One of the things that I try to offer on this blog is some new or unique information regarding the media I share. Like most music sharing blogs out there, I could take the easy road and simply post a nondescript link to some mp3 files and be done with it. However, it is important to me that I offer the reader something that they cannot find anywhere else.

This is why I always try to share my music in “lossless” (FLAC) format. There are very few blogs that share lossless Bob Marley and the Wailers audio on the web. By sharing in lossless, I rest assured that I am not polluting the web with substandard audio that will surely be further degraded each time it is shared.

With each post, I try to add some new piece of knowledge to the Bob Marley archive. I do this primarily through direct contact with those involved in making music, or in the case of The Wounded Lion Tape, those responsible for bringing it to light.

I spoke recently with music journalist and reggae historian Roger Steffens about the history behind The Wounded Lion Tape.

From Roger:

“I discovered the ‘Wounded Lion’ tape in 1981 when it was given to me by an employee of Rough Trade which had established a distribution office and store in San Francisco. He said he got it from one of the Sons of Jah, so my copy would be third generation. I circulated it widely, so I guess you shouldn’t hesitate to post it. There’s an interesting line I was never able to penetrate until a professor friend of mine at UWI explained it. “You’re floating around like when John Crow feel cool breeze.” John Crow is a Jamaican vulture, feeding on carcasses whenever opportunity presents itself. So it’s an image of a predator looking for a kill.”

Roger also told me that he has played the tape for Ziggy, Stephen, and Damian when they visited his legendary archives. At the time, they had no interest in releasing the songs officially.



The Wounded Lion Sessions – “Babylon System (Take 2)”

Bob Marley and the Wailers

The Wounded Lion Session

1979

1. Wounded Lion – 20:39

2. You talk Too Much – 03:41

3. Babylon System (take 1) – 05:19

4. Babylon System (false start) – 00:15

5. Babylon System (take 2) – 10:08

6. Babylon System (take 3) – 10:04

DOWNLOAD FLAC FILES

We are truly blessed to have access to these recordings in lossless audio.

Seeder’s Notes: It’s a great tape. The “wounded lion” clearly refers to his on-going struggle (two years old at least in ’79) against the melanoma cancer that would eventually take his life in May of 1981. It also seems to refer to his ongoing struggle against Babylonian forces, urging “revolution now for sure.” that tape is probably part of the 1979 Survival session despite the fact that the original CD was a bitch to rip, enjoy it music is a passion not a competition.

This is Part 2 of the Survival set seeded to EZT in September 2004. The sound quality is a bit better with these tracks, and the performance is amazingly delicate yet soulful, that experience you always wish to be around, you know, Bob and friends jamming. Bless those along the way, including Ras Rojah and the Family for securing these precious moments into history.

Flaws: Some hiss and a little hum. t2 – You Talk Too Much @ 1:51m – R channel D.O. for 1s. t4 – Babylon System @ 2:28m – subsecond D.O. credits: to the people and organic fruit.

I must give thanks to Ras Rojah Steffens for supporting this blog. He always finds the time to make sure that the information that I present here is accurate and historically significant. Please visit his archives online at www.reggaesupersite.com.