Search - Bob Marley :: Interviews: So Much Things to Say

Marley's world view -- good conversation

Nmuta Jones | Philadelphia, PA United States | 09/18/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I liked "Interviews.." when I first heard it. It was recorded in 1973 before the breakup of the "original" Wailers. The interviewer is also Jamaican, perhaps from more of a middle class background and the exchange between the two of them is interesting. I bought this recording in West Africa. It was popular there and they used to play it in the street sometimes in the market. I was doing an FM reggae show back in the states and had all of Marley's Island recordings, plus some other older recordings, but I had never really heard Marley that much in conversation. This recording is widely sold in Jamaica, Africa, and other parts of the African diaspora. I can see why it is so popular in the African world, because in it, Marley expresses a world view that is very African.What really comes through also is how Marley had such a deep sense of spirituality. No words here can summarize this. I wish I could write this review in Ebonics, but I would lose many readers. For that matter, if you don't understand patois, you may be lost when listening to the "word" on this recording.Marley's world view comes from the experience of being Rasta. So this is really what shines in the interview. He comments on spirituality, being an artist, laws and violence in Jamaica, Jamaican society, going to Ethiopia (Africa), his relationship with music, record producers, his identity, being Rasta. Things like that.The only drawback for me was that the music played in the background was of poor quality on the cassette. Perhaps this has been corrected on the CD. TALKIN' BLUES is another collection of interviews and music, which is good to. There is more interview time on this album than on Talkin' Blues, but Talkin' Blues has its own strengths, too, which you will discover by reading the numerous rave reviews of that album."