Blackheart Man
Artist(s):
Bunny Wailer
Label: Island
Publisher(s):
Island
Studio: Island
Manufacturer: Island
Binding: Audio CD
MPN: 586884
Format(s): Original recording remastered
List Price: $13.98
Our Price: $10.97
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Track Listing
1.
Blackheart Man
2.
Fighting Against Convictions
3.
The Opressed Song
4.
Fig Tree
5.
Dream Land
6.
Rasta Man
7.
Reincarnated Souls
8.
Armagideon (Armagedon)
9.
Bide Up
10.
This Train
Customer Reviews
The Ten Messages
This is the 1976 solo debut from Neville "Bunny" O'Riley Livingston. Bunny was the 1/2 brother of Bob Marley; Bunny's father, Thaddeus "Toddy" Livingston, lived for some time with Bob's mother Cedella Booker and had a daughter with her named Pearl Livingston. Bunny, along with Bob and Peter Tosh formed the Wailers and had enormous success in Jamaica, England and were just getting noticed in the States when Bunny decided to leave the Wailers in 1973. Bunny was exhausted from the constant touring and he also felt creatively stiffled. Bunny had written the reggae classics "Hallelujah Time" and "Pass It On" while with the Wailers but he felt as if his music was being overshadowed by Bob Marley's. So, Bunny "retired" to the countryside of Jamaica and recharged his creative batteries.
This initial release is a classic roots-rock-reggae album that features alot of the Wailers (Peter Tosh, Carlton & Aston Barrett, Bob Marley) and Robbie Shakespeare, Earl "Chinna" Smith and Skatalite Tommy McCook as his backing band. Bunny's music and message was/is hard hitting, powerful and soulful, but what set Bunny's music apart from Peter Tosh's and Bob Marley's was Bunny's soothing vocals and peaceful tone. Bob could be very forceful and Peter was in-your-face, but Bunny was more laid-back in his approach. Bunny was able to be powerful in his lyrics and relaxing with his music at the same time. Make no mistake, his message and music is strong; "Blackheart Man", "Fighting Against Convictions", "The Oppressed", "Rasta Man" & "Amagideon" can bring down the walls of Jericho! Listen to "Amagideon" and then Bob Marley's "War" and you will hear the same lyrics and musical theme. I don't know who wrote their song first but they are alot alike.
Songs like "Fig Tree", "Dreamland" and "This Train" will help you escape from the tension of the "real world" and bring you to a more relaxing place where peace and love reign. Bunny has a great voice and it provides a nice juxtapostion between the message and the music.
The Wailers were a triangle and you can't make a triangle without three sides. Bob Marley and Peter Tosh made the point but Bunny was the base.
Bunny's message is righteous, the music hypnotizing and the man a lion. 'Blackheart Man' was/is a classic record that grows in stature as the years fade. It's like drinking a triple espresso and smoking a "j" at the same time - Yah mon, it's irie!
a classic, but...
For starters, Bunny Wailer is the best pure singer out of all the Wailers. he's also probably the most connected to the soul/gospel tradition. Mellower than Peter Tosh and not quite the songwriter that Marley was, he's easy to overlook for casual fans. But his high harmonies really carried the Wailers through their vocal trio days; the tracks on Burnin' and Catch a Fire he sings lead on attest to this. Wailer's first solo album didn't really produce any notable hits--compared to Marley's Natty Dread (which might be Bob's best solo album ever) it's far less groundbreaking or revolutionary--still, it holds together well as an album, not just a collection of songs. Much of the album concerns Bunny's worldview as a Rasta (which perhaps seems more par for the course now than it did when this originally came out), and there are some really beautiful, folksy moments which completely transcend the 'chinka-chunk guitar and three puffs of ganja' paradigm of reggae. I'd get this album for "Dreamland" alone, which is a hauntingly beautiful, spiritually uplifting song. "Fighting Against Convictions" and the title track are also crucial dread offerings. The thing is that Bunny has made much more accessible and anthemic tunes in his career, like "Cool Runnings," "Rise 'n' Shine," and "Love Fire," which trump most, if not all of the material on here on a song-by-song basis -- with the notable exception of "Dreamland." In many ways, Blackheart Man is the result of Bunny's withdrawal from the commercialized Babylon system of the international music industry; its overall tone is highly reflective and contemplative. Not a bad choice for someone looking to expand their classic reggae collection, but really more of a reggae shoegazer album than a militant call to arms.
The Wailers without Bob Marley
I'm glad to see that people are still writing about this disc,even though it is some thirty years later. At the time their was a void created with the departure of The Honorable Robert Nesta Marley. This disc filled the void. Essentially it is a Bob Marley album without the heart and soul fulfilled by him. But fear not as the disc has a soul of it's own where Bunny Wailer produced one for the ages. Peter Tosh's Equal Rights influence is clearly evident, especially on "Fighting Against Convictions" where he takes lead vocals. The instrumentation of the Wailers is intact and sounds very tight. Clearly the structure of earlier Wailer songs permeate this disc and shine through. There is a peaceful resolve to this disc where the music comes full circle. All the tracks are good and especially wothwhile for a more than one listen. Check out the melodic, easy comfort of "Fig Tree," the easy skanking "Dreamland" that is true roots, R&B inspired and has the backing vocals worked in that feature the man himself, Bob Marley, the earthy "Rastaman" that is very much in the spirit of Bob Marley and the prophetic Amagideon(Armagedeon)that is haunting, soulful wisdom in song. This is classic recording any fan of The Wailers should own. Recommended for all reggae enthusiasts.
Timeless Masterpiece
There are certain recordings which seem to reveal something "new" every time you hear them. Blackheart Man is such a record for me. I've had a copy of this recording since it came out, and I've never tired of its lyrics, melodies, or arrangements - not to mention the deeper meaning that emanates from every groove. Definitely one of my All-Time Top Ten.
Underated Wailer
I can't believe I have waited this long to buy this album. I have always loved Bunny and his harmonies as a Wailer. I saw him once at a Bob Marley Day concert in Long Beach about 10 years ago and was amazed at his stage presence and aura. This album is by far the best reggae album that I own. I do own a lot from The Gladiators to Beres. The bass "riddims" are a standard in reggae bass by two of the best in reggae, Robbie Shakespeare and the great Aston "FamilyMan" Barrett. Put some headphones on and meditate on the ambient sounds this album gives out. Everytime I listen to it, I pick up new sounds and get a different understanding of its lyrical inspirations.
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