The Wailers formed in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1963. The band included Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Neville Livingston (known as Bunny Wailer). The Wailers began recording at the famed Studio One with Coxsonne Dodd.Here is an example of one of the earliest recordings of the Wailers, a rehearsal for the song Wages of Love. Marley’s voice appears in the middle of the song, sounding like a lovesick teenager. The track also features Rita (Alpharita Constantia), Marley’s future wife. One can imagine them cooing to each other in Dodd’s ramshackle old studio.
Wages of Love (rehearsal) |
Here is the final cut of the single.
Wages of Love |
The Wailers covered many soul songs as well as pop songs (including several Beatles numbers). But they also wrote a lot of material. Here are two of their finest early songs: Jailhouse and Freedom Time. Although both of these tracks are pre-reggae, they already have the poetically profound social message that would become the signature of Marley’s later work.
Jailhouse |
Freedom Time |
Between 1968 and 1972, The Wailers recorded with JAD Records. These recordings were not intended for release, but were experimental demos meant to popularize the Wailers with various record labels and distributors. Here is my favorite song from those recordings.
I'm Hurting Inside |
And another one from Rita (who had become Marley’s wife).
Play Play Play |
The Wailers broke up in 1974 for unknown reasons. Each member went on to a successful solo career.