Exclusive Marley book out this month

 Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) and Tuff Gong Recording Studios have announced that three new and exclusive limited-edition collector series of reggae legend, Bob Marley are being released later this year.

The most sought after of the collector series, ‘Bob Marley limited-edition LP series’, pressed at his Tuff Gong International recording studios in Kingston, will be released on December 11. It will contain tracks such as ‘Positive Vibration’, ‘Roots, Rock, Reggae’, ‘Johnny Was’, ‘Crazy Bald Head’, ‘Who The Cap Fits’, ‘War’ and ‘Rat Race’.

The first of the series to be launched is the vinyl half-speed masters’ series which will be available on November 20, after which the complete Island Recordings CD box set will be available on December 4. The 12 limited-edition Bob Marley vinyl LP’s, each numbered, which will be released on December 11 featuring nine original studio albums and two original live albums.

This is in addition to the world’s best-selling reggae album, ‘Legend’, all including a highly-desirable Tuff Gong stamp. Additionally, ‘Catch A Fire’, originally recorded by The Wailers in Jamaica and eventually released with overdubs and a mix overseen by Island Records’ founder Chris Blackwell at the label’s London headquarters, will also be available.

Original Jamaican recorded version

It will be done in its original Jamaica-recorded version, with two extra tracks from the sessions and some tracks with longer fades. Produced entirely by Bob Marley & the Wailers and mixed by longtime Marley associate, Errol Brown, this Jamaican version will be on vinyl for the first time.

The limited-edition albums were pressed at Tuff Gong’s newly refurbished vinyl pressing plant, which re-opened in summer 2020 and will have an annual capacity of 250,000 units. Each album was mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters in Los Angeles. 

On November 20, the vinyl half-speed masters’ 12 titles series will also be available on premium half-speed mastered vinyl. This specialist artisan process, results in a more detailed representation of the original sound source cuts, with a far superior high-frequency (treble) response, and richer and fuller low to middle frequencies.

All tracks were mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios in London. The tracks on this series include ‘Exodus’, ‘Stir It Up’, ‘Concrete Jungle’, ‘Kinky Reggae’, ‘Lively Up Yourself’, ‘Is This Love’ and ‘Jamming’.

On December 4, the long-awaited CD version of the iconic Complete Island Recordings LP box, which includes all nine Bob Marley & The Wailers studio albums recorded for Island Records, plus two live albums, ‘Live!’ and ‘Babylon By Bus’, will be released. The Complete Island Recordings CD box set will include the 11 albums packaged in CD wallets, housed in a brushed silver clamshell box that simulates the larger hinged lighter from the LP set.

Some of the tracks on this LP box comprise ‘Get Up, Stand Up’, ‘I Shot The Sheriff’,  B’urnin’ and lootin’’, ‘Small Axe’, ‘Duppy Conqueror’, ‘Rasta Man Chant’, ‘Lively Up Yourself’ and ‘No Woman, No Cry’.

Exclusive Bob Marley book

In continued celebration of the late musical and cultural icon’s 75th birthday, Rizzoli International Publications published ‘Bob Marley: Portrait of the Legend’, a celebration of the life and influence of the forefather of reggae. This is the first book authorised by the Bob Marley Foundation.

The book drew exclusively on images from the Marley family archives, ‘Bob Marley: Portrait of the Legend’ showcases over 150 photographs in celebration of the life of one of the greatest musical and socio-political icons of 20th Century pop culture. Making the most of its oversized pages, the book is designed as a monument to Marley’s influence, mixing the iconic and the intimate, bringing together striking images of his on-stage performances.

“There is a cliché term, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. From my experience of looking through hundreds and hundreds of photos for this book, I will say, yes, it is true.” 

Ziggy Marley

This, along with glimpses into his creative process in and out of the studio, and family life in Jamaica.

The book is to be released this month.

Speaking about the book, Ziggy Marley, son of the reggae legend, remarked, “I am blessed to present to you this very special collection of photographs from our archives. There is a cliché term, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. From my experience of looking through hundreds and hundreds of photos for this book, I will say, yes, it is true.” 

