Lost Classics: "Mr. Brown" by Bob Marley and the Wailers

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I just got the Rasta Revolution album and I was completely blown away by the opening track "Mr. Brown".

How come no one talks about this song? It's probably the best opening track I've heard.

― Voodoo Child, Thursday, 20 October 2005 04:20 (twenty years ago)

I thought the Lost Classics series was from Mike Costello.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 20 October 2005 05:34 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, that track is mighty good. Lee Perry produced it, and the organ in the background is mighty - Mightier than any Bosstone.

― Big Loud Mountain Ape (Big Loud Mountain Ape), Thursday, 20 October 2005 12:19 (twenty years ago)

yeah classic.

From Mandeville to slide-a-ville, coffin runnin' around

― Ludo (Ludo), Thursday, 20 October 2005 12:24 (twenty years ago)

What a botheration!

― Confounded (Confounded), Thursday, 20 October 2005 13:01 (twenty years ago)

Is Mr. Brown controlled by remote?

― Old School (sexyDancer), Thursday, 20 October 2005 13:44 (twenty years ago)

I don't like it.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:01 (twenty years ago)

love it.

― katie, a princess (katie, a princess), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

I love the old stylee dub trick of having drums and bass on one stereo channel and vocals and extra instruments on the other.
Mr. Brown is unique for having an organ as the bass.

― Old School (sexyDancer), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

Also, it sounds like a single, which to my ears, is unusual in Jamaican music. I'm very sure I can't put my finger on it--maybe it's just the organ--but it's got an effervescence and brightness that make it stand out.

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

You have to love that the instrumental is called "Dracula".

― Confounded (Confounded), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

Maybe cuz it's got St. Bob singing his heart out about a coffin-driving ghost?

― Old School (sexyDancer), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

What would I do without you?

By the way, the Hip-O Bob Marley boxes are incredible:

Grooving Kingston 12

Fy-Ah Fy-Ah

I think there's a third on the way.

― Confounded (Confounded), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:21 (twenty years ago)

damn.

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

Thats true, the single sounding bit.

Though I can't say it sounds like a single, but it definately has a strange presence that a lot of similar material from that regiona nd era do not.

Id imagine it was the wailers and Lee Perry's production plus a dose of magic...

but yeah, great track

― bb (bbrz), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:26 (twenty years ago)

my last post wuz an x post

― Old School (sexyDancer), Thursday, 20 October 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

Oh, hah.

― Confounded (Confounded), Thursday, 20 October 2005 17:26 (twenty years ago)

Love Bunny and Peter's spooky backup harmonies on this one.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Thursday, 20 October 2005 18:50 (twenty years ago)

Sonic nicked the melody for Spacemen 3's "I Love You"

― Old School (sexyDancer), Thursday, 20 October 2005 18:52 (twenty years ago)

my favorite BM&W song by a long shot! i echo all the sentiments expressed here, except by PJ.

― petesmith (plsmith), Thursday, 20 October 2005 19:01 (twenty years ago)

I thought the Lost Classics series was from Mike Costello.
-- k/l (lauter...), October 20th, 2005.

Well He's my Brother. We talk about Lost Classics all the time.

― Voodoo Child, Thursday, 20 October 2005 19:59 (twenty years ago)

fucking love mr. brown, esp. the delivery of the line "calling duppy conqueror". small axe is another lost gem. all of the singles they cut with the upsetter are fantastic.

― PeopleFunnyBoy (PeopleFunnyBoy), Thursday, 20 October 2005 20:09 (twenty years ago)

probably my favorite Scratch/Marley tune - love that "is mr. brown controlled by remote?" line...

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 20 October 2005 20:16 (twenty years ago)

I've got two "lost gems": 'Hypocrites' and 'Hammer'

― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Thursday, 20 October 2005 21:01 (twenty years ago)

For a long time I only knew "Hypocrite" from the Brinsley Schwarz cover version.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 20 October 2005 21:04 (twenty years ago)

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