Review #71: Exodus, Bob Marley & The Wailers
#71: Exodus, Bob Marley & The Wailers
The last Bob Marley album we heard was a Greatest Hits album, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going into a studio album. I kind of assumed that the Greatest Hits album would just about cover all the cool songs on all of Bob Marley’s discography. I went ahead and marked each song that is also featured on Legend with a *.
Apparently, this album was recorded shortly after an assassination attempt on Marley’s life right before a concert in Jamaica. He and three other people were shot! According to Marley’s manager Don Taylor (who was also shot), the would-be killers were tried and executed in an unofficial Jamaican court. Yikes, yikes, yikes.
Anyway, Marley took his band out to England and recorded this album, which stayed on the British charts for 50 consecutive weeks. Imagine if the killers had succeeded, and the world never got “Three Little Birds.”
FAVORITE SONGS:
“Natural Mystic” — Many more will have to suffer/Many more will have to die/Don’t ask me why. Wow, these are some dark Bob Marley lyrics.
“So Much Things To Say” — One of the background singers on this sounds like a real-life angel.
“Guiltiness” — This is a much moodier album than Legend.
“The Heathen” — WAIT, I’ve heard this one before! This live version is amazing.
*“Exodus” — Marley named this album Exodus long before he even wrote this song.
*“Jamming” — Why, yes, I DO like jamming, too!
*“Waiting In Vain” — I could listen to this song over and over.
*“Three Little Birds” — Sad news: The beautiful betta fish I had named after this song recently passed away. RIP to Three Little Birds by Bob Marley II, or “Birdie.” :(
*“One Love/People Get Ready” — Let’s get together and feel all right.
“Jamming — Long Version” — Why, yes, Bob Marley, I STILL like jamming, too!
“Punky Reggae Party” — How much fun do you think a Bob Marley party would be? Be honest with yourself.
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“Turn Your Lights Down Low” — Eh.
IS RS FULL OF IT?
So 7 of these 12 tracks were not included on Legend. (Including the long version of “Jamming.”) Since that’s more than half of the album, I won’t take issue with its inclusion. PLUS, oh my God, Bob Marley was almost killed!!!
