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Bob Marley was a legend...but it took a while. His pioneering blend of genres (reggae, ska and rocksteady) were as uniquely Jamaican as he and his band, The Wailers.
Bob started his career at age 18 and as time went by, his singing and songwriting talents developed into something more. He became a Rastafarian icon, infusing his music with spirituality and social consciousness. He not only increased the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide, he became a symbol of Jamaican culture and identity.
But, as I said, it took a while--especially when it came to "cracking" the North American market.
For example, in 1967, Bob and The Wailers released a "Great Song" that wasn't a hit in the US until Johnny Nash covered it in 1973.
"Stir It Up" was Johnny's follow-up to his "Great Song of 1972," "I Can See Clearly Now," which we highlighted back on 6/14/20.
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It was the first Bob Marley song to make it big outside Jamaica, and was a "Great Song" in its own right for Johnny, reaching #6 on the Adult Contemporary Chart and #12 on The Hot 100. In Canada, it did even better: #4 & #6 on the matching charts.
You'd think that would be enough to propel Bob Marley and The Wailers into North American success--but no, not yet.
Next came another successful Bob Marley cover: "I Shot the Sheriff," by Eric Clapton--but that a "Great Song" story for another day. :-)
Bob didn't crack the American charts himself until 1977, when his song "Exodus" made it to #19 on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Chart. (Check the Link Below.)
After that, Bob & The Wailers had a number of songs that inched their way onto the American, Canadian and British Charts until Bob's death in 1981 and beyond...even into the 2010s.
But today, we're highlighting a great version of the "Great Song" that finally got Bob Marley noticed outside of Jamaica--thanks to Johnny Nash!
Nash: "Stir It Up" (1973):
Bob Marley & The Wailers (1967):
"Exodus" (1977):
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