African Herbsman

African Herbsman is a compilation of The Wailers songs, released by Trojan Records in 1973, shortly after their major-label debut album Catch a Fire had been released by Island Records.

The compilation is the UK equivalent of the Jamaican album Soul Revolution, with the songs Memphis and Duppy Conqueror V/4 replaced by several other tracks from the period. Most of the added tracks are non-album singles from the period, but it also includes 400 Years from the album Soul Rebels.

This album is a collection of some of the songs that The Wailers recorded in Jamaica together with producer Lee Perry from 1970 to 1971, before they received international recognition. Included are also two of the group's self-productions, "Trenchtown Rock" and "Lively Up Yourself", that both had been big hits in Jamaica.

Several of the songs included here would later be re-recorded by Marley for his later albums. Examples are "Lively Up Yourself" (on Natty Dread), "Duppy Conqueror" (on Burnin'), and "Sun Is Shining" (on Kaya).

Track listing

Side one

1. "Lively Up Yourself" – 2:55
2. "Small Axe" – 4:00
3. "Duppy Conqueror" – 3:04
4. "Trenchtown Rock" – 3:01
5. "African Herbsman" – 2:26 (Richie Havens)
6. "Keep On Moving" – 3:08
7. "Fussing And Fighting" – 2:30
8. "Stand Alone" – 2:10

Side two

1. "All In One" – 3:38
2. "Don’t Rock My Boat" – 4:38
3. "Put It On" – 3:11
4. "Sun Is Shining" – 2:13
5. "Kaya" – 2:41
6. "Riding High" – 2:48
7. "Brain Washing" – 2:42
8. "400 Years" – 2:32

Current CD Version

1. "Lively Up Yourself" – 2:55
2. "Small Axe" – 4:00
3. "Duppy Conqueror" – 3:04
4. "Trenchtown Rock" – 3:01
5. "African Herbsman" – 2:26 (Richie Havens)
6. "Keep On Moving" – 3:08
7. "Fussing And Fighting" – 2:30
8. "Stand Alone" – 2:10
9. "All In One" – 3:38
10. "Don’t Rock My Boat" – 4:38
11. "Put It On" – 3:11
12. "Sun Is Shining" – 2:13
13. "Kaya" – 2:41
14. "Riding High" – 2:48
15. "Brain Washing" – 2:42
16. "400 Years" – 2:32

Bonus Tracks on 2003 release Trojan 06076-80399-2:

17. Memphis - The Upsetters 18. Live (Lively Up Yourself version) - Tommy McCook 19. More Axe - Bob Marley 20. The Axe man (Small Axe version) - The Upsetters 21. Zig Zag (Duppy Conqueror version - The Upsetters 22. Grooving Kingston 12 (Trenchtown Rock version) - Bob Marley & the Wailers 23. Moving version - Big Youth 24. Keep On Skanking - Bob Marley & the Wailers 25. Copasetic (All In One version) - The Upsetters 26. Kaya version 2 - Bob Marley & the Wailers

This extended version of African Herbsman was also released on DVD Audio by Silverline Records.