The Wailers – Catch A Fire

This remastered edition has a different soundstage and wider stereo image than the Deluxe Edition. The low end has been rolled off and softened. Still a worthy edition, but different.

Accolades to whomsoever decided to release both versions as a set. Excellent mastering, in fact the remastered Blackwell version sounds so very close to the original Cinram pre-Diament Island release, and is different than the single disc with bonus tracks edition. Unfortunately, it also has affecting dropouts on Slave Driver and Midnight Ravers. Defect or production issue? Anyone?

The 1973 live tracks are of very poor quality. I understand the left over recordings are rare, but this is even too poor for a bootleg.

Great pressing. Very full sounding. Just wish there was a lyric sheet

Bass is significant, almost too much. Bob's vocals are little far back in the mix which isn't ideal. But overall still amazing pressing!

I have a variant 2 and as previously mentioned the dynamic range is excellent. As you would expect the bass is substantial but not so much as to be problematic or distracting. It is enjoyable and what you come to expect from their releases. It is a bit difficult to find one below $100 that is not beat up but nice to have particularly if the Wailers are one of your top groups. If so, this is likely a desert island album for you and worth the extra money within reason. A great edition to any collection.

Precision about this release (Original Jamaican Mix)...
The title is credited to Bob Marley & The Wailers but this recording is from 1973 so initially credited to The Wailers (with Peter, Bunny & Bob) as we can read on the label button,
The Notes (from Tuff Gong website) say " this Jamaican version will now be on vinyl for the first time" that is wrong because we can find Japanese Press Catch A Fire (Original Jamaican Version) & Catch A Fire (Original Jamaican Version)
The tracks A3 & A4 are wrongly credited to Bob Marley but they are from Peter Tosh (written & vocal)
The album is wrongly credited to Bob as producer but it was initially co-produced with Chris Blackwell
...With this Mix we have a great Wailers atmosphere from the Upsetters way !

Anyone have a version that doesn't have ILPS on the label?

I was pleasantly surprised at how good it sounds, and my gear doesn't hide anything. Pressing was flat, and I always clean new records, both with enzymatic solution and ultrasonic in distilled water followed by a final rinse on the Nitty Gritty. No surface noise whatsoever even if the vinyl wasn't dead quiet. Pressing #2159. I'm not often happy with new releases but this one was on point.

Digitally remastered by the famous Barry Diament. Anyone compare this to the original UK pressing cut at Sterling?