Bob Marley & the Wailers are by far the most famous reggae artists of all time, more so than any other artist in any other genre. Their most famous album is Legend, which stands as the bible of reggae with most of the most famous reggae songs by any artist. Catch a Fire is the only album they released that actually competes with it in love, social consciousness, and vitriol.
As the bass drops in with the organ through to the slow glissando of the guitar, “Concrete Jungle” introduces the world to explicit poverty of the Caribbean. The chorus of “Slave Driver” captures the height this sentiment: “Slave driver / the table has turned / catch a fire / so you can get burned.” These words are not from a misguided kid; they are from a people who were used as cattle and have nothing to show for the work of their ancestors, stricken with poverty, and are finding new means to survive.
Two songs by Peter Tosh are rerecorded from early albums, “400 Years” and “Stop That Train”, the former being another pretty good song tracing the roots of their slavery, and the latter is reborn with soul on the verge of Sam Cooke, without the ridiculously powerful vocals.
Three love songs are couched in between the pain, “Baby We’ve Got a Date (Rock It Baby)”, “Stir It Up” and “Kinky Reggae”. The first two are touching without any choleric residue of the preceding tracks, and the title of “Kinky Reggae” describes it best. Sonically, “Stir It Up” is probably the best Bob Marley & the Wailers ever recorded. “No More Trouble” mixes the early troubles with the later loving theme. “Midnight Ravers” is one last protest; a protest to protest musically, to keep the music flowing as the spirit of powerful protest in the future for progression and cultural ascension to a soundtrack.
Almost as powerful as anything sung in the album is the original cover for the album: a vinyl size zippo lighter case that opens like the lighter to reveal the records. The process was too expensive to mass produce, but the message was clear that this was not supposed to be another Wailers album or another reggae album. The cover that was used as a cost effective alternative does take a bit away from the initial presentation, being just another Bob Marley picture smoking a joint, the cover is one of a few in the history of pop/rock music that aids in the perception of the album without making a sound (Meet the Residents).
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