ClassicAlbums - Bob Marley's Catch a Fire (60 min doc)
Producing The Wailers’ first Island Records album with behind the scenes footage
The creation of Catch a Fire (1973), The Wailers’ first Island Records album is a fascinating look into how the album was put together - fusing the Wailers raw sounds mixed with Chris Blackwell’s aim of making it more “mainstream” and aimed towards a rock audience by introducing outside musicians to smooth it out. From what I read in the fantastic book “Bass Culture,” from which my Substack name comes, Blackwell handed over £ 4,000 for the Wailers to record their album in Jamaica on their own. It was only once the album was complete on their side that Blackwell brought in the final touches.
There’s an ongoing controversy regarding how Blackwell altered the original Wailers’ sound to appeal to a broader audience. To me, the music, Bob’s message, and groove remain intact and without the “polish” of Blackwell during the early days of roots reggae; we may not have seen the legacy of the Wailers and Bob in particular becoming a global icon and representation of peace. It also opened the doors for more artists to gain interest from mid-to-major labels, which helped influence and shape music for decades to come, including hip-hop, jungle, dubstep, and beyond.
Catch A Fire sold over 1 million copies.
Interviews with band members and collaborators:
Bunny Wailer (performance + interview)
Peter Tosh, Rita Marley, Chris Blackwell, session musicians, Family Man Barrett, Robbie Shakespeare, etc.
Rare home movies / archival footage of the Wailers in Jamaica
Instrument breakdowns: producers and musicians dissect tracks like “Stir It Up”, “Stop That Train”, and “Kinky Reggae” to show how they layered overdubs, solos, and arrangements
Interesting Points
Highlights Chris Blackwell’s role in remixing the tapes in London to give the album crossover appeal, including adding guitar overdubs by Wayne Perkins
It’s part of the Classic Albums series, known for its in-depth examinations of iconic records, breaking down individual tracks and production techniques.
Love Catch a Fire