Africa Unite Singles Collecti [Best of]

Most fans own "Legend". It's a great compilation and I actually own it myself. But this cd just blowns Legend away, Not only are there more tracks but there is simply more quality Not only does it have Bobs most known hits like "Jammin", "No Women No Cry", and "Exodus" but it also has some remixes and a previously unreleased track, all of which are spectacular. While all of Bob's original songs are easily 10/10 heres how the new songs rank in my mind.

18) Africa Unite (Will.I.Am. Remix)--11/10--Best of the new songs and one of the best on the cd. I was hesitant at first (Not a big fan of Black Eyed Peas) but this song is fantastic. Easily best Marley remix I've ever heard (Although if I were you I'd check out the techno remix of "Sun is Shining"). Just a great song for chillin.

19) Slogans--10/10-- Not as good as the last but still another Marley masterpiece. Nice beat and better lyrics. Gotta love it.

20) Stand Up Jamrock (Ashley Beedle Remix--10/10--this song completes the cd with an edgier sounding song with a nice beat that makes it a great take of "Get Up, Stand Up". If you like Damian Marleys music you'll dig this one as it has some samples from "Welcome to Jamrock". Makes the cd a clean sweep of 10's

So as I was saying BUY THIS CD. f you've got $50 laying around go and buy the "Songs of Freedom" box setbut for this price you cant beat the cd. And go buy some Toots and Maytals or Steel Pulse while your at it.

*If* you have been following Bob's career from its beginnings (ever heard the Wailers do "What's New Pussycat?" from the late '60s? It is an ALL-TIME STONE COLD CLASSIC!!!), you will not give short shrift to the first few songs on this CD, but rather rejoice that they are now available with much better (though not as good as his latter productions) mixes, thanks to superior technology. "Soul Rebel", "Lively Up Yourself", "Trench Town Rock", and "Concrete Jungle" are surely some of his finest songs EVER and *rightly* deserve to be included right alongside "Jamming" and "Could You Be Loved", which almost sound like fluff compared to these hard hitting, timeless and lyrically poignant classics.

Onward, the new song and remixes are a nice addition, all songs represent first class Marley material. I rate this compilation the highest single disc achievement of the "greatest hits" type. I still prefer the CDs "Catch A Fire", "Burnin'", "Natty Dread", "Rastaman Vibration", and "Survival" to any greatest hits collection, however. If you love Bob Marley, you OWE IT TO YOURSELF to get the entire Island/Tuff Gong collection of recordings from 1973's "Catch a Fire" through 1983's "Confrontation", and also the "Live at the Roxy" 2 CD (not the single disc) set. Of the Deluxe Edition CDs, "Exodus" is a worthy choice, however, take note: the additional live material on the "Rastaman Vibration" (Deluxe Edition) IS the same material you can get in complete format on the 2 CD "Live at the Roxy" release, and the additional material on the "Catch A Fire" (Deluxe Edition) CD set is merely the original Jamiacan mixes and the "final release" mixes from England via Chris Blackwell (Island Records), in duplicate format. Fanatics will want to have all the Deluxe Editions perhaps, but us regular folks (well, I do have over 20 Marley CDs, so perhaps I qualify as somewhat less than a completist, not quite a fanatic, yet I consider all the "original" Island/Tuff Gong releases('73-'83) ESSENTIAL, including the Roxy (2 CD) and Exodus (Deluxe Edition) version, and having the extra stuff on this "Singles Collection" I think gives me almost all of the best Bob (Marley, not Dylan, but I have most of that, also, and by the way: get Dylan and the Band's "Planet Waves" CD, it's an overlooked gem, but I digress...) ever recorded, except for that unique and tickling version of "What's New Pussycat?" I used to have on 8-track tape so many years ago...).

Anyway, if you want one Marley CD, buy this one, if you want more, get ALL his stuff from '73-'83, the 2 CD Roxy set and Exodus (Deluxe) and THEN get this CD. You'll thank me for it as you're listening to "Hallelujah Time" from "Burnin'", or "So Much Trouble in the World" from "Survival", two of the greatest Wailers songs EVER. Trust me on this one... and if you want an EVEN BIGGER picture, "Talkin' Blues" should be added to the collection. It has "live in studio" recordings from KSAN, (SF Bay Area radio station), by the original Bob+Wailers lineup, and is the *only* material recorded from the first Wailers tour of the States in 1973 known to exist.

Well... what are you waiting for?

(I DID ALL THE HOMEWORK FOR YOU ALREADY!!!). Now enjoy.

This cd is a great collection by the master of music, Bob Marley. Not only does it have some of his best songs, but it also has what I've heard was the last song he wrote before he passed away, "Slogans", and remixes by Will.i.am. Amazing to listen to in the car on a nice, sunny day, with the windows rolled down, singing away! :)