By 1978,
Bob Marley was by far the best-known reggae musician in the world and a major star in the U.K. and Europe as well as his native Jamaica. However, he was still little more than a cult figure in the United States, and by many accounts
Marley was eager to attract a larger audience in America, seeing it as a new challenge. Released in 1978,
Kaya wasn't necessarily made with American tastes in mind, but it was an album that presented a more accessible version of
Bob Marley. Lyrically, the songs avoided the political commentary or Rastafarian philosophizing that was at the forefront of
Natty Dread and
Rastaman Vibration, and instead emphasized tunes about love and ganga, such as "Easy Skanking" and the title cut. And the palpable musical tension that simmered beneath the surface on
the Wailers' earlier material gave way to a more laid-back riddim that was more comfortable but a bit less demanding.
Kaya presented a gentler and friendlier version of
Bob Marley & the Wailers, but it also documented
Marley and his group at the peak of their abilities. The nuance in
Marley's vocals on "Running Away," "She's Gone," and "Is This Love" showed how much he'd grown as a performer since
Catch a Fire, and his passion elevates "Misty Morning" into one of the album's highlights. The Wailers were capable of cutting a groove that was both powerfully muscular and seemingly effortless, with
Aston "Family Man" Barrett and Carlton Barrett once again reaffirming their status as one of the finest rhythm sections on earth, and
Junior Marvin and
Marley offering a master class in how the concept of "less is more" can be applied to the guitar. Though
Kaya offered a less aggressive message than one might have expected from
Marley, the songs were far from lazy, and "Time Will Tell," "Is This Love," and "Running Away" are resonant, top-shelf work.
Kaya was a minor effort for
Bob Marley as a prophet or a commentator, but it's a rich and rewarding set from
Marley the musician.