‘Catch a Fire’, the seminal album by reggae legends Bob Marley and the Wailers, has been released in a deluxe 50th anniversary edition.

The album introduced the world to reggae whilst popularizing Bob Marley as a global reggae icon 50 years ago. Catch a Fire (50th Anniversary) is available now across all digital streaming platforms. 

Additionally, it is available in 3 LP + 12” and 3 CD sets. Both physical releases also feature a book full of photos of Marley taken by Arthur Gorson. The original ‘Catch a Fire‘ was the fifth studio album for Marley and his band. 

However, it was the first to see a wide release. Like much of the reggae legend’s career, this massive milestone started in adversity. Before recording Catch a Fire, Marley and the Wailers were on tour in the United Kingdom with Johnny Nash. 

However, after Nash left for America, the band reportedly found themselves stranded in England with no money to return to Jamaica. Consequently, the band approached Island Records founder and producer Chris Blackwell, who advanced them the money to make an album and paid for them to get home.

Back in Jamaica, Marley and the band recorded Catch a Fire. Then, Marley returned to London to present the recordings to Blackwell, who worked his production magic on the tapes and prepped them for a limited release. 

Originally, the album cover credited The Wailers. In later, wider releases, it would sport the now-iconic photo of Marley smoking a spliff. Additionally, the later editions saw Marley’s name getting top billing over the band.

The first disc in both physical releases of the anniversary edition contains the original album. The second disc is the 10-song live album Live from the Paris Theatre, London. 

The third disc is titled Sessions and includes alternative, extended, and instrumental Jamaican versions of tracks from Catch a Fire. Additionally, the third CD includes live cuts of ‘Slave Driver‘, ‘Get Up, Stand Up‘, and ‘Stop That Train‘ from the Sundown Theatre in Edmonton, North London. 

The additional 12” in the vinyl release also includes these three songs.