The Marley Files: One Foundation

★★★ John Masouri JOOK JOINT. £14.99 Anthology exploring key albums, Marley’s offspring and contested legacy. The second volume of John Masouri’s selfpublished Reggae

Chronicles focuses on Bob Marley and The Wailers and family, reprinting articles from Echoes, Riddim and Reggae Vibes. An opening examination of Natty Dread’s uncredited songwriting is followed by explorations of

Exodus, Kaya, Survival and the final Uprising tour, plus Marley’s funeral and later claims of exploitation by band members, culminating in bassist Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett’s failed court case against Island and the Marley Estate. Chapters on sons Ziggy, Stephen, Damian, Ky-mani and The Melody Makers are strong, Masouri’s analysis spot-on and objective. Elsewhere, former flame Esther Anderson gives a glimpse of her time with Marley, and a tribute to keyboardist Earl ‘Wire’ Lindo is fleshed out by a rare interview, though Bunny Wailer’s internet rants seem superfluous. Marley fans will find plenty of interest. David Katz