Bob Marley: Exodus [ISLAND/TUFF GONG]

Why you'll love it

This remastered 180g edition revives the original gold metallic jacket with embossed lettering and a printed inner sleeve. In 1999 Time named Exodus the best album of the 20th century, and more of Legend comes from this album than from any other Marley record.

This edition

• 180g vinyl
• Remastered
• Gold metallic embossed jacket
• Printed inner sleeve
• Pressed in the Netherlands
• Lyrics included

About the album

Two days after surviving an attempt on his life in December 1976, Bob Marley still played the Smile Jamaica concert. Then he left for London, and it was there, away from home, that he and the Wailers made the record that turned him into a global star. He'd settled on the title Exodus before he'd even written the song.

Side one is the spiritual and political half: "Natural Mystic" fades in like weather on the horizon, "The Heathen" and "Guiltiness" bite, and the title track, with its horns and churning groove, went to No. 1 in Jamaica. Side two turns to love and faith with a run of songs that need no introduction, "Jamming," "Waiting in Vain," "Three Little Birds" and "One Love/People Get Ready." Aston and Carlton Barrett lock down the rhythm, Junior Marvin adds that spidery lead guitar, and the I Threes, with Rita Marley, sing like angels.

It went gold in Canada, the U.S. and the UK, where it stayed on the chart for 56 straight weeks. We've yet to meet anyone who can stop after side one.

Also at Kops: more Bob Marley on vinyl · browse Reggae & Caribbean

Tracklist

Listen

On Island / Tuff Gong, a reissue of the 1977 album.