The Wailer’s sixth studio album “Burnin'” which was their second on Island Records turns 50 this week (October 19). The album spawns the single “Get Up Stand Up” which Bob Marley penned during his tour of Haiti in the early 1970s, according to Esther Anderson, film maker and reggae archivist, who worked for Island Records and witnessed first hand the genesis of Wailers, reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The song, now certified Silver in the U.K. for selling 200,000 units and was released on that coincided with the oppressive rule of Haitian dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, marked by severe human rights violations.
All the songs on Burnin’ were written by the Wailers Group, Peter Bunny and Bob and were recorded and produced by The Wailers in Jamaica. Some additional recording, mixing, and completion took place during the Catch a Fire tour in London.
“I Shot the Sheriff” was the last single and “Burnin'” marked the last album before Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer decided to split and pursue solo careers.
Chris Blackwell said in his Memoirs “The Islander”, that the Wailers version of ‘I Shot The Sheriff’ wasn’t a hit upon release, but a cover version paved the way for Marley in the U.S. “The last Wailers single to feature the original Bob, Peter Bunny lineup was, “I Shot The Sheriff”, taken from Burnin’, released in February 1973, it wasn’t a hit, reaching only No. 67 on the U.K. charts. But a smooth 1974 cover by Eric Clapton, end up being Clapton’s only No. 1 single in America and helped open more ears to Bob’s music,” Blackwell said.
As a result, “Burnin'” got some commercial and critical success in the United States, peaking at No. 151 on the Billboard 200 and No. 41 on the Black Albums Chart. It eventually earned a Gold certification 20 years after its release on May 23, 1994. “Burnin'” was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, recognizing its historical and cultural significance.
It was recorded at Harry J’s studio in Kingston, Jamaica, and London U.K. with The Wailers producing alongside their backing band of keyboardist Earl “Way” Lindo, drummer Carlton Barrett, and bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett. Blackwell at Island Records’ Basing Street studios in London handled mixing and overdubbing during the spring of 1973 while the band was touring. Blackwell said in his Memoir “The Islander” that only Bob wanted to travel with him for the mixing sessions.
“Burnin'” opens with the iconic and politically charged song “Get Up, Stand Up,” a track that deeply intertwines with Marley, Bunny and Tosh’s Rastafarian faith.
“Get Up Stand Up” has since found multiple homes on the best selling compilations like “Legend” and “Rebel Music,” in addition to live recordings such as “Live at the Roxy”.
In 1973, “Get Up, Stand Up” climbed to number 33 on the Dutch Top 40 chart and again in 1986, peaking at number 49 in New Zealand. The freedom fighting anthem stands as one of Bob Marley’s most celebrated works. In 2020, Rolling Stone bestowed it with the top position on their list of the 50 greatest Bob Marley songs, while The Guardian ranked it second on their compilation of Marley’s 30 greatest songs.
The 1973 recording of “Get Up, Stand Up” by Bob Marley & The Wailers earned a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
The chorus of the song bears resemblance to the instrumental hook in “Slippin’ into Darkness” by War, a band that Marley greatly admired.
After the group split Marley’s live performances had “Get Up, Stand Up” as the closing number and was the last song he ever performed on stage, marking the end of an era on September 23, 1980, at the Stanley Theater (now the Benedum Center) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A noteworthy anecdote from the song’s history comes from artist Ben Harper, who recalled an unforgettable moment during a 1978 Bob Marley concert at the Starlight Amphitheater. Peter Tosh made an unannounced appearance, took the microphone from Marley, and electrified the audience by singing the final verse to thunderous applause. At that time, Tosh was on tour, opening for the Rolling Stones.
Later, all three original Wailers re-recorded and released their own versions of the song on their respective solo albums with everyone finding their own verse interpretations. Bob Marley’s rendition can be found on “Live!” (1975), featuring the memorable “WO-YOI!” refrain after the third verse.
Peter Tosh contributed his version to his second album, “Equal Rights” (1977), while Bunny Wailer included his rendition on “Protest.” Tosh was involved in recording Bunny Wailer’s album before his untimely passing.
According to Herbie Miller, a friend and manager of Tosh prior to his tragic death in 1987, the song’s core message was, “You should get up and stand up and be a Black man, be a man.”
Miller told NPR that Tosh had to alter lyrics to that song so the Jamaica Broadcasting Commission wouldn’t ban it from the radio but reissue includes the unedited version.
“[The original lyrics] say, ‘Get up, stand up, don’t be no n – – – – – now,’ ” says Miller. “Don’t live the name that has been placed on you — don’t be a n – – – – -. You should get up and and stand up and be a black man, be a man. That was the point Peter was trying to make.”
