| Kaya | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Bob Marley and the Wailers |
| Border: | yes |
| Released: | 23 March 1978 |
| Recorded: | January – April 1977 |
| Studio: | Island Studios, London, England |
| Genre: | Reggae |
| Length: | 36:59 |
| Producer: | Bob Marley and the Wailers |
| Prev Title: | Exodus |
| Prev Year: | 1977 |
| Next Title: | Babylon by Bus |
| Next Year: | 1978 |
Kaya is the tenth studio album by the Jamaican band Bob Marley and the Wailers, released in 1978.[1] [2] The album consists of tracks recorded alongside those released on the Exodus album. It was produced by the band.
The album's release coincided with the One Love Peace Concert, heralding Marley's triumphant return to Jamaica from exile in London. Three of the songs are new versions of tracks from the 1971 album Soul Revolution Part II. Kaya reached the top five in the UK album charts.
Lester Bangs, in Rolling Stone, wrote: "Musically, Kaya is a succession of the most tepid reggae clichés, pristinely performed and recorded, every last bit of tourist bait (down to the wood blocks) in place just like a Martin Denny record."[3] The Bay State Banner noted that "the Wailers take freely from Gamble & Huff's chords, Euro-disco's burping bass, and pop-soul ballads' blithe strings and synthesizers, but they funk up and condense these styles and use reggae's chicken scratch and snap-on drumming as disco employs congas: for a counter-voice to handle the unspeakable passions in a song."[4] The Globe and Mail opined that "Marley's reggae, expansive as always, has this time failed to integrate the Jamaican and American elements."[5]
All songs written by Bob Marley. Mastered by Ted Jensen of Sterling Sound.
All songs written by Bob Marley.
| Peak position | ||
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[6] | 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Albums Chart[7] | 6 | |
| New Zealand Albums Chart[8] | 6 | |
| Swedish Albums Chart[9] | 14 | |
| UK Albums Chart[10] | 4 | |
| US Billboard 200 | 50 | |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 50 |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[11] | 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[12] | 21 |