The Wailers vs The Beatles
Lowell B. Taubman

The analagies, similarities, and significances between the Beatles and The Wailers has not been written about.

The Wailers music arose from social, religious, and political beliefs with a message. The message of the early Beatles music started out  simplistic, such as singing about holding hands. etc,

The Beatles picked up on the intensity of American rythmn and blues and their early music did not portray a religious message.  Their appearance  did have  a rebellious look although. Rock and Roll was American music that was novel in the late 1950's in England. In the late Elvis Presley era, the music style drifted across the ocean to the United kingdom. American groups began to tour England, and began to influence the younger generation.  The new concept that white men could sing like black men was introduced.

Both the Beatles and the Wailers were major trendsetters. I feel that the Beatles contributions probably were not as great as the Wailers on a world wide level. Both the Wailers and Beatles audience continue to widen, but the Wailers lyrics are more inspiring to  a wider diversity of ethnic groups and culture. 

Diverse groups such as the Freedom fighters of South Africa and Zimbabwe, the  Hopi Indians of New Mexico and the Maoris of New Zealand understood the significance of Bob Marley's music.

The Beatles influence upon the continent of Africa and the East do not even come close to Marley's icon like status.

ROOTS:

Skiffle music began to influence British teenagers. The instruments included a guitar, washboard, and the tea-chest bass. Skiffle combos, and its incorporation of American rock and rolltook off.

Liverpool was still recuperating from its World War II attacks.  The navy shipyards and docks provided the environment from which the Beatles blossomed. The Quarry men arose from this type of setting. The clothes consisted of velvet/trimmed jackets, tight trousers, partially inspired by Edwardian fashion, thus obtaining the nickname Teddy boy.  This was the means by which British youth's portrayed their messages.

The Wailers began from more humble, natural roots. They basically came from farming backgrounds, and lived off the land. The basic instruments of Reggae music were drums, and homemade guitars, from tin cans with sticks and wires.

Religious music, and African songs and rhythms, were the basic of the Wailers early musical experiences. As Bob, Bunny, and Peter continued to mature, the hills of Jamaica could not hold them. They subsequently moved to the yards of Trenchtown.  Kingston exposed the young Wailers to all types  of  American music, including soul. The harmonies, and songs of Curtis Mayfield, were incorporated into their emerging style of music.

Both the Wailers's and the Beatles grew in creativity, and musical knowledge, and, as expected, there was too much talent for one musical unit to hold. Marley wanted to and was chosen to become the world messenger for his type of Reggae music, Peter wanted to bring his type of political, and social message music to the world, and Bunny wanted to have his music grow and stay in Jamaica.

With both bands, there was obvious power struggles, jealousy, and personality clashes. There was just too much creativity to be limited to an eight song vinyl LP.

It  has been said that Marley did not like harmonizing, and thus, pushing Peter to a level to "decorate" Marley's vocal, and stage presence.

There was too much creativity for both, and not enough room to expand. Since John and Paul were doing most of the song writing, Ringo and George were each allowed one song per album.  It is well known that Marley would attempt to compose at least one song per day.  Just as John and Paul had to go their own ways to develop their own type of style and music, Bunny, Bob, and Peter had to march to their own drummer.

Post breakup of the Beatles, the separate entities were as never as strong as the whole, but with the Wailer's, Bob Marley thrived, and brought Reggae to the world. John and Paul never achieved the heights that they acquired with their foundation group.

Marley continued to grow, and was celebrated at the United Nations, played at the independence of Zimbawae, and outdrew the Pope in Milan. Marley also assembled the largest outdoor concert in Europe at the time. He died before he might have conquered America.

The Beatles affected all aspects of Western  Culture in the 60's an 70's such as hairstyle, drug usage, clothing style, and consciousness, in their own way.  The Beatles also had a profound effect on  inventiveness of the Music Recording Industry.

The Wailer's also affected style, haircuts, but their significance had a religious and missionary idealogy which appealed to a different audience. 

Both goups had " Big Brother" behind them. For example, smart promoters and record companies. Strategic career moves  brought both groups music to the four corners of the world.

Both Reggae and the Beatles developed at the same time around 1960 and continue to affect the world. Images of both groups are ubiquious . Both groups have taken on a life of ther own, being discovered generation after generation.