Confrontation cover art

  Studio Album · No. 12

Confrontation Songwriting Credits by Bob Marley

1983 Island Records / Tuff Gong 10 tracks 38 min

Produced by Robert Nesta Marley, Errol Brown  ·  Engineered by Errol Brown, Michael Reid

Island Records / Tuff Gong Reggae
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Bob Marley carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Bob Marley 0 tracksoutside writers
Bob Marley's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
3
Lyricists
2
Producers
1983
Released
Data Insight

Confrontation is the only Bob Marley and the Wailers album released after Marley's death in May 1981, assembled by surviving band members and Island Records from unreleased recordings, demos, and previously issued singles. Producer Errol Brown built finished tracks around Marley's existing vocal takes, with the I-Threes and the Wailers adding parts in the studio. The lead single Buffalo Soldier was recorded in 1978 and co-written with Noel Williams, the Jamaican musician known as King Sporty, before becoming one of Marley's most recognizable songs on its 1983 release. Other tracks such as Rastaman Live Up! carried a co-writing credit to Lee Scratch Perry.

A posthumous studio album released May 23, 1983, assembled from unreleased recordings after Marley's death in 1981. Produced by the Wailers and engineer Errol Brown, with additional mixing by Chris Blackwell and Aston Barrett. Confrontation includes 'Buffalo Soldier' (co-written with N.G. Williams, a reggae singer from New York), 'Chant Down Babylon,' and 'Rastaman Live Up!' The album completed Marley's studio discography and reached the top twenty in the UK.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Chant Down Babylon
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta MarleyErrol Brown Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
2
Buffalo Soldier
Bob MarleyN.G. Williams Robert Nesta MarleyN.G. Williams Robert Nesta MarleyErrol Brown Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
3
Jump Nyabinghi
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta MarleyErrol Brown Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
4
Mix Up, Mix Up
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta MarleyErrol Brown Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
5
Give Thanks and Praises
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta MarleyErrol Brown Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
6
Blackman Redemption
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta MarleyErrol Brown Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
7
Trench Town
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta MarleyErrol Brown Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
8
Stiff Necked Fools
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta MarleyErrol Brown Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
9
I Know
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta MarleyErrol Brown Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
10
Rastaman Live Up!
Bob MarleyLee 'Scratch' Perry Robert Nesta MarleyRainford Hugh Perry Robert Nesta MarleyErrol Brown Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 6 contributors

More from Bob Marley

Frequently Asked Questions Confrontation

Is Confrontation by Bob Marley a posthumous album?
Yes. Confrontation was released on May 23, 1983, nearly two years after Bob Marley died in May 1981. It is the only Bob Marley and the Wailers studio album issued after his death, compiled from unreleased recordings, demos, and earlier singles by the surviving band and Island Records.
Who wrote Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley?
Buffalo Soldier was written by Bob Marley and Noel Williams, the Jamaican musician and producer known as King Sporty. The song was recorded in 1978 but did not appear on an album until Confrontation in 1983, where it served as the lead single.
Who wrote Rastaman Live Up! on Bob Marley's Confrontation?
Rastaman Live Up! is credited to Bob Marley and Lee Scratch Perry. It closes the original 1983 tracklist of Confrontation and runs about five and a half minutes.
What is the opening track on Bob Marley's Confrontation?
The album opens with Chant Down Babylon, which runs about two and a half minutes. Carlton Santa Davis played drums on that track, which was built from Marley's existing recordings after his death.
What genre is Confrontation by Bob Marley and the Wailers?
Confrontation is a reggae album. It carries the roots reggae and Rastafari themes found across Marley's catalog, with tracks such as Jump Nyabinghi, Give Thanks and Praises, and Blackman Redemption.
Who produced Confrontation by Bob Marley and the Wailers?
Confrontation was produced by Bob Marley and the Wailers with Errol Brown, who also handled engineering and mixing. Brown assembled the finished album around Marley's existing vocal recordings.
How long is Confrontation by Bob Marley and the Wailers?
The original 1983 album runs about 38 minutes across ten tracks. It begins with Chant Down Babylon and ends with Rastaman Live Up!.
Did Confrontation by Bob Marley receive any certifications?
Yes. Confrontation was certified Gold by the RIAA in the United States and Gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. It also charted in several countries, reaching number 5 on the UK Albums Chart.

Sources