Bob Marley & the Wailers
Burnin'
one of rough trade's island 50th anniversary selection 50 crucial titles specially selected by us to highlight the unique contribution this seminal label has made to british music since 1959 released just six months after 'catch a fire' 'burnin' is the equal of its predecessor in its musical focus and passion yet it contains arguably an even better batch of songs leaner tighter and simultaneously more hardhitting and more hookoriented than the songs on 'catch a fire' the set list here dazzles two tracks in particular the inspirational civil rights anthem 'get up stand up' and the storysong 'i shot the sheriff' are among the best songs bob marley ever wrote the uncompromising tone of the former reveals the band's militant streak and their allegiance to human freedoms while the latter on a languid midtempo groove is an allegory that shows marley's growing versatility as a firstrate songwriter the song later became a number one hit for eric clapton 'burnin' features a number of tunes from the early wailers' catalogue rerecorded for these sessions including 'put it on' 'small axe' and 'duppy conqueror' this material holds up remarkably well and fits into the context of the album without a hitch 'burnin' and lootin' one of the band's spookier songs is another highlight and adds to the tense revolutionary feel of the set the musicianship here is superior with contributions from peter tosh and bunny wailer standing out but this was to be the last album with the original lineup before tosh and wailer left for solo careers
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