I’ve seen a lot of creative ways to dress up vinyl, but this is a first for me. This 45th Anniversary Edition of the classic Bob Marley album Uprising is full of “liquid sunshine,” and the liquid actually moves with the record.
Oh, and it’s probably also worth pointing out that I’ve never listened to a Bob Marley record until now. Not that I had any reason not to, but I just never had much reason to, either.
“Coming In From The Cold” begins the 1980 effort with soulful backing vocals and plenty of warm rhythm that suits Marley’s unmistakable vocals. “Real Situation” then uses cozy keys and crisp drumming alongside the well-timed backing vocals from Rita Marley (Bob’s wife), Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt.
Moving towards the middle, “We And Dem” is full of atmosphere and feel-good reggae flavor, while “Zion Train” uses meticulous guitars, a hazy rhythm section and Marley’s wise wordplay. “Could You Be Loved,” a tune I immediately recognized, then carries a heartfelt mood and much positivity in its timeless delivery.
The final two tracks aren’t dissimilar from the previous ones. “Forever Loving Jah” further cements this album as one of Marley’s most religious, and “Redemption Song” carries a melody that no one will ever forget, and the empowering prose is just as substantial, too.
Uprising was Marley’s 12th studio album, and the last one prior to his death in 1981. For fans both casual and diehard, it’s certainly worth a revisit, and for the collectors this edition comes housed in a die cut sleeve. For those like myself, who are four-and-a-half decades late to the party, even if reggae isn’t my genre of choice, the lyrics are much needed in these troubling times and I can’t help but feel a little more hopeful about humanity after a spin.
