Bob Marley Uprising CD

Digitally remastered by Ted Jensen (2001, Sterling Sound, New York, New York).

Bob Marley generated a staggering number of great records during his brief time in the world's spotlight. Although he cut his first recordings in the early 1960s, it was not until the 1973 release of CATCH A FIRE that Marley and the Wailers became international stars. Eight years later Marley was dead, a victim of cancer. In between, he recorded eight studio albums and several live albums, all of excellent quality.

UPRISING is Marley's final album, and it's also one of his best. As on all his recordings, Marley's writing displays the gift for melody that helped non-Jamaican audiences gain access to his music even when he was singing about the details of island life and the doctrine of Rastafarianism. The most popular tracks here, "Could You Be Loved" and "Redemption Song," are pop masterpieces, but so too are lesser known tracks "Coming In From The Cold," "Pimper's Paradise," and "Bad Card." And except for "Redemption Song," a stunningly poignant protest song that features only Marley on vocal and acoustic guitar, you can dance to it. What more could you ask for?

Uprising would be the final studio album featuring Bob Marley & the Wailers to be released during Marley's lifetime. Prophetically, it also contains some of the band's finest crafted material, as if they were cogent that this would be their final outing. The album's blend of religious and secular themes likewise creates a very powerful and singular quest for spirituality in a material world. Although it is argued that an album's graphic design rarely captures the essence of the work inside, the powerful rebirthing image of a rock-solid Marley emerging with his arms raised in triumph could not be a more accurate visual description of the musical jubilation within. Musically, the somewhat staid rhythms often synonymous with reggae have been completely turned around to include slinky and liquid syncopation. "Work," "Pimper's Paradise," and the leadoff track, "Coming in From the Cold," are all significant variations on the lolloping Rasta beat. The major differences are the sonic textures that manipulate and fill those patterns. The inventive and unique guitar work of Al Anderson -- the only American member of the original Wailers -- once again redefines the role of the lead electric guitar outside of its standard rock & roll setting. "Zion Train" is awash in wah-wah-driven patterns, creating an eerie, almost ethereal backdrop against Marley's lyrics, which recollect images from Peter Tosh's "Stop That Train" all the way back on Marley & the Wailers' international debut, Catch a Fire. The final track on the original pressing of Uprising is "Redemption Song." Never has an artist unknowingly written such a beautiful and apropos living epitaph. The stark contrast from the decidedly electric and group-oriented album to this hauntingly beautiful solo acoustic composition is as d

Additional Tracks

Recorded at Tuff Gong Studio, Kingston, Jamaica. Originally released on Island (9596).

Bob Marley & The Wailers: Bob Marley (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Aston "Family Man" Barrett (guitar, piano, bass, percussion); Junior Marvin (guitar, background vocals); Tyrone Downie (keyboards, background vocals); Carlton Barrett (drums, percussion).

The I Threes: Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt (background vocals).

Producer: Bob Marley & The Wailers.

Reissue producers: Bill Levenson, Maxine Stowe.

Personnel: Bob Marley (vocals, acoustic guitar); I-Threes (vocals); Aston Barrett (guitar, piano, percussion); Julian Marvin, Junior Marvin (guitar, background vocals); Tyrone Downie (keyboards, background vocals); Earl Lindo (keyboards); Carlton "Carlie" Barrett (drums, percussion); Alvin Patterson (percussion); Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Chris Blackwell; Errol Brown .

Recording information: Tuff Gong Studios, Kinston, Jamaica.

PhotographerDown Beat (12/01, p.88) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...His most cohesive set of songs on Black pride and consciousness..."
Mojo (Publisher) (8/02, p.85) - "...Though the man sounds parched and tired, this was the best of his later albums..."