The real Birth of a Legend. Natty Dread was the first Solo Album by Bob Marley. His buddies Peter and Bunny left the Group and the doors were open for a Solo Careeer of the first and only International Superstar to ever come from outside the US or Europe, but from a small Island in the Carribbean - Jamaica. As small as the Island me be, the music they played down there was huge and hot. There was just a certain formula missing, so that other's could feel this Vibes too. Even Bob Marley couldn't conquer the world overnight with just one album; but it was one Song that would change all that later. And it was on this album, but if it wasn't for his fascinating Live Shows, that even rivalled those of The Beatles in the way that the audience reacted to this man and his Music. "No Woman No Cry" was the heart piece of each Bob Marley & The Wailers international Live Shows, celebrated with long Intros and clever arrangements; the first time that this composiion won Gold was not for this here version, but for the one on the Bob Marley & The Wailers Live! Album, pressed on an extra long 7". But it was already there before. This stunning mastering polishes the Original in it's simple, but perfect form. From the brilliant opener "Livey Up Yourselve" to to the finishing "Talkin' Blues" there is nothing but sheer brilliance on this album. (The Bonus Track can not stand the qualty of the rest-so i don't rate that at all). This early Wailers Band got a unique sound, that is characteristed mainly by the Fender Bass Sound of Family Man, who holds the Songs together in a unhurried fashion and the unique Organ Sounds of Touter Harvey, who played only on this LP. They add this bubbling style, that is all over Natty Dread and very nice to listen to. Tight drumming, stiff rhythm guitar and effective but sporadic Waling by The I-Thres are present all thru this musical ride that gets best when either a Harmonica is added : "Rebel Music" sports the best Harmmonica in recorded history, substituting a whole Brass Section. I know why Bob Marley left out the horns, that are essential to all true Reggae; he needed a more Rock-ish Sound to get his message & music across to the many Whitey's out there that hungered for a realistic alternative to their spiritual dillemmas..Bagwahn, Castaneda, TM we are talking 'bout the 70ies. A rebellious Old Testamentarian Religion that uses Marihuana for it's spiritual services ? Cooool !!! He could fool many people most of the time, but never all all the time, so i know my Marley Catechism by heart and i tell y'all: all the best Bob Marly Tunes sport a heavy dark Horn Section. Best on the one Tune, that got that stupid Reggae rhythm where the bass + the drums don't sync but work against each other into my head : "So Jah Seh" Not One Of My Seeds Shall Sit In The Side Walk And Beg Bread - So Jah Seh. Hammer . Here we got this crucial Trombone driviig the theme down over that syncopated twisted drum and bass happening and it stays that way. Most Trax on Side 2 are Roots Reggae in it's purest form and belong to the material , that never got played Live. So i forgot how great these Trax actually were. My Vinyl Copy of Natty Dread is from early 1975 and it sounds like that. It is in fact the LP, that is the longest in my collection. 32 years by now. I haven't played that record since 1991 i guess. The Tuff Gong Back Catalogue got the best remastering treatment on earth. First they did the right thing to let Rob Fraboni & Barry Diamenti do the analog / digital workover, then when the CD Sound was acceptable around 1993/1994 they let them do the first Remastering. Each Time the Sound benefitted from the process. Astonishing how good the Sound already was in the mid 70ies in a Third World Studio, such as Harry J's in Kingston. Sure the Overdubs were recorded in London; but without the great Masters, no Remastering would have a chance. Now after the turn of the milllenium with that 24 Bit Technology they orderd Sterling Sound in New York to get the best Sound possible into these fine looking golden CD'S. Tom Jensen took this to the next level and now we have the best version of Natty Dread yet and of that little Love Song, that made Bob Marley a Super Star. No Woman, No Cry is so damn fine, when he starts his staccatto with "everything will be allright, Yeah" i can't resist but believe that... All you Wailers Marley Fans out there, if you haven't got this album yet, now is the time to get it.