Babylon by Bus is a live album released by Bob Marley and the Wailers in 1978. The tracks on this album are considered, with two exceptions, to be from the Pavillon de Paris concerts over 3 nights, 25–27 June 1978, during the Kaya Tour, though there are discrepancies in the track listing.BobMarleyconcerts.com
Like the 1973 album Catch a Fire, the first release had something of a novelty cover. The windows of the bus on the front cover were cut out, revealing part of the inner sleeve. As this was a double album, the listener had a choice of four different scenes to view through the windows.
Set list "Heathen", "Lively Up Yourself" and "Concrete Jungle" were not as common as the rest of the album on the tour, with 2 of the 3 more than likely played on any given night, but not always, and were only ever all played on the same night twice: at the Pinecrest Country Club in Shelton, Connecticut, 14 June and the Music Inn in Lenox, Massachusetts 18 June, which was one of the longest shows ever played by the band with 22 songs, but none were played at the Paris concerts. "Rebel Music", "Positive Vibration", "Jamming", "Exodus", "War / No More Trouble" and "Punky Reggae Party" were nearly always played at some point of each concert, though were mixed up some times with other songs like "Get Up, Stand Up", which does not appear on this album. The song "Is This Love" was also not common on this tour, though was played in Paris. The track "Kinky Reggae" was not played on the Kaya tour and in fact had not been played since the 1976 Rastaman Vibration tour, so it is unclear which concert this version is from.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone wrote: "From the raucous invocation of Selassie's divinity that kicks off 'Positive Vibration' on side one to the unabashed good cheer of side four's wrap-up rendition of 'Jamming', we hear a new side of Bob Marley—fanciful, lovelorn, vulnerable—that's as riveting as any of his sulfurous early tirades."
Track listing
Original album (1978)
The Definitive Remasters edition (2001)
Personnel Musicians Bob Marley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Carlton Barrett – drums Aston "Family Man" Barrett – bass Tyrone "Organ D" Downie – keyboards Junior Marvin – lead guitar Alvin "Seeco" Patterson – percussion Al Anderson – lead guitar Earl "Wire" Lindo – keyboards Rita Marley – backing vocals Marcia Griffiths – backing vocals Judy Mowatt – backing vocals
Production Bob Marley and the Wailers – producer Chris Blackwell – producer Jack Nuber – engineering mixer Neville Garrick – graphic art Barry Diament, Rob Fraboni remastering audio engineer Ted Jensen – mastering engineer
Charts + Chart performance for Babylon by Bus Chart (1978–1979) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 34 + 2001 chart performance for Babylon by Bus Chart (2001) Peakposition
Certifications
References