Babylon by Bus

For the 2006 book, see Babylon by Bus (book).

Babylon by Bus
Live album by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Released	November 10, 1978
Recorded	25-27th June 1978 (Paris) 1975, 1976 (London)
Genre	Reggae
Length	69:37
Label	Tuff Gong/Island
Producer	Bob Marley & The Wailers, Chris Blackwell and Jack Nuber
Bob Marley & The Wailers chronology
Kaya (1978) Babylon by Bus (1978) Survival (1979)

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Babylon By Bus is a live album released by Bob Marley & The Wailers in 1978. The tracks on this album are considered, with two exceptions, to be from the Pavillon de Paris concerts over 3 nights, 25-27th June 1978, during the Kaya Tour, though there are discrepancies in the track listing.

Like the 1973 album Catch A Fire, the first release had something of a novelty cover. The windows of the bus on the front cover were cut out, revealing part of the inner sleeve. As this was a double album, the listener had a choice of four different scenes to view through the windows.

Track listing

The "Heathen", "Lively Up Yourself" and "Concrete Jungle" were not as common as the rest of the album on the tour, with 2 of the 3 more than likely played on any given night, but not always, and were only ever all played on the same night twice: at the Pinecrest Country Club in Shelton, Connecticut, 14th June and the Music Inn in Lenox, Massachusetts 18th June, which was one of the longest shows ever played by the band with 22 songs, but none were played at the Paris concerts. "Rebel Music", "Positive Vibration", "Jamming", "Exodus", "War / No More Trouble" and "Punky Reggae Party" were nearly always played at some point of each concert, though were mixed up some times with other songs like "Get Up, Stand Up", usually played with "Punky Reggae Party", which isn't on this album though was also played most nights. The song "Is This Love" was also not common on this tour, though was played in Paris. The track "Kinky Reggae" wasn't played on the Kaya tour and in fact hadn't been played since the 1976 Rastaman Vibration tour, so it's unclear which concert this version is from.

All tracks written by Bob Marley, except where noted.

Side one

1. "Positive Vibration" (Vincent Ford) - 5:48
2. "Punky Reggae Party" (Bob Marley, Lee Perry) - 5:52
3. "Exodus" - 7:38

Side two

1. "Stir It Up" (Recorded July 18, 1975 at The Lyceum, London, England) - 5:20
2. "Rat Race" (Rita Marley) (Recorded June 1976, Hammersmith Odeon, London, England) - 3:37
3. "Concrete Jungle" - 5:38
4. "Kinky Reggae" - 4:50

Side three

1. "Lively Up Yourself" - 6:19
2. "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)" (Aston Barrett, Hugh Peart) - 5:22
3. "War / No More Trouble" (Alan Cole, Carlton Barrett, Bob Marley) - 5:30

Side four

1. "Is This Love" - 7:33
2. "Heathen" - 4:30
3. "Jamming" - 5:39

Current CD Version

All tracks written by Bob Marley, except where noted.

1. "Positive Vibration" (Vincent Ford) - 5:47
2. "Punky Reggae Party" (Bob Marley, Lee Perry) - 5:52
3. "Exodus" (Bob Marley) - 7:38
4. "Stir It Up" (Recorded July 18, 1975 at The Lyceum, London, England) (Bob Marley) - 5:20
5. "Rat Race" (Recorded 1976, Hammersmith Odeon, London, England) (Bob Marley, Rita Marley) - 3:37
6. "Concrete Jungle (Bob Marley) - 5:38
7. "Lively Up Yourself" (Bob Marley) - 6:19
8. "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)" (Aston Barrett, Hugh Peart) - 5:22
9. "War / No More Trouble" (Alan Cole, Carlton Barrett, Bob Marley) - 5:30
10. "Kinky Reggae" (Bob Marley) - 4:50
11. "Is This Love" (Bob Marley) - 7:33
12. "Heathen" (Bob Marley) - 4:30
13. "Jamming" (Bob Marley) - 5:39

Musicians

• Bob Marley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Carlton Barrett – drums
• Aston "Family Man" Barrett – bass
• Tyrone "Organ D" Downie – keyboards
• Junior Marvin – lead guitar
• Alvin "Seeco" Patterson – percussion
• Al Anderson – lead guitar
• Earl "Wire" Lindo – keyboards
• Rita Marley – backing vocals
• Marcia Griffiths – backing vocals
• Judy Mowatt – backing vocals