Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On
| Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Compilation album by The Wailers | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Recorded | Various | |||
| Genre | Reggae | |||
| Length | 54:56 | |||
| Label | Tuff Gong/Island Records | |||
| The Wailers chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On is a collection of album tracks by Bob Marley, and is an addendum to the 1984 compilation album, Legend. The material on Legend consists mainly of love songs with a few of Marley's more politicized and religious themed works; the selection on Natural Mystic therefore attempts to redress the balance. On the opening title track, he warns of how "one and all got to face reality now" in a world of massive upheaval and change. Other songs explore salvation through oneness ("Africa Unite"), the greed that propels the world towards an inevitable Armageddon ("So Much Trouble In The World") and Marley's own role as a persecuted leader ("Iron Lion Zion"). The magic that was part of his and The Wailers' live shows erupts in the included version of "Trenchtown Rock" which has an infectiuousness that demands a rhythmic response. The inclusion of "Easy Skanking" shows a meditative and laid-back Marley, partaking in Jamaica's most profitable cash crop during a spiritual time-out amidst the chaos of everyday life.
All tracks have been digitally remastered on GOLD version.
Alternative versions
To give Natural Mystic some individuality from its previous counterparts, the compilers placed an alternate extended cut of "Crazy Baldhead" in which more emphasis was given to the "silly noises" breakdown. They also included the remix of Bob Marley's late 1970s rendition of "Keep on Moving" featuring the vocals of Aswad and released exclusively for the UK market in 1984. The new remix which was intended strictly for this particular album project was fashioned in the same way "Iron Lion Zion" was done for Songs of Freedom.
Credits
Original Producers: Bob Marley & The Wailers, Alex Sadkin, Steve Smith, Chris Blackwell and Lee Perry.
Compilation producers: Chris Blackwell, Trevor Wyatt and Bill Levenson.
Track listing
Original album (1995)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Natural Mystic" | Bob Marley | Exodus (1977) | 3:26 |
| 2. | "Easy Skanking" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 2:55 |
| 3. | "Iron Lion Zion" | B. Marley | Songs of Freedom (1992) | 3:14 |
| 4. | "Crazy Baldhead" (extended) | Rita Marley, Vincent Ford | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:23 |
| 5. | "So Much Trouble in the World" | B. Marley | Survival (1979) | 3:57 |
| 6. | "War" | Allan Cole, Carlton Barrett | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:31 |
| 7. | "Africa Unite" | B. Marley | Survival (1979) | 2:54 |
| 8. | "Trenchtown Rock" (live) | B. Marley | Live! (1975) | 4:10 |
| 9. | "Keep on Moving" (1995 mix) | Curtis Mayfield | Songs of Freedom (1992) | 4:21 |
| 10. | "Sun Is Shining" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 4:36 |
| 11. | "Who the Cap Fit" (edit) | Aston Barrett, C. Barrett | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 4:17 |
| 12. | "One Drop" | B. Marley | Survival (1979) | 3:51 |
| 13. | "Roots, Rock, Reggae" (edit) | Ford | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:31 |
| 14. | "Pimper's Paradise" | B. Marley | Uprising (1980) | 3:27 |
| 15. | "Time Will Tell" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 3:30 |
The Definitive Remastered edition (2002)
| Track listing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
| 1. | "Natural Mystic" | Bob Marley | Exodus (1977) | 3:26 |
| 2. | "Easy Skanking" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 2:55 |
| 3. | "Iron Lion Zion" | B. Marley | Songs of Freedom (1992) | 3:14 |
| 4. | "Crazy Baldhead" (extended) | Rita Marley, Vincent Ford | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:23 |
| 5. | "So Much Trouble in the World" | B. Marley | Survival | 3:57 |
| 6. | "War" | Allan Cole, Carlton Barrett | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:31 |
| 7. | "Africa Unite" | B. Marley | Survival (1979) | 2:54 |
| 8. | "Trenchtown Rock" (live) | B. Marley | Live! (1975) | 4:10 |
| 9. | "Keep on Moving" (1995 mix) | Curtis Mayfield | Songs of Freedom (1992) | 4:21 |
| 10. | "Sun Is Shining" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 4:36 |
| 11. | "Who the Cap Fit" (edit) | Aston Barrett, C. Barrett | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 4:17 |
| 12. | "One Drop" | B. Marley | Survival (1979) | 3:51 |
| 13. | "Roots, Rock, Reggae" (edit) | Ford | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:31 |
| 14. | "Pimper's Paradise" | B. Marley | Uprising (1980) | 3:27 |
| 15. | "Positive Vibration" (bonus track) | Ford | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:30 |
| 16. | "Time Will Tell" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 3:30 |
