Exodus

by Bob Marley

Overview

After the success of 1974's Natty Dread and 1976's Rastaman Vibration, Bob Marley was not only the most successful reggae musician in the world, he was one of the most powerful men in Jamaica. Powerful enough, in fact, that he was shot by gunmen who broke into his home in December 1976, days before he was to play a massive free concert intended to ease tensions days before a contentious election for Jamaican Prime Minister. In the wake of the assassination attempt, Marley and his band left Jamaica and settled in London for two years, where he recorded 1977's Exodus. Thematically, Exodus represented a subtle but significant shift for Marley; while he continued to speak out against political corruption and for freedom and equality for Third World people, his lyrics dealt less with specifics and more with generalities and the need for peace and love (though "So Much Things to Say," "Guiltiness," and "The Heathen" demonstrate the bullets had taken only so much sting out of Marley's lyrics). And while songs like "Exodus" and "One Love/People Get Ready" were anthemic, they also had less to say than the more pointed material from Marley's earlier albums. However, if Marley had become more wary in his point of view (and not without good cause), his skill as a songwriter was as strong as ever, and Exodus boasted more than a few classics, including the title song, "Three Little Birds," "Waiting in Vain," and "Turn Your Lights Down Low," tunes that defined Marley's gift for sounding laid-back and incisive at once. His gifts as a vocalist were near their peak on these sessions, bringing a broad range of emotional color to his performances, and this lineup of the Wailers -- anchored by bassist Aston "Family Man" Barrett, drummer Carlton Barrett, and guitarist Julian "Junior" Murvin -- is superb, effortlessly in the pocket throughout. Exodus was recorded at a time when Bob Marley was learning about the unexpected costs of international stardom, but it hadn't yet sapped his creative strengths, and this is one of the finest albums in his stellar catalog. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	06/20/2025
Label:	Analogue Prod.
UPC:	0753088164576

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bob Marley & the Wailers   Primary Artist
Bob Marley   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic)
The Wailers   Primary Artist
Tyrone Downie   Vocals (Background),Keyboards,Percussion
David Madden   Trumpet
Watty Burnett   Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Val Douglas   Bass
Junior Marvin   Guitar
Richie Daley   Bass
Drummie Zeb   Drums
Vin Gordon   Trombone
Judy Mowatt   Vocals (Background)
Ansel Cridland   Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Danny Clarke   Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Brian Macleod   Drums
Richard Daley   Bass
Julian Marvin   Guitar
Candy McKenzie   Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Alvin Patterson   Percussion
Mikey Boo   Drums
Aura Lewis   Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Ibo Cooper   Keyboards
Dave Wilder   Bass
Aston "Family Man" Barrett   Bass,Guitar,Percussion,Fender Jazz Bass
Micky Boo   Drums
Sly Dunbar   Drums
I-Threes   Vocals (Background)
Boris Gardiner   Bass
Zac Rae   Keyboards,Fender Rhodes
Lyle Workman   Guitar
Rita Marley   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Carlton "Carly" Barrett   Drums,Percussion
Cat Coore   Guitar
Michael Cooper   Keyboards
Marcia Griffiths   Vocals (Background)
Aston Barrett   Bass,Guitar,Percussion,Guitar (Bass),Bass (Electric),Fender Jazz Bass
Julian "Junior" Marvin   Guitar
Glen DaCosta   Saxophone
Winston Watson   Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Alvin "Seeco" Patterson   Percussion
Ziggy Marley   Bass,Piano,Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Karl Pitterson   Audio Engineer,Mixing,Engineer
Neville Garrick   Reissue Photography,Original Cover Artwork,Photography,Reissue Art,Cover Design,Graphic Design,Original Graphics
Jane Hitchin   Tape Research
Margaret Goldfarb   Reissue Production Coordination
Zoe Roberts   Tape Research
Matt Solodky   Production Manager
Chris Blackwell   Producer,Mixing
Lee "Scratch" Perry   Composer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
The Wailers   Producer
Guy Bidmead   Mixing,Mixing Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Mike Fink   Reissue Design
Jack Nuber   Mixing
Adrian Boot   Photography,Reissue Photography
Ryan Null   Reissue Coordination
David Lascelles   Tape Research
Evelyn Morgan   A&R
Greg Cobb   Assistant Engineer
Mike Schuppan   Engineer
Dave Harper   Producer
Allan Cole   Composer
Allen Cole   Composer
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Bob Marley & the Wailers   Producer
Bob Marley   Composer,Producer
Dick Cuthell   Engineer
Curtis Mayfield   Composer
Frank Owen   Engineer,Recording,Mixing Engineer
Rita Marley   Composer
Carlton "Carly" Barrett   Composer
Vincent Ford   Composer
Ernest Gold   Composer
Norman Mighell   Assistant Engineer
Aston Barrett   Mixing
Godwin Logie   Engineer
Dave Cooley   Mastering
Ziggy Marley   Mixing,Producer,Remixing
Suha Gur   Mixing
Terry Barham   Assistant Engineer
Bill Levenson   Reissue Supervisor