Maps of Music

Exodus (1977)

Where the lyrics of Exodus take you, and where it was really made.

The album was recorded in London after a 1976 assassination attempt drove Marley out of Jamaica, and it became the record that propelled him to international stardom.

Key places

Harry J. Studio in Kingston (1977)

Recording site Dynamic Sounds — The album's studio credits list Harry J. Studio in Kingston, Jamaica, as one of the recording studios. The point is placed at city-centre level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Island Studios in London (1977)

Recording site Island Studios — The album's studio credits list Island Studios in London as one of the recording studios. The point marks the studio's building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

London, where Exodus was recorded (1977)

Recording site Wild Bunch Studios (London) — After leaving Jamaica, Marley moved to London, where the album was recorded. The point is placed at city-centre level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Exodus: ninth studio album by Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers
• First released June 1977 through Island Records
• Follows Rastaman Vibration (1976)
• Production described as laid-back, with pulsating bass beats and an emphasis on piano, trumpet and guitar
• Themes move away from cryptic storytelling toward change, religious politics and sexuality
• First half centers on religious politics; second half on making love and keeping faith

Background

• 1974: Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left the original Wailers, and the band continued as Bob Marley & The Wailers
• 1975: international breakthrough with "No Woman, No Cry" from Natty Dread
• Rastaman Vibration (1976) followed as the breakthrough album in the United States
• 3 December 1976: assassination attempt on Marley in Jamaica; his chest was grazed and his arm was struck by a bullet, but he survived
• Marley left Jamaica for London after the attempt

Recording

• Exodus was recorded in London after Marley moved there
• The title was conceived before the song "Exodus" was written
• Political background: during the December 1976 elections, the song "Exodus" was written in response to the campaign slogan of Prime Minister Michael Manley

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in 1963 in Jamaica around Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley, initially as the Teenagers before becoming the Wailers.
• The band had a ska and rocksteady origin and their 1964 hit "Simmer Down" recorded at Studio One shifted Jamaican music toward its own voice.

Members

• Founding members were Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer; Tosh and Wailer left in 1974.
• Marley continued with a new lineup including Aston and Carlton Barrett and the female backing trio the I-Threes.

Career

• Signed to Island Records in 1972; albums Catch a Fire and Burnin' followed in 1973.
• Released Exodus (1977) and Uprising (1980), and Marley died of cancer in 1981, after which the group disbanded.
• Legend (1984) became the biggest-selling reggae album ever.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Sputnikmusic: Cam gave the album five out of five stars and called it a "classic"
• Rolling Stone described the rhythm section of Aston Barrett and Carlton Barrett and the lead guitar of Junior Marvin as strengths that offset the material's flatness
• The album received gold certifications in the US, UK and Canada and was described as the album that propelled Marley to international stardom

Reappraisal

• Time named Exodus the best album of the 20th century in 1999
• VH1 named it the 26th greatest album of all time in 2001
• Rolling Stone ranked it number 169 on its 500 greatest albums list in 2003

Records

• Billboard 200: peaked at number 20
• Black Albums chart: peaked at number 15
• UK: peaked at number 8 and stayed on the chart for 56 consecutive weeks
• The 2017 remaster and re-release marked the album's 40th anniversary

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Marley conceived the title "Exodus" before he wrote the song of the same name.
• Six months after the 1976 assassination attempt, Marley performed at the previously scheduled Smile Jamaica concert, then fled to England.
• Rita Marley was also shot in the 1976 attack and survived.
• More tracks from Exodus appear on the compilation Legend than from any of Marley's other records.
• Time named the album the best album of the 20th century in 1999.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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