45th anniversary of Exodus celebrated with Dolby ATMOS upgrade
The Summer of Marley culminates this week with a new, official lyric video for Bob Marley & The Wailer’s “Exodus,” which is available now on Bob Marley’s Official YouTube Channel.
The new “Exodus” video draws on shared histories, collective pain, and a cry for liberation, showing through rich visuals a parallel between the Biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and the hope of guiding the Rastafarians to freedom. The protagonists set out to leave a destroyed land behind, hoping to find the Fatherland, with aspirations to build a spiritual homeland and find redemption and peace in the middle of Africa. Led by an international team of artists from Africa, Europe, and South America, the video articulates a message of triumph, hope, unity, and strength of a community coming together using hand-drawn illustrations and textures laced with powerful, archival footage of Bob Marley & The Wailers performing “Exodus” in Zimbabwe in 1980.
Over the summer, Bob Marley & The Wailers’ original album, Exodus, became available in Dolby ATMOS. It was mixed by Nick Rives and approved in-person by Ziggy Marley at Capitol Studios.
Last month, the Marley Family, Island Records, and UMe marked the 45th anniversary of Exodus – with a digital Exodus: Deluxe Edition. The digital deluxe album features the ten tracks from the original album, plus 18 Singles & Sessions tracks; 13 of the tracks were culled from two previous Deluxe Editions. Previously unreleased tracks, “Natural Mystic (Horns Mix),” and “The Heathen (Alternate Version),” and the rare 7-inch versions of “Exodus,” “Jamming,” and “Punky Reggae Party,’ the original B-side to “Jamming” are also included on the new digital deluxe, as well as two cuts previously unavailable at all streaming services, plus two additional bonus tracks: the edited live versions of “So Much Things To Say” from the June 1st show, previously released on the deluxe edition of Exodus 40 – The Movement Continues in 2017, and “Exodus,” the finale from the Rainbow’s June 2nd set, previously featured on the album’s 2001 Deluxe Edition. Each performance is otherwise presented unedited within their respective live set.
June also highlighted the digital premiere of three of the four nights from Bob Marley & the Wailers’ historic 1977 run at London’s Rainbow Theatre (June 1, 2, 3). Most of the legendary performances from the three nights, each featuring slightly different setlists and alternate arrangements, have never been heard until now. A select number of tracks from each of the four nights of the Live at the Rainbow recordings were included on previously released deluxe editions of Exodus, and audio and video of the entire June 4th concert were released during the year-long 75th Birthday Celebration, #Marley75, in 2020. Most of the legendary performances from the previous three nights, however, feature slightly different setlists and alternate arrangements that have never been heard until now. Twenty-nine songs throughout the three shows, equating to more than three-quarters of the total songs performed, were previously unreleased performances.
In other news, Bob Marley & The Chineke! Orchestra was also released by Island Records/UMe on July 22nd. The album reimagines some of Bob Marley’s greatest songs with contemporary classical orchestration from the globally esteemed Chineke! Orchestra. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios and produced by Nick Patrick, reimagined tracks include “Satisfy My Soul,” “Exodus,” “Is This Love,” “Redemption Song,” “Get Up, Stand Up,” plus “One Love/People Get Ready,” which was released as a lead track on March 25th.
In addition, Ziggy Marley is wrapping up his summer tour, performing a live tribute to his father as part of the belated Bob Marley 75th Birthday celebrations. Ziggy and his band continue to breathe new life into Bob Marley’s most iconic songs, headlining dates in Europe, the UK and North America.