In other literary news, for the first time, Marley’s daughter – singer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and bestselling author, Cedella Marley – shares her father’s timeless words on striving for change with ‘Redemption: Reflections on Creating a Better World’, which was released on September 15. Cedella dives deep into recorded and archived radio interviews, along with song lyrics that speak to her father’s pursuit of redemption, to create a powerful narrative about freeing yourself so you can help free others.

Discussing ‘Redemption Song’, Cedella shares that it “is an anthem for times of conflict and despair and calls out the systemic oppression that continues to plague all levels of society. But it also offers a way forward. The answer is in the title itself.”

This is why she believes that the song “resonates today as much as it did when my father originally wrote it” over 40 years ago. Continuing, she stressed that “as we find ourselves more divided, ‘Redemption: Reflections on Creating a Better World’ offers Marley’s enduring message as a way to heal and change individually and collectively.  ‘Redemption: Reflections on Creating a Better World’ is out everywhere now.

Bob Marley Amazon Music’s Artiste of the Month

Also recently announced, in August, Bob Marley was the first “Artiste of the Month” for Amazon Music’s [RE]DISCOVER campaign, a new global brand developed to support artiste catalogs across all music genres. The [RE]DISCOVER brand showcases carefully curated artiste playlists across various genres, which take listeners on a career-spanning journey of musical discovery, or re-discovery, through the featured artiste’s entire body of work.

The [RE]DISCOVER campaign includes links to stream and download Marley’s music; physical music selections; links to related films and books; and a collection of exclusive merchandise including an exclusive two-LP set of ‘Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Live At The Rainbow’, recorded on June 4, 1977, in London. 

‘Live At The Rainbow’ was previously only available on VHS and DVD, and is now available for the first time in full, in performance sequence, and on vinyl anywhere. The two-LP also features a newly discovered, unreleased performance.  

Also available now, Grammy-nominated DJ and producer, Robin Schulz has reworked the Bob Marley classic ‘Sun Is Shining’ via Island Records into a high-energy, club-focused version. Originally released on Bob Marley & The Wailers’ 1971 album ‘Soul Revolution’, ‘Sun Is Shining’ is one of Marley’s most critically acclaimed tracks.

On ‘Sun Is Shining’, Robin Schulz has transformed a Bob Marley classic into a sun-kissed dance track by adding an infectious bass line and feel good piano chords to the more down tempo original, with serious crossover appeal.

Lastly, Eagle Records and the Bob Marley Estate recently announced the release of ‘Uprising Live’, in celebration of Bob Marley 75. ‘Uprising Live’ will be available for the first time on vinyl, with black vinyl three-LP and highly-collectible, limited-edition coloured vinyl three-LP.

In this digital era, Bob Marley remains one of the most followed posthumous artists on social media, and Marley 75 will serve to bring his music and message to the digital foreground, reaching new audiences and perspectives with innovative content and groundbreaking technology.

Special live events, exclusive digital content, recordings, exhibitions, plus rare and unearthed treasures will also be revealed throughout the year. Bob Marley’s music continues to inspire generation upon generation, as his legacy lives on through his message of love, justice, and unity, a sentiment needed more than ever in 2020.

In conjunction with Tuff Gong and UMe, a division of the Universal Music Group, the Marley family has vowed to continue to ensure the highest quality, integrity, and care is taken to honour Bob’s legacy and to celebrate one of the 20th Century’s most important and influential figures.

About Bob Marley

Bob Marley, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is notable not only as the man who put reggae on the global map but, as a statesman in his native Jamaica, he famously brought together the country’s warring factions. Today, Bob Marley remains one of the 20th Century’s most important and influential entertainment icons.

Marley’s lifestyle and music continue to inspire new generations as his legacy lives on through his music. In the digital era, he has the second-highest social media following of any posthumous celebrity, with the official Bob Marley Facebook page drawing more than 70 million fans, ranking it among the Top 20 of all Facebook pages and Top 10 among celebrity pages. Marley’s music catalog has sold millions of albums worldwide.

His iconic collection, LEGEND, holds the distinction of being the longest-charting album in the history of Billboard magazine’s Catalog Albums chart and remains the world’s best-selling reggae album. Marley’s accolades include inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1994) and ASCAP Songwriters Hall of Fame (2010), a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award (2001 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2001).