Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On
Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On is a collection of album tracks by Bob Marley, and is an addendum to the 1984 compilation album, Legend. The material on Legend consists mainly of love songs with a few of Marley's more politicized and religious themed works; the selection on Natural Mystic therefore attempts to redress the balance. On the opening title track, he warns of how "one and all got to face reality now" in a world of massive upheaval and change. Other songs explore salvation through oneness ("Africa Unite"), the greed that propels the world towards an inevitable Armageddon ("So Much Trouble In The World") and Marley's own role as a persecuted leader ("Iron Lion Zion"). The inclusion of "Easy Skanking" shows a meditative and laid-back Marley, partaking in Jamaica's most profitable cash crop during a spiritual time-out amidst the chaos of everyday life.
| Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by The Wailers | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Recorded | Various | |||
| Genre | Reggae | |||
| Length | 54:56 | |||
| Label | Tuff Gong/Island | |||
| Producer | Bob Marley & The Wailers, Alex Sadkin, Steve Smith, Chris Blackwell, Lee Perry | |||
| The Wailers chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
All tracks have been digitally remastered on GOLD version.
Alternative versions
To give Natural Mystic some individuality from its previous counterparts, the compilers placed an alternate extended cut of "Crazy Baldhead" in which more emphasis was given to the "silly noises" breakdown. They also included the remix of Bob Marley's late 1970s rendition of "Keep on Moving" featuring the vocals of Aswad and released exclusively for the UK market in 1984. The new remix, which was intended strictly for this particular album project, was fashioned in the same way "Iron Lion Zion" was done for Songs of Freedom, and at the ending of "One Drop", the song is an alternate version and it plays a noise, possibly the noise at the ending of Bob Marley & The Wailers's "Satisfy My Soul" [released 1978 on the album "Kaya" by Tuff Gong/Island].
Credits
Original Producers: Bob Marley & The Wailers, Alex Sadkin, Steve Smith, Chris Blackwell and Lee Perry.
Compilation producers: Chris Blackwell, Trevor Wyatt and Bill Levenson.
Track listing
Original album (1995)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Natural Mystic" | Bob Marley | Exodus (1977) | 3:26 |
| 2. | "Easy Skanking" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 2:55 |
| 3. | "Iron Lion Zion" (New Mix) | B. Marley | Songs of Freedom (1992) | 3:14 |
| 4. | "Crazy Baldhead" (Extended) | Rita Marley, Vincent Ford | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:23 |
| 5. | "So Much Trouble in the World" | B. Marley | Survival (1979) | 3:57 |
| 6. | "War" | Allan Cole, Carlton Barrett | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:31 |
| 7. | "Africa Unite" | B. Marley | Survival (1979) | 2:54 |
| 8. | "Trenchtown Rock" (Live) | B. Marley | Live! (1975) | 4:10 |
| 9. | "Keep on Moving" (1995 Mix) | Curtis Mayfield | Songs of Freedom (1992) | 4:21 |
| 10. | "Sun Is Shining" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 4:36 |
| 11. | "Who the Cap Fit" (Edit) | Aston Barrett, C. Barrett | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 4:17 |
| 12. | "One Drop" | B. Marley | Survival (1979) | 3:51 |
| 13. | "Roots, Rock, Reggae" (Edit) | Ford | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:31 |
| 14. | "Pimper's Paradise" | B. Marley | Uprising (1980) | 3:27 |
| 15. | "Time Will Tell" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 3:30 |
The Definitive Remastered edition (2002)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Natural Mystic" | Bob Marley | Exodus (1977) | 3:26 |
| 2. | "Easy Skanking" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 2:55 |
| 3. | "Iron Lion Zion" (New Mix) | B. Marley | Songs of Freedom (1992) | 3:14 |
| 4. | "Crazy Baldhead" (Extended) | Rita Marley, Vincent Ford | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:23 |
| 5. | "So Much Trouble in the World" | B. Marley | Survival | 3:57 |
| 6. | "War" | Allan Cole, Carlton Barrett | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:31 |
| 7. | "Africa Unite" | B. Marley | Survival (1979) | 2:54 |
| 8. | "Trenchtown Rock" (Live) | B. Marley | Live! (1975) | 4:10 |
| 9. | "Keep on Moving" (1995 Mix) | Curtis Mayfield | Songs of Freedom (1992) | 4:21 |
| 10. | "Sun Is Shining" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 4:36 |
| 11. | "Who the Cap Fit" (Edit) | Aston Barrett, C. Barrett | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 4:17 |
| 12. | "One Drop" | B. Marley | Survival (1979) | 3:51 |
| 13. | "Roots, Rock, Reggae" (Edit) | Ford | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:31 |
| 14. | "Pimper's Paradise" | B. Marley | Uprising (1980) | 3:27 |
| 15. | "Positive Vibration" (Bonus Track) | Ford | Rastaman Vibration (1976) | 3:30 |
| 16. | "Time Will Tell" | B. Marley | Kaya (1978) | 3:30 |
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina (CAPIF)[2] | Gold | 30,000^ |
| France (SNEP)[3] | Gold | 100,000* |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[4] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[5] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[6] | Gold | 25,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[7] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[8] | Gold | 500,000^ |
| Summaries | ||
| Europe (IFPI)[9] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
|
*sales figures based on certification alone | ||
References
- Allmusic review
- "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "French album certifications – Bob Marley – Natural Mustic" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "New Zealand album certifications – Bob Marley – Natural Mustic". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 938. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Bob Marley; 'Natural Mystic')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "British album certifications – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Natural Mystic". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 June 2019. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Natural Mystic in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- "American album certifications – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Natural Mystic". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 4 June 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
- "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2003". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
