Catch A Fire - Reception

Reception

Catch a Fire had a positive critical reception. Robert Christgau rated the album as "A", saying that "half these songs are worthy of St. John the Divine", and "Barrett brothers' bass and drums save those that aren't from limbo". Reviewers from Rolling Stone also praised the brother's playing, concluding that "Catch a Fire is a blazing debut". According to the review, "'Concrete Jungle"' and 'Slave Driver' crackle with streetwise immediacy, while 'Kinky Reggae' and 'Stir It Up' ... revel in the music's vast capacity for good-time skanking. 'Stop That Train' and '400 Years,' both written by Peter Tosh, indicate the original Wailers weren't strictly a one-man show".

Critics have called Catch a Fire one of the greatest reggae albums of all time. Vik Iyengar from Allmusic comments that "Marley would continue to achieve great critical and commercial success during the 1970s, but Catch a Fire is one of the finest reggae albums ever. This album is essential for any music collection". Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 123 on its list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, the second highest placement for a reggae album; only Legend, ranked higher at number 46. Writing in The Spectator arts blog in 2012, Dave Rodigan described it as "quite simply, one of the greatest reggae albums ever made". The album was also groundbreaking as its singles were released as long-playing records as against to the early reggae songs coupled with two sides.