Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Judge Not
2. One Cup of Coffee
3. Simmer Down
4. I'm Still Waiting
5. One Love/People Get Ready
6. Put It On
7. Bus Dem Shut (Pyaka)
8. Mellow Mood
9. Bend Down Low
10. Hypocrites
11. Stir It Up
12. Nice Time
13. Thank You Lord
14. Hammer
15. Caution
16. Back Out
17. Soul Shakedown Party
18. Do It Twice
19. Soul Rebel
20. Sun Is Shining
21. Don't Rock the Boat
22. Small Axe
23. Duppy Conqueror
24. Mr. Brown

Disc 2:

1. Screwface
2. Lick Samba
3. Trench Town Rock
4. Craven Choke Puppy
5. Guava Jelly
6. Guava Jelly/This Train/Cornerstone/Comma Comma/Dewdrops/Stir It up/L'M
7. I'm Hurting Inside
8. High Tide or Low Tide
9. Slave Driver
10. No More Trouble
11. Concrete Jungle
12. Get up, Stand Up
13. Rastaman Chant
14. Burnin' and Lootin'
15. Iron Lion Zion
16. Lively Up Yourself
17. Natty Dread
18. I Shot the Sheriff

Disc 3:

1. No Woman, No Cry
2. Who the Cap Fit
3. Jah Live
4. Crazy Baldhead
5. War
6. Johnny Was
7. Rat Race
8. Jamming
9. Waiting In Vain
10. Exodus
11. Natural Mystic
12. Three Little Birds
13. Running Away
14. Keep on Movin'
15. Easy Skanking
16. ls This Love
17. Smile Jamaica
18. Time Will Tell

Disc 4:

1. Africa Unite
2. Survival
3. One Drop
4. One Dub
5. Zimbabwe
6. So Much Trouble In the World
7. Ride Natty Ride
8. Babylon System
9. Coming In from the Cold
10. Real Situation
11. Bad Card
12. Could You Be Loved
13. Forever Loving Jah
14. Rastaman Live Up!
15. Give Thanks and Praise
16. One Love/People Get Ready
17. Why Should I
18. Redemption Song [Live]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5834 in Music
• Released on: 1999-11-16
• Number of discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .35 pounds

Amazon.com
When Songs of Freedom was released originally in 1992, it was a perfect complement to either a greatest hits collection like Legend or the entire collection of the reggae master's albums. Songs boasts enough of the recognizable from Marley's canon to address the hit seeker, but the set also reaches way, way back to include Marley's first single, the youthful "Judge Not" from 1962, and then closes more than four hours later with a 1980 live take of "Redemption Song" from his last concert. In between are live takes, studio remixes, and, of course, standard looks at Marley standards, playing together as a perfect balance between the familiar and the new. The flow of famous takes increases into CDs 3 and 4, where "No Woman, No Cry" appears from a 1976 set at the Roxy and where "Jammin'" and "Exodus" come in mixes that were new to fans in 1992. Of course these four CDs show in wide-angle view exactly how fantastic and commercially improbable Marley was. He was able to popularize tunes about both the repression of African nations and their liberation while also bringing to rock audiences an undeniably Jamaican music, breaking the U.S. and British geographic strongholds on the 1970s pop and rock marketplace. Never mind that he made Island Records' first fortune, he also created a body of work so lasting that a four-CD set heavy on alternate versions can stand out in any contemporary music collection. For the 1999 reissue of the original 1992 box set, no new music has been added. The format has changed, though, from a long-box presentation to a cube containing individual slipcased CDs. It's still a remarkable gem. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews

Stunning collection of Bob Marley's work
This is probably one of the best box sets I will ever own. The musicianship and artistry is remarkable across all four discs. It's consistently amazing.

Usually the downfall of a box set is that it's little more than a cleverly repackaged greatest hits album with lots and lots of filler. The genius behind this set is the diversity in the offering and the format. Yes, there are a number of "hit songs" on this box set, but they're generally in the form of remixes, alternate takes or live versions. This way, the listener can really aprpeciate the craftsmanship of the song and revel in amazement at all of the subtle nuances that go into Marley's songwriting and playing. I'm glad this found its way into mass production again. Bob's music is timeless and everyone deserves the privilege of hearing his music.

Hardcore fans and new fans alike will be amazed by the music contained in Songs of Freedom. Buy this one now.

the collection of a Great man and his band
I was very pleased when island decided to re-issue this set. Originally released in 1992 this sold out very quickly and a few years ago island decided to put it out again. don't let this set pass you by. The first disc starts out in Bob's early days and goes right on up to his death. Rare 12" mixes and demos and outtakes are included in this set. Redemption song is form Bob Marley's last concert with the Wailers in Pittsburgh in 1980. In my opinoin, it is the best live version of Redemption Song. There are no downfalls or quibbles to talk about for this set, every track is a classic, and you can listen to it over and over again. If you want to just buy one Bob Marley and the Wailers set, this should be it. A great set that includes many great songs and nice instrumentations, no reggae fan should be without this set. The booklet that comes with this set is also a nice bonus, you can become a Wailers expert overnight. If you listen to this set long enough, you'll become a Wailers addict for life. I guarantee it.

Listen to the evolution of reggae's greatest artist
What can I say about Bob Marley that hasn't already been said? He is simply the greatest artist in reggae music's history, and this box set clearly demonstrates why. You can hear his music evolve from Disc 1 to Disc 4 as he becomes funkier, more political, more mature. You can hear his voice change from that of a teen to that of a mature singer/songwriter and national icon. A few of the reasons that elevate this box set to a desert island disc are:

1) Alternate takes of many classics including Could You Be loved, Jammin', No More Trouble, etc.

2) Live versions of I Shot the Sheriff, No Woman No Cry, Redemption Song

3) Stunning long acoustic medley on Disc 2 during which Marley sings parts of 7-8 songs including one of my favorites, Guava Jelly

4) Great sound and sequencing

Do yourself a favor and get this box set. For any music fan who wants to hear a musician evolve from great to the greatest, this box set is for you. For any Bob Marley fan, I probably don't have to convince you any further that Songs of Freedom is a must have.