Bob Marley – Chances Are

Very good 1981 French Press

Recorded in Jamaica from 1968 through 1972, prior to the Wailers' worldwide success on Island Records, CHANCES ARE consists entirely of previously unreleased recordings unearthed after Bob Marley's death in 1981. One of Marley's cronies during this period was early Jamaican superstar Johnny Nash (whose "Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now / Stir It Up" was an enormous worldwide hit during this period), and this collection shows something of an influence from Nash. As a whole, these songs are less intensely rhythmic and are lighter in mood than the songs which brought Marley international acclaim just a few years later. Even classics like "Soul Rebel" and "Reggae On Broadway" sound smoother and more pop-oriented in these early versions. CHANCES ARE is a fascinating glimpse into the under-documented period between the Wailers' early ska success and their mid-'70s mainstream breakthrough.