Bob Marley
Climb the Ladder

(Heartbeat/Rounder)

First Appeared at The Music Box, November 2000, Volume 7, #11

Written by John Metzger

Before Bob Marley attained international stardom, he was a smash hit in his homeland of Jamaica. There, he and his group The Wailers spent countless hours at the legendary Studio One, where they were carefully groomed for success by producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd.

Climb the Ladder, the latest archival release from Marley, features 17 songs from these mid-'60s studio sessions, and while none of the material is particularly revelatory, it does showcase a band that is poised for bigger and better things. The vocal harmonies are smooth and pure, and the music has a vibe and energy that are hard to beat.

Musically, Climb the Ladder sheds some light on Marley and The Wailers' early influences from folk, gospel, R&B, American '50s rock, and doo-wop to the early ska and reggae sounds of Kingston, Jamaica, which the outfit helped to define. While Climb the Ladder certainly isn't a must-own endeavor, it is an interesting diversion for those who are curious about how Marley got his start. Just keep in mind these are early recordings that weren't intended for release, so the sound quality is less than perfect.

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Ratings

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2000 The Music Box