Description
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Babylon By Bus – Double 180 Gram Vinyl Records
Features original die-cut cover with the color printed inner sleeves visible.
Babylon by Bus, released in November 1978, is the second live album by Bob Marley & The Wailers, following the earlier Live! (1975). If Live! captured the raw fire of Marley’s rise as an international star, Babylon by Bus documented the mature power of The Wailers as a world-class touring band at their late-’70s peak. Compiled from performances on their 1978 European tour (especially in Paris), the album is a vibrant showcase of Marley’s ability to transform the recording studio’s spiritual messages into electrifying, communal live experiences.
The album’s packaging became instantly iconic: designed to look like the side of a tour bus, complete with die-cut windows revealing the band members inside. It reinforced the idea of Marley and The Wailers as musical travelers spreading their message of unity, resistance, and Rastafarian consciousness across the globe.
Musically, Babylon by Bus emphasizes the tightness and virtuosity of The Wailers’ live lineup, which at this time included the Barrett brothers (Aston “Family Man” Barrett on bass and Carlton Barrett on drums), Tyrone Downie on keyboards, Junior Marvin and Al Anderson on guitars, Alvin “Seeco” Patterson on percussion, and the I Threes (Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt) on backing vocals. Together, they created a deep, hypnotic groove that balanced precision with spiritual intensity.
The setlist spans Marley’s catalog, leaning heavily on politically and socially conscious material. Highlights include:
“Exodus” – a thunderous, extended version that became a centerpiece of Marley’s late-’70s shows, blending hypnotic rhythm with a call for liberation and migration.
“Stir It Up” – slowed down and sensual, showcasing the band’s ability to turn a love song into a communal groove.
“Punky Reggae Party” – a celebration of reggae’s cultural crossover with punk, reflecting Marley’s awareness of contemporary youth movements.
“Is This Love,” “Jamming,” and “Kinky Reggae” – songs that balance intimacy with festivity, revealing Marley’s range as both a romantic and a revolutionary.
“War / No More Trouble” – one of the album’s most powerful moments, combining Haile Selassie’s speech on peace with Marley’s plea for an end to conflict and injustice.
Compared with Live! (recorded during Marley’s earlier rise to fame), Babylon by Bus feels more polished and expansive. The performances are longer, the grooves deeper, and the sound more panoramic. Where Live! captures the urgency of a band on the brink of global recognition, Babylon by Bus documents a fully realized international icon leading one of the tightest live bands of the era.
The album was praised for its energy and cohesion, though some felt its careful editing smoothed out the rougher edges of a live show. Nonetheless, it has endured as one of the great live reggae albums, admired for the clarity of its sound and the spiritual force of Marley’s presence. For fans who never saw Marley in concert, it remains one of the best documents of his live power.
In the broader context of Marley’s discography, Babylon by Bus illustrates the band’s global reach: by 1978, they were no longer just Jamaican stars but world ambassadors for reggae and Rastafarian consciousness. The album captures both the celebratory and revolutionary aspects of Marley’s art, showing why his concerts were described as near-religious experiences.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Positive Vibration
Punky Reggae Party
Exodus
Stir It Up
Rat Race
Concrete Jungle
Kinky Reggae
Lively Up Yourself
Rebel Music (3 O’Clock Road Block)
War
No More Trouble
Is This Love
Heathen
Jamming
