Babylon By Bus

Description

Recorded in Paris, Copenhagen, London, and Amsterdam in 1978, Babylon by Bus is typical of the Wailers' concerts of the time, except for the absence of "Trenchtown Rock," which opened the previous live album released in 1975. Curiously, the record begins with the very calm "Positive Vibration" and only really kicks off with "Punky Reggae Party," where Marley gets the audience singing: "Youhey, Youhey hey hey hey!" Thus, the listener discovers the dimension that the band's music takes in concert; the riffs are sharp, the rhythms cutting, and the singer fully lets go to connect with the crowd. The dense and deep studio sound becomes airy, enchanting, and much more danceable. The tracks last longer, giving space for engaging breaks with slightly dub accents and Marley, with all his dreadlocks out, executing his famous dances during which he seems possessed. Finally, the guitar solos are confidently delivered by Al Anderson, who does not hesitate to make his instrument scream at the beginning of "Lively Up Yourself." While some of the band's hits are revisited, this album also provides an opportunity to delve into a few forgotten gems of history. Thus, "Rat Race" and "The Heathen" find their rightful place alongside "Lively Up Yourself" and "Stir It Up." The highlight of Babylon by Bus is the essential sequence of "War" and "No More Trouble." A classic from the Wailers' live performances that sounds like a thunderclap due to the passion Marley puts into the lyrics of the first and the powerful reprises of the second. Although the tour from which this concert originates is titled Kaya '78, this album is represented by only one track out of the 13 included in this selection. "Is This Love" is accompanied by three tracks from Exodus, including the final "Jamming," which seems to lead the crowd into an ecstatic trance until the end of the night.