martes, junio 10, 2025

Rocktrospectiva: Bob Marley's Religious Last Studio Album "Uprising" Turns 45

Released on 10 June 1980, "Uprising" was the twelfth studio album by Bob Marley and the Wailers and the final studio album released during Marley's lifetime. Released on 10 June 1980, the album is one of Marley's most directly religious, with nearly every song referencing his religious beliefs, culminating in the acoustic recording of "Redemption Song".

Uprising was a reggae album by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Marley died the following year so Uprising was the final studio album released during his lifetime. This album is one of Marley’s most directly religious, with nearly every song addressing his Rastafarian beliefs, culminating in the acoustic folk classic, “Redemption Song”.

"Redemption Song" is the jewel of the crown on this record. But this album was so very much more than that one song although it gets all the praise and to an extent rightly so. Maybe the most openly "Rastafarian" of all of his previous releases and has many undertones of his spirital and philosophical beliefs. Also his last studio recording as a year later, in 1981, the world would lose this great revolutionary artist as he would succumb to the illness that was already taking it's toll on his body.

It is one of the most straightforward of all his recordings, in my opinion, and tells the story of the Rasta Man's visions and dreams for his & all people. The first five tracks tells the listener the story of the African people coming to terms with their current situaitons and giving graphic detail as to who we are and who there were, noticed on the track "We And Dem", with "Children Of The Sun" Marley is due recognized that they were better than this.

The remaining track reminds so much of the writings of Curtis Mayfield, and you can hear the influence of Mayfield & those two albums in Marley's writing as he sings of the not only redemption but African & indeed all oppressed people coming out of their current situations and going into the blessings that Jah has for them. Overall, this is a wonderful testament to Marley's genius, beliefs and ideals. 

The album peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard Black Albums chart, and number 45 on the Pop Albums chart. "Could You Be Loved" was number six and number 56 respectively on the Club Play Singles and Black Singles charts. The album fared better in the UK where it was a top ten hit along with the single "Could You Be Loved" which reached number five in the UK singles charts.

The last album of a legend and it is a remarkable and timeless piece of work. Coming in from the cold is a steady and pensive track that gets you grooving and thinking at the same time. The entire recording is phenomenal and left a question in the air, what more we could’ve gotten from this talented artist taken way too soon.

Uprising Track List:  

1. Coming in from the Cold
2. Real Situation
3. Bad Card
4. We and Dem
5. Work
6. Zion Train
7. Pimper’s Paradise
8. Could You Be Loved
9. Forever Loving Jah
10. Redemption Song

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