Bob Marley & The Wailers released Uprising

Uprising Bob Marley & the Wailers

Released: June 10, 1980 Peak: 45 US, 41 RB, 6 UK, 36 AU Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, 0.1 UK, 5.0 world (includes US and UK) Genre: reggae

Tracks: Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Coming in from the Cold Real Situation Bad Card We and Dem Work Zion Train Pimpers Paradise Could You Be Loved (5/80, 5 UK, 56 RB) Forever Loving Jah Redemption Song (10/80, --) Total Running Time: 35:53 The Players: Bob Marley (vocals, guitar) Aston “Family Man” Barrett (bass) Carlton “Carlie” Barrett (drums, percussion) Tyrone Downie (keyboards) Alvin “Seeco” Patterson (percussion) Junior Marvin (electric guitar) Al Anderson (lead guitar) Earl “Wire” Lindo (keyboards) Carlton “Santa” Davis (drums) Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt, Griffiths (backing vocals)

Rating: 4.012 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)

About the Album: After Marley collapsed during a jog in Central Park, he was diagnosed with cancer. He succumbed less than a year after the release of Uprising, making it the last studio album released in his 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.” AMG “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 lead-off track Coming in from the Cold are all significant variations on the lolloping Rasta beat. The major difference is 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.” AMG There’s also “the album’s vibrant single Could You Be Loved” QM and, most notably, Redemption Song, which is “the final track on the original pressing of Uprising.” AMG “The stark contrast from the decidedly electric and group-oriented album to this hauntingly beautiful solo acoustic composition is as dramatic as it is visionary.” AMG “Never has an artist unknowingly written such a beautiful and apropos living epitaph;” AMG “this simple folk song, reminiscent of Bob Dylan, sounds like a farewell: ‘All I ever had…these songs of freedom.’” QM Notes: The 2001 "Definitive Remaster" version of Uprising contains the band version of "Redemption Song" and the 12" mix of "Could You Be Loved."

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Bob Marley AMG All Music Guide review by Lindsay Planer QM Q Magazine (7/04) review by Paul Elliott. No longer online. First posted 3/26/2008; last updated 5/10/2021.