Chances Are was a compilation album by Bob Marley

Bob Marley

Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...

 released in 1981 by WEA International

Warner Music Group

Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...

 throughout the world (and specifically through the Cotillion

Cotillion Records

Cotillion Records was a subsidiary of Atlantic Records and was active from 1968 through 1985. The label was originally formed as an outlet for blues and deep Southern soul; its first single, Otis Clay's version of "She's About A Mover", reached the R&B charts. Cotillion's catalog quickly expanded...

 imprint of Atlantic Records

Atlantic Records

Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...

 in the U.S.).

Background

Commissioned by Danny Sims (co-founder and owner of JAD Records

JAD Records

JAD Records was a record label that was co-owned by Johnny Nash, producer Arthur Jenkins, and businessman Danny Sims, whose initials formed its logo...

) and issued after Marley's death in May 1981, Chances Are was a collection of previously unreleased recordings from 1968 to 1972 that were produced by JAD during Marley's time living in the U.S. and otherwise working with JAD back and forth from Jamaica to the States. The selected tracks on this collection were overdubbed, remixed, and in many cases, extended beyond their original duration specially for this album.

The majority of songs on this album were re-released on the Black Progress compilation album in 1997 (also released by JAD through the former KOCH International, prior to their original versions being issued on the Complete Wailers series.) The only song not reissued in this version is Mellow Mood, although there was a limited CD pressing of Chances Are printed in the early nineties.

Song footnotes

• "Reggae On Broadway" -- A 1972 song which fused reggae with soul and rock music in an attempt to bring Marley mainstream radio attention (particularly in the U.S.), was, in fact, a minor hit in the UK, where it was issued on CBS Records. This tune was remixed and extended for Chances Are" and was also released as a 12" single.
• "Gonna Get You" -- Probably the only tune regarded as hardcore reggae on the album was one of two written by songwriting legend and Coasters
  The Coasters
  The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller...
  
   touring member Jimmy Norman
  Jimmy Norman
  Jimmy Norman was an American rhythm and blues and jazz musician and a songwriter. In his early career, Norman had a charting single of his own, "I Don't Love You No More ", as well as performing session work with Jimi Hendrix, but he is better known as a lyricist and songwriter...
  
   and partner Al Pyfrom.
• "Chances Are" -- This ballad was overdubbed with organ lines and extended. Before this version, "Chances Are", along with other JAD recordings whose original issuances were well long out-of-print and never commercially released again, were otherwise available on an unauthorized compilation in 1978 issued by a small label called Magnum Records that was eventually made available through many other small, independent record companies throughout the next few years with different artwork and different titles. The song was covered by The Breeders
  The Breeders
  The Breeders are an American alternative rock band formed in 1988 by Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. The band has experienced a number of line-up changes; the current line-up consists of Kim Deal , her twin sister Kelley Deal , Jose Medeles , Mando Lopez Todd the Fox...
  
   on Fate to Fatal (2009).
• "Soul Rebel" -- Previously recorded under Lee "Scratch" Perry.
• "Dance Do The Reggae" -- This recording, which was also released through CBS, was extended by one verse and chorus and slightly overdubbed.
• "Mellow Mood" -- This remake of his own rocksteady hit from the Wail 'N' Soul 'M days that was also featured on the 1978 Magnum compilation was remixed and overlaid with extra percussion.
• "Stay With Me" -- A rare venture into the pop sound of the day, this tune, which was also written by Jimmy Norman and Al Pyfrom, was remixed with extra drums and extended by repetition of the bridge.
• "I'm Hurting Inside"* -- Also a cover of a Wailers
  Bob Marley & The Wailers
  Bob Marley & The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae, ska and rocksteady band formed by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963. Additional members were Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Cherry Smith and Aston and Carlton Barrett...
  
   rocksteady recording from the Wail 'N' Soul 'M period, this tune was remixed for Chances Are. An alternate version of the original recording was issued on the 1992 Songs Of Freedom
  Songs of Freedom
  Songs of Freedom is a four-disc box set containing music by Bob Marley and the Wailers, from Marley's first song "Judge Not" recorded in 1961, to a live version of "Redemption Song", recorded in 1980 at his last concert....
  
  box set.

Track listing

1. "Reggae on Broadway"
2. "Gonna Get You"
3. "Chances Are"
4. "Soul Rebel"
5. "Dance Do the Reggae"
6. "Mellow Mood"
7. "Stay With Me"
8. "I'm Hurting Inside"