Breath of Life turns their focus over to the year 1976 and the trio of albums that arose from the ashes of the Wailing Wailers. Check out the mix and info below…

….The Wailers. After over ten years together, sharing the hard times and the lean times, and also after a critically acclaimed debut recording, Burnin’, the bond of friendship fractured. There are any number of theories about what the centre couldn’t hold—I’ve no interest whatsoever in doing an autopsy.

What I’m interested in is the magic that all three would come out with sterling albums in the same year. Moreover, while there is no doubt that Bob Marley is not only the major name in reggae, also he is unarguably the leading composer of reggae music, nevertheless, I am not alone in considering Bunny Wailer’s Blackheart Man the superior of the their respective 1976 recordings.

Peter Tosh was basically a polemicist, whether urging the sufferers to “Get Up, Stand Up” or urging the political establishment to “Legalize It,” Tosh had a way of writing hooks that summed up the feelings, beliefs, dreams and realities of the majority of the Jamaican people. But Tosh didn’t have Bob’s thematic range nor Bob’s penchant for memorable melodies. All of which is why I rank Tosh in third place in the 1976 derby—and regardless of what anyone might think today, back then every reggae fan could not help but compare and contrast this particular trio of recordings….

Download the mix here: BUNNY WAILIER, BOB MARLEY, PETER TOSH / “1976 Magic Year Mixtape”.

An interesting piece on the life of the chief engineer at one of Jamaica’s most successful studio, via Babylon Falling and SEEN. Check out an excerpt below…

Sylvan Morris worked as a recording and mixing engineer at the forefront of the development of Jamaican music in the 1960s and 1970s. Equipped with a pitch perfect ear, a naturally inventive spirit, a hands-on approach and an intense work ethic Morris not only managed to create a sound of his own, but also was highly sought after by the musicians of the era, to whom he was affectionately known as ‘My Operator.’ Over the course of a quarter century Morris worked closely with such luminaries as Bob Marley and the Wailers, Jacob Miller, The Heptones, U-Roy, Augustus Pablo, Alton Ellis, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and many more….

Check out the full interview here: Via Babylon Falling: An interview with Sylvan Morris.

Take a walk through Roger Steffens’ 6 room Reggae archives delivered to you via the boys at Seen. You can also get a good history lesson as well on some of the pics

With the Distant Relatives project coming closer to completion, there’s been some more teasers released by the Nas/Damian camp. This mixtape is basically different Nas acapellas over beats containing samples from Bob Marley’s Uprising album.

Download here

And just to keep the vibe going here is a clip of Nas and Damian Marley performing together at a recent concert.

Supreme releases a video interview with Lee Scratch Perry, Jamaica’s Musical Shaman. The interview gives us an overall brief history into the life of Lee Perry, one of the most important creative, artistic and musical figures to emerge from Jamaica in the latter half of the 20th Century. Along with his musical achievements, he has also directly influenced numerous important figures active in other genres, including everyone from Paul McCartney and Brian Eno to the Clash, the Beastie Boys and Jay-Z. For Supreme’s 2010 Spring Collection, they collaborate with Lee Perry on two t-shirt designs featuring his written word and original artwork

…via.

I came across this over the weekend. Share and share alike they say, right? See the video below…

AFRICA UNITE is a singular and masterfully executed film by Stephanie Black that is at once concert tribute, Marley family travelogue, and humanitarian documentary, igniting the screen with the spirit of world-renowned reggae icon BOB MARLEY in its every frame. In commemoration of Bob’s 60th birthday, AFRICA UNITE is centered on the Marleys’ first-time-ever family trip to Ethiopia in 2005. Includes rare footage of Marley.

Not too much to say about the man that hasn’t already been said.

For some vibes to spin throughout the day to remember him by, check this out…

For more Bob Marley on Burden, click here.

For this year’s Bob Marley Music Ffestival and Food Drive, the show’s offical DJ, Walshy Fire has put together this mix showcasing the artists set to perform. Included are tunes from Bob, Julian and Damian Marley, Shaggy, Capleton, Tarrus Riley, and Spragga Benz. Check out the details below…

Intro
Bob Marley – Crazy Bald Heads
Damian Marley – Me Name Jr. Gong
Damian Marley – All Night
Damian Marley – For The Babies
Damian Marley & Stephen Marley – Mission
Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, & Buju Banton – Traffic Jam
Stephen Marley – Let Her Dance
Stephen Marley – Hey Baby
Damian Marley & Julian Marley – Kaya Now Live
Julian Marley – Lion In The Morning
Tarrus Riley – Getty Getty No Wanty
Tarrus Riley – Far Away
Tarrus Riley – Shes Royal
Shaggy – Church Heathen
Shaggy & Sean Paul – Sexy Lady
Shaggy & Tessane Chin – Never Let You Go
Shaggy – Wild Tonight
Shaggy – Oh Carolina
Shaggy & Rayvon – Big Up
Shaggy – Pose Off
Shaggy – Hot Gal
Capleton – Good Her Clothes
Capleton – Crazy Looks
Damian Marley & Bobby Brown – Beautiful
Damian Marley – The Master Has Come Back
Damian Marley – Jamrock
Damian Marley, Bounty Killa, & Eek A Mouse – Khaki Suit
Damian Marley – Not Goin Give Up
Capleton – Small Sound (Black Chiney Dub)
Tarrus Riley – Kung Fu (Black Chiney Dub)
Capleton & Damian Marley – It Was Written
Cedella Marley – Redemption Song

Download the mix here: Walshy Fire – 17th Annual Bob Marley Fest Mix CD.

…via HigherLevelSound.

The Marley Estate has made a deal that will make the brand a fortune through different merchandising products. I’m not so sure how I feel about the restaurant idea which seems cheesy but who knows, maybe they can pull it off.

Here is the story coming off of CNN Money…

A deal with the music superstar’s estate is set to generate more than $1 billion in worldwide annual sales by 2012.
Is reggae superstar Bob Marley bigger than Jesus? That’s debatable, but the music legend who died 28 years ago is about to challenge Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson for the title of richest dead celebrity.

Toronto-based private-equity firm Hilco Consumer Capital has struck a management deal with the Marley estate, which is expected to generate worldwide annual sales in excess of $1 billion by 2012. That seems like a huge number, but by some estimates the Marley name, sound, and image already generate as much as $600 million in pirated merchandise.

“Marley is a strong global brand,” says Mickey Goodman, a professional marketer and professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business. “He enjoys a high level of awareness, and people feel positive about his music.”

Major licensing agreements for the Marley brand are about to be launched in two key areas: consumer electronics — including headphones, docking stations, and speakers — and health care, which will likely feature skin-care products and herbal supplements. Also in the works, according to Hilco, are deals for a Marley-branded calming beverage, a video game similar to Guitar Hero featuring Marley’s songs, and a chain of restaurants celebrating the music superstar.

Could this be commercial overkill for the Rastafarian whose spiritual songs about social injustice, hope, and redemption have become anthems for billions of fans, from Marrakech to Tokyo, and will it alienate them?

Here is the second installment of the The Messengers. Episode 2 contains the Bob Marley tribute. Just more good music. If you missed Episode 1 check for it here.

Track listing and download link after the jump.

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