Catch a Fire

For the 2006 film, see Catch a Fire (film).

Untitled

Catch a Fire is the major label debut album for Jamaican roots reggae band The Wailers, released on Island Records in 1973 (see 1973 in music). The album established the band as international superstars, and Marley in particular became world-famous, especially in the Caribbean and Africa, and among immigrants in Europe and African-Americans in the United States. The socially aware lyrics and militant tone surprised many listeners, but others were attracted to songwriters Bob Marley and Peter Tosh's confrontational subjects and optimistic view of a future free from oppression.

Catch a Fire peaked at #171 and #51 on Billboard's (North America) Pop Albums and Black Albums charts respectively. It is number 123 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Track listing

Side one

1. "Concrete Jungle" (Marley) – 4:13
2. "Slave Driver" (Marley) – 2:53
3. "400 Years" (Marley/Tosh) – 2:45
4. "Stop That Train" (Tosh) – 3:55
5. "Baby We've Got A Date (Rock It Baby)" (Marley) – 3:57

Side two

1. "Stir It Up" (Marley) – 5:32
2. "Kinky Reggae" (Marley) – 3:37
3. "No More Trouble" (Marley) – 3:57
4. "Midnight Ravers" (Marley) – 5:10

2001 Deluxe edition

Disc One Catch A Fire: The Unreleased Original Jamaican Versions

1. "Concrete Jungle" – 4:16
2. "Stir It Up" – 3:39
3. "High Tide Or Low Tide" – 4:45
4. "Stop That Train" – 3:55
5. "400 Years" – 3:03
6. "Baby We've Got A Date (Rock It Baby)" – 4:05
7. "Midnight Ravers" – 5:09
8. "All Day All Night" – 3:29
9. "Slave Driver" – 2:57
10. "Kinky Reggae" – 3:45
11. "No More Trouble" – 5:16

Disc Two Catch A Fire: The Released Album

1. "Concrete Jungle" – 4:15
2. "Slave Driver" – 2:55
3. "400 Years" – 2:47
4. "Stop That Train" – 3:57
5. "Baby We've Got A Date (Rock It Baby)" – 3:59
6. "Stir It Up" – 5:35
7. "Kinky Reggae" – 3:39
8. "No More Trouble" – 4:00
9. "Midnight Ravers" – 5:08

Remixing the "English" Version

On completion, the master tapes were taken to the UK for remixing, and Chris Blackwell enlisted the help of two US musicians - making an "English" version of the album. Wayne Perkins re-did some of the rhythm/ lead guitar, whilst John "Rabbit" Bundrick added some organ to the mix.

Iconic Cover Art

The first 20,000 copies of the original 1973 vinyl release were encased in the famous Zippo sleeve (pictured above). This sleeve worked as a Zippo lighter case would, opening at a side hinge to reveal the record within.

However, the producers soon realized that this operation would require hand-manufacture, as machinery available was not sufficient to rivet the upper and lower halves of the sleeve together.

Copies of the record from these original pressings have since become collectors' items, and subsequent pressings are recognizable by their alternative cover art (pictured).

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See also

Classic Albums

Personnel

• Bob Marley - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Vocals, Producer
• Peter Tosh - Organ, Guitar, Piano, Vocals
• Bunny Wailer- Bongos, Conga, Vocals
• Aston "Family Man" Barrett - Bass Guitar
• Carlton "Carlie" Barrett - Drums
• Chris Blackwell - Producer
• Carlton Lee - Engineer

• Tony Platt - Engineer
• Bob Weiner - Design
• Rod Dyer - Design