Survival

by Bob Marley & the Wailers, Bob Marley

Overview

Containing what is considered Marley's most defiant and politically charged statement, Survival concerns itself with the expressed solidarity of not only Africa, but of humanity at large. The album was controversial right down to the jacket, which contains a crude schematic of the stowage compartment of a typical transatlantic slave ship. Survival is intended as a wake-up call for every man to resist and fight oppression in all of its insidious forms. From Tyrone Downie's opening synthesizer strains on "So Much Trouble in the World" to the keyboard accents emerging throughout "Zimbabwe," the sounds of Survival are notably modern. The overwhelming influence of contemporary African music is also cited with the incorporation of brass a la Fela Kuti and his horn-driven Africa '70. While "Top Rankin'," "Ride Natty Ride," and "Wake up and Live" are the most obvious to benefit from this influence, there are other and often more subtle inspirations scattered throughout. Survival could rightly be considered a concept album. Marley had rarely been so pointed and persistent in his content. The days of the musical parable are more or less replaced by direct and confrontational lyrics. From the subversive "Zimbabwe," which affirms the calls for the revolution and ultimate liberation of the South African country, to the somewhat more introspective and optimistic "Africa Unite," the message of this album is clearly a call to arms for those wanting to abolish the subjugation and tyranny of not only Africans, but all humankind. Likewise Survival reinforces the image of Marley as a folk hero to those suffering from oppression. [The 2001 Definitive Remaster of Survival includes a bonus track featuring the 12" extended version of "Ride Natty Ride" -- previously only available on CD in the Songs of Freedom box set.] ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	07/31/2001
Label:	Island / Tuff Gong
UPC:	0731454890120

Tracks

1. So Much Trouble in the World
2. Zimbabwe
3. Top Rankin'
4. Babylon System
5. Survival
6. Africa Unite
7. One Drop
8. Ride Natty Ride
9. Ambush in the Night
10. Wake Up and Live
11. Ride Natty Ride

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bob Marley   Primary Artist,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals,Percussion,Guitar (Rhythm)
Bob Marley & the Wailers   Primary Artist
Rita Marley   Vocals (Background)
Carlton "Carly" Barrett   Drums,Percussion
Tyrone Downie   Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Junior Marvin   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Marcia Griffiths   Vocals (Background)
Aston Barrett   Bass,Keyboards,Percussion,Bass (Electric),Guitar (Rhythm)
Earl Lindo   Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Judy Mowatt   Vocals (Background)
I-Threes   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Dennis Thompson   Assistant Engineer
Alex Sadkin   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Bill Levenson   Reissue Supervisor
Errol Brown   Assistant Engineer
Anthony "Sangie" Davis   Composer
Zoe Roberts   Tape Research
Maxine Stowe   Reissue Supervisor
Philip Ziadie   Assistant Engineer
Adrian Boot   Photography
David Lascelles   Tape Research
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Bob Marley & the Wailers   Mixing,Producer,Performer
Bob Marley   Composer
Mike Fink   Reissue Design
Neville Garrick   Photography,Reissue Art,Cover Design,Graphic Design
Jane Hitchin   Tape Research
Margaret Goldfarb   Reissue Production Coordination