There are a handful of dead but immortal entertainers that almost everyone has a sudden love affair with in late high school or college/university. We put posters of them in our lockers or dorm rooms and immerse ourselves in their entire recording catalogue. I’m talking Elvis, Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, and this guy. They comprise a sort of Mount Rushmore of dead rock ‘n’ roll icons and it seems every kid takes to idolizing them as they spread their wings in post-secondary education. Or at least we did back in the olden days.
I, of course, having only experienced rock music after I was twelve was perhaps a little behind my peers so I left the icon worship to close friends. Or maybe I just wasn’t that into reggae, despite my fondness for “Red Red Wine” by UB40. Nonetheless, there are certain songs that are so truly fantastic they transcend their own genre and can garner interest from even the most steadfast non-fan. Reggae may not be my thing, but this song certainly is and this live version very well may be the greatest live recording in history. Seriously. How’s that for hyperbole?
Let’s kick of this weekend with one of the best known songs from the legendary king of reggae Bob Marley along with his Wailers. This is “No Woman, No Cry” originally from the 1974 studio album Natty Dread but best known for the live version from the 1975 album Live!
Leave a Reply