Bob Marley & the Wailers: Easy Skanking in Boston '78

Although Bob Marley completists will no doubt want this Blu-ray/CD set, it feels more like an afterthought than a full-fledged release, notwithstanding the fact that it appears on Marley's label (Tuff Gong/Island), and received the blessing of his daughter, Cedella, and son, Ziggy. At 45 minutes, this 1978 concert from Boston's Music Hall comes up short by Marley standards. Worse, most of the video appears to be missing, so the seven songs play like a series of music videos rather than a conventional concert (the accompanying CD features 13 selections from the same two-set engagement). To make up for lack of footage, the live performances have been intercut with collage effects, kaleidoscopic designs, and hand-painted animation in combination with song titles and relevant phrases. The lack of stage patter from Marley or members of his backing band, the Wailers, and his vocal trio, the I-Threes (featuring his wife, Rita) contributes to the promo-clip effect. While the end result isn't completely unappealing (“Jammin'” receives a particularly fiery reading), the multimedia experience will likely disappoint most fans. Although the sound and image quality are acceptable, the angles are also limited, since one person (a fan with Marley approval) shot the material, mostly from the left side of the stage (but with some center footage, including a few close-ups of Marley towards the end). Also featuring the hits “I Shot the Sheriff” and “No Woman No Cry,” this is presented in stereo, with extras including a booklet featuring lyrics, biographies, photographs, and an interview from the New York Amsterdam News conducted while Marley was on tour in support of Kaya. Optional. (K. Fennessy)