April 30, 1976 - Rastaman Vibration

A week after my last release, and a year and a half since "Natty Dread", Bob Marley & The Wailers released their second album under this name titled "Rastaman Vibration" on April 30, 1976. As per usual lately, there are a few line-up changes to the band. Keyboardist Bernard Harvey is no longer with the band and while Jean Roussel still features on a couple songs, they bring in Tyrone Downie as the new full-time keyboardist. They also add Earl "Chinna" Smith, joining Al Anderson on guitar as Bob Marley only contributes vocals to this album. After such a long break, what will this new version of The Wailers have in store? Let's find out!

The album begins with "Positive Vibration" and Carlton Barrett opens pretty much every song with a little drum fill before they settle into this organ-led reggae riff. Roussel plays the cool organ and we hear some cool slow electric guitar as Bob sings about having positive vibes. The I-Threes continue their solid back-up singing as they back Bob's peaceful lyrics. It's a pretty cool beat as they jam it out and I like the trippy-sounding guitar that gives this song a different feel to it. Up next is "Roots, Rock, Reggae" and this is Roussel's only other song that he features on as he opens the song with some more cool organ. Aston Barrett plays a solid bass groove as Downie plays the piano. Bob's vocals sound very passionate and I think he sounds great. There's some guest saxophone on this song that sounds pretty awesome! This jazzy sax really adds to this reggae beat and there's some pretty cool guitar as well. While still being a reggae-based riff this sounds unlike anything The Wailers have done with some really great lead guitar and sax leading the way. Very nicely done! Track 3 is "Johnny Was" and the I-Threes kick it off as we hear Downie play a cool piano riff. Marley sings in a nice but sad voice and the music fits his mood as he sings about a man who was killed in the street by a stray bullet. He paints a very real image of the mother collapsing and crying after Johnny's death as this song is a well-done tribute. Downie's keyboards are the highlight for me as they fade out this solid song. The next song "Cry To Me" is much more upbeat with some quick keyboards, some fast reggae-style guitar and Bob hitting some pretty high notes as he whoos in the opening. Anderson plays some cool lead guitar and the I-Threes are all over this song, singing the main rhythm while Bob takes lead with his usual antics. This is a short song at 2 and a half minutes but it keeps you bouncing the whole way through! The final song on this side is "Want More" which opens with a catchy guitar riff and some cool piano by Downie. There's a cool-sounding guitar that plays intermittently that sounds very interesting as the piano carries the beat. Bob's quick singing sounds pretty good and Anderson plays some pretty sweet lead guitar! The lyrics talk about greed and never having enough and The Wailers continue to come up with some pretty catchy beats. This main beat never gets old as there's always someone playing a smooth note to keep the groove going. The I-Threes sing the final verse as this first side comes to a close.

Side two kicks off with "Crazy Baldhead" and Marley lets out some pretty crazy yells to open this song as Downie leads this reggae beat with some keyboards. Bob sings in a scat-style for one verse and he does it pretty well. The lyrics are an attack on the white leaders of past (and some present) as Bob sings how black people built a lot of society as slaves but were then painted as fools in the schoolbooks. It's all too true and I can't blame Bob for wanting to chase these "crazy baldheads out of the town". Barrett's bass is solid the whole way through as this jam slowly fades to an end. The next song is "Who The Cap Fit" and Downie plays some cool keyboards to open this one and the I-Threes sound pretty good oohing in the background. Barrett plays some nice drums in this riff as Marley sings pretty well overtop. The I-Threes echo Bob in the chorus as Downie continues to play some sweet lead keyboards. It's another relaxing reggae song that sounds pretty cool as this one also fades to the end. Track 8 is "Night Shift" and the bass and keyboards sync up for a cool beat, then Downie adds piano as well. We hear the typical reggae guitar as Bob is singing passionately once again. He sings about working on a forklift all night as Downie plays some pretty sweet organ to lead the verses. They slowly jam out this short song that continues a theme of good, but not really great songs on this album. Up next is "War" and this riff is led by some cool guitar with the Barrett brothers providing a nice rhythm section. Marley's voice doesn't sound passionate in this one, he takes a more serious tone as he delivers some excellent lyrics. He lists all the reasons why there is war all over our planet, beginning with the fact that some people believe they are of a superior race and know what is better for the inferior people. "Until the colour of a man's skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes". When the rights of a country are applied equally to all races. The problem of racism continues to plague our planet and Marley is spot on with his lyrics. Downie plays some cool keyboards in this solid backing riff as Bob continues to lead the way. It certainly has a more serious tone than most reggae but it delivers a powerful message and I think they did a great job. The record closer is "Rat Race" as Downie plays some cool keyboards and we hear some horns as well in this cool beat. Bob's singing sounds great as usual and the horns sound really good, though it's unclear who's playing them. It's a pretty solid main riff though as Bob sings quickly along. This is the shortest song on the album at under 3 minutes but it's a nice way to end what was another solid Wailers album.

That is the end of "Rastaman Vibration" and I thought it was a good album. I like the addition of Tyrone Downie on keyboards as he plays some cool stuff throughout the album. It was another mostly laid-back album but did take a more serious tone at times. But how does it compare to the other Wailers albums I have? This album was solid no doubt but I thought their last album "Natty Dread" had a bit more life and energy to it and so this new effort is his least good album that I have so far. It's not a large gap though as Bob Marley and the Wailers continue to come up with lots of cool reggae songs.