The Dilution of “Concrete Jungle”

The original “Concrete Jungle” and Island Records’ rerelease show Jamaican music through two different lenses. The recording released prior to the London sessions flows effortlessly. The beat trips over itself lazily in pursuit of Marley’s earnest vocals. This version of “Concrete Jungle” feels organic; the beat and instrumentation feel like a gem stumbled upon by the band. While the original feels like a beach day with amber-tinted shades, the rerecorded version gives the band more edge. Bluesy guitar fills out the spaces left between skipping beats. Instead of sounding airy, the song became heavy and complex. This was much more palatable to European rockists of the time. Honestly, I believe the London version lost the magic of the original track. The moody instrumentation is interesting, but I’d argue that it does not feel true to the band’s roots. As seen in Mike Alleyne’s quotation, the bells and whistles added to “Concrete Jungle” made it more digestible in major markets. The addition of rock elements and faster tempo ‘dilute’ the effortless nature that made this song so powerful.