The Best of the Wailers

The Best of the Wailers is the fourth studio album by the Wailers. Despite its title, it is not a compilation album. It was recorded in May 1970 but not released until August 1971.^[1] Over the years, the album was released and re-released under many titles, including Shakedown (or Shake Down), Soul Captives, Cheer Up, Roots I, Reggae!, In The Beginning... and more.^[2]

The Best of the Wailers
Studio album by the Wailers
Released	August 1, 1971
Recorded	May 1970
Studio	Dynamic Sounds (Kingston, Jamaica)[1]
Genre	Reggae
Length	30:43
Label	Beverley's
Producer	Leslie Kong
The Wailers chronology
Soul Revolution Part II (1971) The Best of the Wailers (1971) Catch a Fire (1973)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

The album was produced by Leslie Kong, who died of a heart attack at the age of 37, a week after the album was released.^[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Bob Marley, except where noted.

Original album (1971)

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Soul Shakedown Party"		3:09
2.	"Stop the Train"	Peter Tosh	2:20
3.	"Caution"		2:43
4.	"Soul Captives"		2:03
5.	"Go Tell It on the Mountain"	Traditional	3:15

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Can't You See"	Tosh	2:42
7.	"Soon Come"	Tosh	2:23
8.	"Cheer Up"		2:03
9.	"Back Out"		2:18
10.	"Do It Twice"		2:48

The Definitive Remastered edition (2004)

Current CD Version

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Soul Shakedown Party"		3:09
2.	"Stop the Train"	Peter Tosh	2:20
3.	"Caution"		2:43
4.	"Soul Captives"		2:03
5.	"Go Tell It on the Mountain"	Traditional	3:15
6.	"Can't You See"	Tosh	2:42
7.	"Soon Come"	Tosh	2:23
8.	"Cheer Up"		2:03
9.	"Back Out"		2:18
10.	"Do It Twice"		2:48
11.	"Soon Come" (version)	Tosh	2:25
12.	"Soul Shakedown Party" (version)		3:05

Personnel

The Wailers

• Bob Marley – vocals
• Peter Tosh – vocals, melodica
• Bunny Livingston – vocals

Additional musicians

Beverley's All Stars:^[3]

• Gladstone Anderson – piano
• Winston Wright – organ
• Paul Douglas – drums
• Jackie Jackson – bass
• Lloyd Parks – bass
• Lynford "Hux" Brown – guitar
• Radcliffe "Rad" Bryan – guitar
• Lynn Taitt – guitar

Production

• Leslie Kong – producer
• Warwick Lyn – producer