BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – CONFRONTATION LP – Nr MINT A2/B1 UK 1983  DUB REGGAE

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Confrontation
(Island Records  1983  ILPS9760)
Matrix No’s: A2/B1 – UK Pressing

Gatefold Sleeve in Nr MINT/Excellent+ condition
– tiny tear at bottom edge and some small pin holes in bottom right corner

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
(there are some surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality)

Robert Nesta Marley, OM (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter, musician and guitarist who achieved international fame and acclaim, blending mostly reggae, ska and rocksteady in his compositions. Starting out in 1963 with the group the Wailers, he forged a distinctive songwriting and vocal style that would later resonate with audiences worldwide. The Wailers would go on to release some of the earliest reggae records with producer Lee “Scratch” Perry.

After the Wailers disbanded in 1974, Marley pursued a solo career upon his relocation to England that culminated in the release of the album Exodus in 1977, which established his worldwide reputation and elevated his status as one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, with sales of more than 75 million records. Exodus stayed on the British album charts for 56 consecutive weeks. It included four UK hit singles: “Exodus”, “Waiting in Vain”, “Jamming”, and “One Love”. In 1978, he released the album Kaya, which included the hit singles “Is This Love” and “Satisfy My Soul”. The greatest hits album, Legend, was released in 1984, three years after Marley died. It subsequently became the best-selling reggae album of all time.

Diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma in 1977, Marley died on 11 May 1981 in Miami at age 36. He was a committed Rastafari who infused his music with a sense of spirituality. He is credited with popularising reggae music around the world and served as a symbol of Jamaican culture and identity. Marley has also evolved into a global symbol and inspired numerous items of merchandise.

Confrontation is a Roots reggae album by Bob Marley & the Wailers, released posthumously in May 1983, two years after Marley’s death. The songs on this album were compiled from unreleased material and singles recorded during Marley’s lifetime. Many of the tracks were built up from demos, most notably Jump Nyabinghi where vocals from the I-Threes were added, which were not there when Marley released the song as a dubplate in 1979. In addition the harmony vocals on Blackman Redemption and Rastaman Live Up are performed by the I-Threes in order to give the album a consistent sound – on the original single versions they are performed by The Meditations. The most famous track on the album is “Buffalo Soldier.” Marley expressed the wish that “I Know” would be released as a single after his death, which Island Records obliged.

Inside the album sleeve is an artist’s depiction of the Battle of Adowa where Ethiopian forces defeated Italy in 1896. The cover of Confrontation is a reference to the story of St. George and the Dragon. The dragon on the cover represents Babylon, which is being slain by Bob Marley via his music.

Track listing

Original album (1983)

All songs written and composed by Bob Marley, except where stated.

Personnel

• Bob Marley – lead vocals, background vocal, rhythm guitar
• Aston Barrett – bass, guitar, percussion
• Carlton Barrett – drums, akete
• Tyrone Downie – keyboards, background vocal
• Junior Marvin – lead guitar, background vocal
• Earl Lindo – keyboards
• Alvin Patterson – percussion
• I Threes (Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt) – backing vocals
• Glen DaCosta – tenor saxophone
• David Madden – trumpet
• Ronald “Nambo” Robinson – trombone
• Devon Evans – percussion
• Santa – drums (on “Chant Down Babylon”)
• Neville Garrick – art direction and graphics
• Errol Brown – recording and mixing engineer
• Michaell Reid – assistant engineer
• Errol Brown, Chris Blackwell and Aston Barrett – mixers
• Bob Marley & The Wailers and Errol Brown – producers
• Azdean Marley – executive producer