Bob Marley & The Wailers - Rastaman Vibration (1976)

"Rastaman Vibration" is a roots reggae album by Bob Marley & The Wailers released on April 30, 1976. The album was a great success in the USA, becoming the first (and only) Bob Marley release to reach the top ten on the Billboard 200 charts, in addition to releasing Marley's most popular US single ("Roots, Rock, Reggae" was the only Bob Marley single to reach the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Synthesizers are featured prominently on this album, 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 Bunny Wailer's album Blackheart Man and Peter Tosh's Legalize It.

Upon completing the 1975 tour, Marley and his band returned to Jamaica, laying down the tracks for Rastaman Vibration (1976) at legendary studios run by Harry Johnson and Joe Gibbs. At the mixing board for the sessions were Sylvan Morris and Errol Thompson, Jamaican engineers of the highest caliber.

Equally strong are the likes of "Rat Race," "Crazy Baldhead," and "Want More." These songs are tempered by buoyant, lighthearted material like "Cry to Me," "Night Shift," and "Positive Vibration." Not quite as strong as some of the love songs Marley would score hits with on subsequent albums, "Cry to Me" still seems like an obvious choice for a single and remains underrated.

Track listing

01.  Positive Vibration  (Vincent Ford)  - 3:33

02.  Roots, Rock, Reggae  (Vincent Ford)  - 3:38

03.  Johnny Was  (Rita Marley)  - 3:48

04.  Cry to Me  (Rita Marley)  - 2:36

05.  Want More  (Aston Barrett)  - 4:15

06.  Crazy Baldhead  (Rita Marley, Vincent Ford)  - 3:11

07.  Who The Cap Fit  (Aston Barrett, Carlton Barrett)  - 4:43

08.  Night Shift  (Bob Marley)  - 3:11

09.  War  (Allen Cole, Carlton Barrett)  - 3:36

10.  Rat Race  (Rita Marley)  - 2:49

11.  Jah Live  (Bob Marley) (Bonus Track)  - 4:13

Released:  April 30, 1976

Recorded:  Harry J. Studios, Joe Gibbs Studio, Kingston, Jamaica

Genre:  Reggae

Length:  35:21

Label:  Island

Producer:  Bob Marley & The Wailers

Personnel

Bob marley - Lead Vocals, Guitar [Rhythm], Acoustic Guitar, Percussion

Aston "Family Man" Barrett - Bass, Guitar, Percussion

Carlton Barrett  - Drums, Percussion 

Earl Smith - Guitar [Lead, Rhythm], Percussion

Donald Kinsey - Guitar [Lead] 

Tyrone Downie - Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Backing Vocals 

Alvin "Seeco" Patterson  - Percussion

I Threes (Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley) - Backing Vocals