{"product_id":"small_axe","title":"Small Axe","description":"\u003cp\u003eSmall Axe is a catalogue compilation built around Bob Marley \u0026amp; The Wailers’ 1970 Lee “Scratch” Perry–produced single of the same name, drawing from the Upsetter‑era sessions that also yielded material for albums like Soul Rebels and Soul Revolution Part II. Issued on CD in the 2000s by Pazzazz\/MVD and other budget‑line imprints, it sequences a selection of late‑’60s\/early‑’70s pre‑Island tracks into an album‑length program, aiming to showcase Marley’s “roots” period for casual buyers. Typical tracklists include “Small Axe” alongside songs such as “Soul Rebel,” “Duppy Conqueror,” “African Herbsman,” “Soul Almighty,” “Kaya,” “Trench Town Rock,” and “Keep On Moving,” all in their lean, Perry‑produced versions rather than the later Island remakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMusically, the compilation highlights the stripped‑back, bass‑heavy sound of Marley’s early reggae: slow to mid‑tempo grooves, minimal overdubs, and the tight vocal blend of Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer. The title track “Small Axe” itself is emblematic—a metaphorical warning to Jamaica’s powerful producers (“big trees”) that the Wailers and their allies are the “small axe” ready to cut them down—underscoring how social critique and industry politics already infused Marley’s writing before his global fame. As with many grey‑area early‑years releases, Small Axe is marketed as an inexpensive, entry‑level disc rather than a definitive archival edition, but it still functions as a useful snapshot of the Perry period, revealing the raw foundations of songs later polished for albums like Burnin’ and African Herbsman.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Record Store","offers":[{"title":"CD \/ Album","offer_id":53317884084538,"sku":"37631","price":4.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/2041\/0682\/files\/Screenshot_2026-04-14_at_12.30.09_PM.jpeg?v=1776184301","url":"https:\/\/recordstore.ca\/products\/small_axe","provider":"Record Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}