concrete Jungle Concrete Jungle(DSM-UpReh).flac Concrete Jungle(TGR).flac Concrete Jungle(Up-Reh).flac Concrete Jungle(Up-Reh320).mp3 10.Redemption Song Redemption Song(KR).flac Redemption Song(NSC).flac Redemption Song(Up-Reh).flac