Exodus is the ninth studio album by Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers, first released in June 1977 through Island Records, following Rastaman Vibration (1976). The album's production has been characterized as laid-back with pulsating bass beats and an emphasis on piano, trumpet and guitar. Unlike previous albums from the band, Exodus thematically moves away from cryptic story-telling; instead it revolves around themes of change, religious politics, and sexuality. The album is split into two halves: the first half revolves around religious politics, while the second half is focused on themes of making love and keeping faith.
On 3 December 1976, an assassination attempt was made on Bob Marley's life in which his chest was grazed and his arm was struck with a bullet, but he survived. Following the assassination attempt, Marley left Jamaica and moved to London, where Exodus was recorded.
Conception
Marley had conceived "Exodus" as the album title before even writing the song.
In December 1976, Jamaica was going through elections, generating substantial political discourse. In his campaign, Prime Minister Michael Manley used the campaign slogan "We know where we're going." In response Marley wrote "Exodus", which is the title track of the album. The song became a No. 1 hit in Jamaica as well as the United Kingdom and Germany.
On 3 December 1976, while he was in his house in Jamaica, an assassination attempt on Marley's life drove him out of his native country: two days after the assassination attempt, Marley performed in the previously scheduled Smile Jamaica concert, then subsequently fled to England where he later recorded the song "Exodus". In addition to the assassination attempt on Marley, his wife Rita was also shot and survived.
No. 1 hit single
The song "Exodus" became a No. 1 hit in Jamaica as well as a top 20 hit in the United Kingdom where it reached number 14, and Germany.
|rev2 = Billboard
|rev2score = (favorable)
|rev3 = Christgau's Record Guide
|rev3score = B+
|rev4 = Pitchfork
|rev4score = (8.4/10)
|rev5 = PopMatters
|rev5score = (favorable)
|rev6 = Sputnikmusic
|rev6score = 5/5
Cam from Sputnikmusic gave the album five out of five stars, calling it a "classic". Emeritus praised the album's "laid-back tones" and commended Marley's vocals and lyrical content. In 2001, the TV network VH1 named it the 26th greatest album of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 169 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list, and re-ranking at number 48 in a 2020 revised list.
Track listing
All tracks written by Bob Marley.
1977 original release
2001 Deluxe edition
Tracks 12 and 14 are previously unreleased.
Tracks 1–5 and tracks 8, 9, and 10 are previously unreleased.
2004 Definitive remastered edition
2017 Exodus – 40th anniversary edition: Exodus – The Movement Continues
On 3 June 2017, The Marley Family, Island Records and UMe capitalised on the 40th anniversary of the Exodus album with a series of four reissues, three of which – titled Exodus – The Movement Continues – featuring the special release Exodus 40, son Ziggy Marley's newly curated "restatement" of the original album:
- a two-CD package including a CD of the original album and the bonus CD Exodus 40,
- a three-CD set including the above CDs and an extra CD Exodus Live (recorded at London's Rainbow Theatre the week of the original album's release) and
- a super deluxe vinyl limited edition including a gold vinyl version of the original LP plus vinyl LPs & singles.
CD editions
Disc one
Exodus (1977 original release) (37:24)
Disc two
Disc three
Super Deluxe Vinyl limited edition box set
The Super Deluxe, four-LP, two-7" single vinyl version includes the original LP, Ziggy Marley's Exodus 40 restatement, the Exodus Live set (minus the track "Burnin And Lootin"), the Punky Reggae Party LP (which includes a previously unreleased extended mix of "Keep On Moving"), and a pair of vinyl 7" singles, including "Waiting in Vain" b/w "Roots" and "Smile Jamaica (Part One)" b/w "Smile Jamaica (Part Two)."
Vinyl LP 1
Exodus (1977 original release) (37:24)
Vinyl LP 2
Exodus 40 (36:55)
Vinyl LP 3
Exodus Live (Live at the Rainbow Theatre, London, June 1, 3 & 4, 1977) (47:15)
Vinyl LP 4 – Punky Reggae Party (31:25)
- A1. Punky Reggae Party – 9:18
- A2. Punky Reggae Party Dub – 8:47
- B1. Keep On Moving – 13:20 <small>(previously unreleased extended mix)</small>
Vinyl single 1 – Waiting in Vain (8:31)
- A1. Waiting in Vain Alternate version – 4:49 <small>(previously unreleased)</small>
- B1. Roots – 3:42
Vinyl single 2 – Smile Jamaica (8:15)
- A1. Smile Jamaica Part One – 3:13
- B1. Smile Jamaica Part Two – 5:02
"2023 Analog Productions UHQR released February 2023"
A limited edition, custom pressing. Limited to 3500 copies.
Ultra high-quality record from analog productions.
Pressed on Clarity vinyl. Direct from analog.
Produced in Salina, Kansas by Chad Kassem.
Musicians
;Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Bob Marley: lead and backing vocals, guitars
- Junior Marvin: electric guitars
- Aston Barrett: basses
- Carlton Barrett: drums
- Tyrone Downie: synthesizer, electric piano, organ and backing vocals
- Alvin "Seeco" Patterson: percussions
;Additional personnel:
- Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt: backing vocals
- David Madden: trumpet, horn arrangements
- Vin Gordon: trombone
- Glen Da Costa: saxophone
- Neville Garrick: art direction
Charts
Original release
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for Exodus
!Chart (1977–2024)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
!scope="row"|Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
|align="center"|88
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|France (IFOP)
|20
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Greek Albums (IFPI)
| 1
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|US Billboard 200
|20
|-
!scope="row"|US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
|27
|}
Deluxe edition
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for deluxe edition of Exodus
!Chart (2001)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|-
!scope="row"|US Top Reggae Albums