We’ve learnt that Island Records, together with USM, Ume and The Marley Estate/Tuff Gong Worldwide will release several special editions on CD and Vinyl of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ seminal 1977 record Exodus to celebrate the 40th Anniversary.
Here’s the official press release:
June 2017 marks the 40th Anniversary of EXODUS, widely regarded as perhaps Bob Marley’s most iconic album, proclaimed by Time Magazine as the ‘Album of the Century’. In honour of this significant Anniversary, Ziggy Marley has painstakingly revisited the original session recordings, and uncovered unused and never before heard vocals, lyric phrasing and instrumentation, and set about incorporating and transforming these newly found elements into brand new session takes.
Ziggy approached the project with the utmost respect for his father’s music and his message and Exodus 40 is his vision of how his father may have approached these songs today. These are the songs that we all know and love, and Ziggy’s mindful approach offers a new context, a new way to listen to this incredible album.
While working within the original sessions, Ziggy uncovered 10 lead vocal outtakes for ‘One Love’. He proceeded to piece together a brand new lead vocal from the outtakes, including vocal booth ad libs which the listener can near towards the end of the song.
Furthermore, he assembled an incredible roster of musicians to record a brand new music bed for ‘Turn Your Lights Down Low’ – which leads the song into deeper elements of R+B…. a musical style that heavily influenced Bob’s song-writing. Bob’s original vocals remain atop this fresh music bed and create a new soulful experience within this iconic song.
Ziggy and the assembled musicians provide further subtle instrumental textures on a number of tracks on this brand new collection which will be released as part of a multi-format reissue suite around the Anniversary of the original album release date of June 3rd 1977.
The following physical products will be released to celebrate the monumental Anniversary alongside a comprehensive digital suite. All content and configurations developed in consultation with Ziggy Marley & Tuff Gong Worldwide.
Exodus 40 [2CD]
2CD package containing Exodus [re-mastered original 1977 album] & Exodus 40 [Ziggy Marley restatement].
Exodus 40 [3CD]
3CD Set commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Exodus. Contains the remastered original 1977 Exodus album, Ziggy Marley’s restatement Exodus 40, and Exodus Live which features eight live performances from London’s Rainbow Theatre, recorded the week of the original album’s release in June 1977 (seven of these performances are previously unreleased) all housed within a custom Softpack wallet including a 28-page booklet.
Exodus 40 Super Deluxe Edition [4LP/2×7”/Book]
All vinyl collector’s edition boxset commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Exodus. Contains all* of the content from the 3CD set across 3LPs cut to 180-gram heavyweight black vinyl, as well as an exclusive ‘Punky Reggae Party’ LP, two additional limited edition 7”s & a 32-page book contained within a rigid 12”x12” boxset.
Exodus – Gold LP Exclusive
Exclusive limited edition pressing of the original album on Gold vinyl only available via UMG D2C channels.