Natty Dread cover art

  Studio Album · No. 6

Natty Dread Songwriting Credits by Bob Marley

1974 Island Records / Tuff Gong 9 tracks 39 min

Produced by Chris Blackwell, Robert Nesta Marley  ·  Engineered by Sylvan Morris, Phil Ault, Sid Bucknor

Island Records / Tuff Gong Roots ReggaeReggaeReggae Rock
67%
Authorship
Songwriter

Holds writing credit on 6 of 9 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 6 / 9 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Bob Marley carries a lyricist or composer credit.

67%
6 trackswritten by Bob Marley 3 tracksoutside writers
Bob Marley's roles on this album

Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist33%
Composer67%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

9
Tracks
9
Lyricists
2
Producers
1974
Released
Data Insight

Natty Dread was the first album released under the Bob Marley and the Wailers banner after Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer departed, and it leans heavily on Marley's own writing alongside collaborators in his inner circle. Several songs carry credits that route royalties to friends and family rather than Marley himself: No Woman No Cry is credited to Vincent Ford, a childhood friend who ran a soup kitchen in Trench Town, while So Jah Seh and the title track list Rita Marley as co-writer. Them Belly Full and Talkin' Blues credit Leon Cogill and Carlton Barrett, and Rebel Music credits Aston Barrett and Hugh Peart. Marley took sole credit on Lively Up Yourself, Bend Down Low, and Revolution.

Bob Marley & The Wailers' third Island album, released October 25, 1974, the first without Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. The I Threes (Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, and Marcia Griffiths) joined as backing vocalists. Natty Dread includes 'No Woman, No Cry' (officially credited to Vincent Ford) and 'Lively Up Yourself,' and marked a deepening of Marley's Rastafari themes. Several songs carry credits to Wailers bandmates and associates rather than Marley himself.

Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Lively Up Yourself
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Chris BlackwellRobert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
2
No Woman, No Cry
Vincent Ford Vincent Ford Chris BlackwellRobert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
3
Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)
Leon CogillCarlton Barrett Leon CogillCarlton Lloyd Barrett Chris BlackwellRobert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
4
Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)
Aston BarrettHugh Peart Aston Francis BarrettHugh Peart Chris BlackwellRobert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
5
So Jah Seh
Rita MarleyWilly Francisco Alpharita Constantia MarleyWilly Francisco Chris BlackwellRobert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
6
Natty Dread
Rita MarleyAllen Cole Alpharita Constantia MarleyAllen Cole Chris BlackwellRobert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
7
Bend Down Low
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Chris BlackwellRobert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
8
Talkin' Blues
Leon CogillCarlton Barrett Leon CogillCarlton Lloyd Barrett Chris BlackwellRobert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
9
Revolution
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Chris BlackwellRobert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 14 contributors

RN
Robert Nesta Marley
Writer · Producer
On this album3 written
BM
Bob Marley
Writer · Vocals
On this album3 written
AC
Alpharita Constantia Marley
Writer
On this album2 written
CB
Carlton Barrett
Writer
On this album2 written
CL
Carlton Lloyd Barrett
Writer
On this album2 written
LC
Leon Cogill
Writer
On this album2 written
RM
Rita Marley
Writer
On this album2 written
AC
Allen Cole
Writer
On this album1 written
AB
Aston Barrett
Writer
On this album1 written
AF
Aston Francis Barrett
Writer
On this album1 written
HP
Hugh Peart
Writer
On this album1 written
VF
Vincent Ford
Writer
On this album1 written

More from Bob Marley

1965 67%
The Wailing Wailers
Studio One
12 tracksProd. Clement Seymour Dodd
1970 92%
Soul Rebels
Upsetter / Trojan Records
12 tracksProd. Rainford Hugh Perry
1971 83%
Soul Revolution Part II
Upsetter Records
12 tracksProd. Rainford Hugh Perry
1973 100%
Catch a Fire
Island Records / Tuff Gong
9 tracksProd. Robert Nesta Marley
1973 70%
Burnin'
Island Records / Tuff Gong
10 tracksProd. Robert Nesta Marley
1976 40%
Rastaman Vibration
Island Records / Tuff Gong
10 tracksProd. Robert Nesta Marley
1977 100%
Exodus
Island Records / Tuff Gong
10 tracksProd. Robert Nesta Marley
1978 100%
Kaya
Island Records / Tuff Gong
10 tracksProd. Robert Nesta Marley
1979 100%
Survival
Island Records / Tuff Gong
10 tracksProd. Robert Nesta Marley
1980 100%
Uprising
Island Records / Tuff Gong
10 tracksProd. Robert Nesta Marley
1983 100%
Confrontation
Island Records / Tuff Gong
10 tracksProd. Robert Nesta Marley

Frequently Asked Questions Natty Dread

Who wrote No Woman, No Cry on Bob Marley's Natty Dread?
No Woman, No Cry is officially credited to Vincent Ford, a childhood friend of Marley from Trench Town who ran a soup kitchen. Marley is widely believed to have written or co-written the song, with the credit arranged so royalties would support Ford and his community kitchen. The Marley estate retained control of the song's rights following later legal proceedings.
What genre is Bob Marley's Natty Dread album?
Natty Dread is a roots reggae album, the genre Marley helped define internationally. It also draws on reggae rock textures in tracks like the opener Lively Up Yourself. The record blends political and spiritual themes rooted in Rastafarian belief.
When was Natty Dread released and on what label?
Natty Dread was released in October 1974 on Island Records, with Tuff Gong as the associated imprint. It was the first album billed as Bob Marley and the Wailers. The album runs about 39 minutes across nine tracks.
Who produced Natty Dread?
The album was produced by Chris Blackwell and the Wailers. Recording engineering work was handled by Sylvan Morris, Phil Ault, and Sid Bucknor. It was recorded in Jamaica and at Island's facilities.
Did Rita Marley write songs on Natty Dread?
Yes. Rita Marley is credited as a co-writer on So Jah Seh (with Willy Francisco) and on the title track Natty Dread (with Allen Cole). These credits reflect the close collaboration within Marley's circle on the album.
Who wrote Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) on Natty Dread?
Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) is credited to Leon Cogill and Carlton Barrett, the Wailers' drummer. The song's protest theme about hunger and inequality kept it in rotation for decades. It remains one of the album's most politically pointed tracks.
How did Natty Dread perform on the charts?
Natty Dread reached No. 43 in the United Kingdom and No. 92 on the US Billboard 200 after its May 1975 US release. In the UK it sold more than 100,000 copies, earning a gold certification. None of its songs charted as singles on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Why is Natty Dread significant in Bob Marley's career?
Natty Dread was the first album credited to Bob Marley and the Wailers after Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left the group. It introduced the I Threes backing vocalists, including Rita Marley, and centered Marley as frontman and primary songwriter. Rolling Stone ranked it among its 500 Greatest Albums.

Sources

Wikipedia: Natty Dread MusicBrainz release-group search: Bob Marley Natty Dread Cover Art Archive front cover (release-group e776533c) Official Charts: Bob Marley & The Wailers - Natty Dread Cover Art Archive: Natty Dread by Bob Marley