Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers: Live at the Metro, Boston, 1988

I am re-posting this show that I originally shared months ago for a few reasons.  First, it comes from a new source.  The audio that I previously posted was recorded from the soundboard live at the show.  This is an audio recording of a radio re-broadcast on WBCN, Boston.  Second, this recording includes a radio interview with Ziggy, Steven and Rita Marley on WBCN with Ken Shelton on day of show.  And third, because you can never get enough Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers’ Conscious Party.

The show was recorded during the Conscious Party tour at the Metro in Boston on April 6, 1988.  Conscious Party is a modern reggae classic.  In my opinion, it is by far one of the best reggae albums to be released since Bob’s passing in 1981.  The third album by the Melody Makers, it was released in 1988 and became popular with the hits “Tumblin’ Down” and “Tomorrow People”. It won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae album in 1989.

Ziggy carried the weight of the world on his shoulders when he entered the studio in 1987, with his brothers and sisters in tow, to record the album with ex-Talking Heads Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz.  In the music business and in wider circles they were often still viewed as something of a novelty act. This album changed all that. The collective Marley clan laid down historic tracks like “Tomorrow People”, “New Love”, “Tumblin’ Down”, and Stephen Marley’s classic “Who A Say.”  Members of the Ethiopian band Dallol and guitar great Earl “Chinna” Smith provide backing instrumentation throughout.  Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones even steps in on lead guitar on the hard-hitting “Lee and Molly.”

Reaching Platinum sales internationally, Conscious Party is one of the best-selling reggae albums ever released. Even today, some 25 years later, it remains as a crucial recording.  It is one of my personal favorites.  There is not a bad tune on the album, in fact, most, if not all, of the tracks are pure classics.  This album was the soundtrack of my youth.  It was there for me through everything, the good, the bad, the ugly.  Life just wouldn’t be the same without it.

The live performance presented here in lossless (FLAC) audio shows why this album is so beloved.  The tracks translate seamlessly to a live performance, sounding as good, or even better, than the album versions.  So much talent on stage at one time.  Ziggy, Stephen-the angelic Cedella, Sharon, Erica-there will never be another Melody Makers.

I have included streaming audio of the interview and a sample track, “Freedom Road” – my favorite from this performance.

Enjoy!  Rastafari!

Setlist:

1: Radio Introduction  1:39
2: Prayer and Intro  1:43
3: What Is True  5:00
4: Get Up Jah, Jah Children  5:44
5: Freedom Road  5:46
6: We Propose  8:21
7: Unuh Nuh Listen Yet  4:52
8: A Who A Say  3:18
9: Have You Ever Been To Hell  5:30
10: Lee and Molly (spliced at 5:01, tape flip) 7:46
11: 666  5:56
12: Time Will Tell  9:15
13: Lord, We A Come  3:27
14: Tomorrow People  7:36
15: Heathen  4:04
16: Say People  4:11
17: Rat Race (end spliced after song, tape flip)  6:00
18: We A Guh Some Weh  6:50
19: Conscious Party  7:44
20: Radio Announcer :52
21: Interview Part I  8:03
22:Interview Part II  5:26
23: Interview Part III  5:24

Lineage:

WBCN FM live broadcast (not pre-recorded) >
Nak. BX-100 cassette deck (dolby off)
Maxell MX 90 min. master cassette (2nd tape Maxell XLII-S) >
played on Nak. BX-300 into soundgorge (wav) >
flac (sb’s aligned) > torrentially yours.
interview is the same lineage except a 1st gen. tape copy.